The Alberta Conservation Association (ACA) is looking for landowners with properties along the Dogpound Creek to take part in its new riparian conservation project along the waterway, Mountain View County’s agricultural service board heard last week.
Erin VanderMarel, central riparian coordinator with ACA, made a presentation to the board, outlining the project and calling for participants.
The project calls for landowners and the ACA to work together to create a 30-metre buffer, called riparian habitat, along the creek.
As part of the agreement between landowners and ACA, landowners are financially compensated for "lost" agricultural lands.
“We are getting our name there and I’ve spoken to a few landowners who do already seem interested,” said VanderMarel. “We are making a callout for landowners to participate for sure.
“We will work with landowners to create the buffer along the creek. We are hoping to work with as many landowners as possible along the creek. We are hoping to do two or three (sections) this year, based on funding.”
The project can include exclusion fences using wildlife-friendly specification, off-site watering systems, and bioengineering projects.
The agreement terms are usually 10-15 years and once the improvements are completed and the agreement is in action, all future maintenance is the landowner’s responsibility, members heard.
Anyone interested in taking part in the project can contact VanderMarel at 403-846-6898.
In other agricultural service board news, the Alberta Forage Industry Network (AFIN) has awarded its 2019 AFIN leadership award to Grant Lastiwka, a livestock-forage business specialist with Alberta Agriculture, members heard.
Based in Olds, Lastiwka has been a longtime key contact between the county’s agricultural service board and Alberta Agriculture.
He regularly gives the board updates on agriculture in the region.
The award recognizes individuals who “exemplify or enhance the goals of the AFIN and whose leadership has impact of provincial and/or national significance."
The objectives of the AFIN include fostering communication among the forage industry, governments and the public.
Lastiwka received the award at the recent AFIN annual general meeting in Leduc.
