The Mountain View County agricultural service board has approved funding for several projects in the area totalling $32,237.
The move came during the board’s recent regularly scheduled meeting in council chambers.
Members Duncan Milne, Brian Rodger, Brent Buchert and Dwayne Fulton were in attendance, along with county staff members.
“Six landowners have been approved for Alternative Land Use Services (ALUS) projects in the county in 2018, projects that cover a total of 168 acres of wetland, riparian and upland areas,” administration said in a briefing note to the board.
“Additional projects will be presented for approval consideration.”
Projects approved were as follows:
- One project is located on a tributary to the Bergen Creek (at SE 19-31-5-5) and involves fencing materials costing $682.50.
- One project approved is located on the Dogpound Creek (at E 4-33-3-5 and S 3-33-3-5) and involves two watering systems for a cost of $16,546.
- One project involves a dugout near a tributary to Lonepine Creek (at NE 16-32-1-5) at a cost of $2,630.
- One project involves fencing material, fencing labour and a watering system near a tributary to the Dogpound Creek (at NW 23-30-4-5) at a cost of $8,760.
- One project involves fencing in the Little Red Deer River watershed (at NE 27-30-4-5) at a cost of $617.25.
- One project involves a watering system in the Little Red Deer River watershed (at SE 25-31-3-5 and NE 24-31-3-5) at a cost of $3,000.
The county has identified a number of areas of focus for the ALUS program in the municipality, including “preserving and establishing trees in areas of low concentration”, “reclaiming alkali or marginal soils to native stands”, “increasing and promoting pollinator establishment”, and “reclaiming marginal cropland for buffering around streams, preserving potholes and wetlands.”
The board also approved a number of minor riparian and ecological enhancement program projects during the Aug. 20 board meeting.
