MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - The county’s agricultural service board (ASB) has been given a summary update on ALUS and REEP conservation and ecological enhancement projects in 2022.
The county’s sustainable agricultural specialist Lorelee Grattidge provided the review during the board’s recent regularly scheduled council meeting, held in person and on Zoom.
ALUS is a charitable organization with a community-developed and farmer-delivered program that produces, enhances and maintains ecosystem services on agricultural lands, she said.
Projects such as wetland restoration and enhancement, riparian buffers, shelterbelts, afforestation and native grass restoration aim to provide cleaner water and air, carbon sequestration and climate resiliency.
Mountain View County joined ALUS in 2015. As of the end of 2022, the county’s ALUS program has seen 54 participants with more than 370 projects over more than 2,000 acres in the county.
“This year we had what I think is probably a record year,” said Grattidge. “We are seeing success with the projects.”
In 2022, 15 producers were approved for ALUS projects totalling $129,085 in funding, impacting 457 acres of wetland, riparian and upland areas; the remainder of funds received were allocated towards administration and outreach, she said.
It is estimated that Mountain View County producers contributed approximately $143,500 to project establishment, including material costs, equipment, and labour, she said.
Additionally, pending funding, the county's ALUS projections for 2023 is for eight new participants with projects covering a total of 200 acres, she said.
Meanwhile, a total of 10 REEP (Riparian and Ecological Enhancement Program) projects were approved in the county in 2022 totalling $8,663.
As well, 15 follow-up riparian health assessments were completed for 2017 REEP projects.
The county also follows up with ALUS projects, she noted.
“There is a lot of built in follow up with ALUS,” she said.
During the recent board meeting, Brian Rodgers was re-elected chair and Tietsia Huyzer was elected vice-chair for 2022-23.
The ASB is made up of county councillors and appointed members of the district’s agricultural community. It also promotes and develops agricultural polices to meet the needs of the county by advising, organizing and directing programs such as water conservation projects.
The board accepted Grattidge’s report as information.
The board's next meeting is Dec. 12 in council chambers and on Zoom.
