MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - Mountain View County has come out in support of an application by the Red Deer River Watershed Alliance to the provincial Watershed Resiliency and Restoration Program.
The county’s agricultural service board (ASB) was updated on the application during its recent regularly scheduled meeting, held by teleconference.
In a letter to Alberta Environment and Parks in support of the application, Mountain View County reeve Bruce Beattie said the alliance is seeking support to expand mapping to include the Little Red Deer River.
“The application seeks funding to support a riparian intactness assessment for the Little Red Deer River sub-watershed, including over 2,000 kilometres of riparian shoreline,” said Beattie.
“The initial technical work, including spatial data producers and the summary report, can help inform Mountain View County’s efforts related to riparian conservation and restoration.”
He said benefits of the project to county residents could include “providing a benchmark for riparian intactness to support targeted efforts” and “building awareness about county staff, elected officials, and citizens regarding beneficial land and water practices and the role of natural assets protection.”
It could also serve as an “additional tool for consideration when allocating funds and engagement efforts to support riparian conservation and restoration programs,” he said.
“The existing layer of geographic information system mapping, when combined with existing county data products, can inform stewardship efforts for conservation and restoration of riparian areas on public and private lands.”
Made up of appointed public members and county councillors, the ASB received the letter as information.
