The Mountain View County agricultural service board (ASB) has been updated on a proposed riparian conservation project being considered by the Alberta Conservation Association on the Dogpound Creek.
The review came during the board’s recent regularly scheduled council meeting. The Dogpound Creek crosses a large portion of Mountain View County from south to north.
In a briefing note to the board, administration said the ACA is examining the possibility of undertaking a program to protect and restore riparian areas along the creek in Mountain View County.
“The ACA works with landowners, industry, government, watershed groups and other stakeholders to complete projects,” the note states. “ACA’s Central Riparian Program has been mainly focused on the North Raven River and Raven River systems since its inception in 1997.
“At this point, they have contacted most landowners in the Raven system and are starting to look in a new direction where they can continue their program and they are considering Dogpound Creek.”
The project could see the creation of a 30-metre buffer along the creek, with stakeholder agreements created as part of the project, members heard.
“As part of the agreements, they (ACA) financially compensate landowners for ‘lost’ agricultural lands under the agreement. On the Raven system, exclusion fences were installed using wildlife friendly specs, off-site watering systems were installed and there were also bio-engineering projects completed.”
The agreement term is usually 10 to 15 years and there are payback penalties for early terminations laid out in the agreements.
“This protects ACA’s investment and is based on annual payments made and improvement expenses. They cover full improvement expenses and annual lease payments, which are calculated, based on area within the agreement.
“Once the improvements are complete and the agreement is active, all future maintenance is the landowner’s responsibility.”
The update was received as information.
The ASB advises the county and province on agriculture related issues and concerns.
