The goal of No Net Loss is to balance the loss of wetland functions through rehabilitation of former degraded wetlands or enhancement of healthy, functioning wetlands. As a last resort, compensation for lost functions will be sought through creation of wetlands where there was none before. 

The WRP is a provincial program run by Alberta Environment and Protected Areas (AEP). Wetland replacement projects will be implemented by municipalities, such as Strathcona County, in accordance with individual MOUs that are signed with the Province. Strathcona County has signed a MOU with the Province for an initial term of three years. 

In the past, as per provincial and municipal policy, replacement fees for lost wetland area due to activities on the landscape were provided directly to Ducks Unlimited Canada. Those funds were dedicated to priority wetland restoration projects across the province. In 2018, with the newly developed program, those funds are now managed by Alberta Environment and Protected Areas and are now available to Strathcona County to complete wetland replacement projects on our landscape. 

A priority of the Alberta Wetland Policy and WRP is to replace wetlands within municipalities and watersheds that have had the highest amount of lost wetland area and value since 2015, as well as areas of high historical loss. Strathcona County has been identified by Alberta Environment and Protected Areas as a high priority area for wetland restoration. 

Initially, Strathcona County will be focusing on projects that can be completed on public land before considering projects on private land. The County has a Committee made up of various department representatives that will identify potential projects, bring them forward to Council for approval, and help guide the projects through to completion. Come back to this page for updates on new projects! 

The Busenius Estates wetland replacement project consists of approximately two hectares of land that will be transitioning back to wetland, while the remaining area will continue to be leased out as part of the Municipal Land Licensing program (MLLP). The area at Uncas that was leased as part of the MLLP was adjusted to accommodate the wetland replacement project. There will continue to be area leased out as part of the MLLP.

The standing logs, or snags, as they are called when installed upright in the wetland area, are decaying or dead trees, which have been repurposed into wildlife wonderlands. They are used by insects, birds, mammals and amphibians  as sites for perching, resting, roosting, feeding, grooming, hibernating, courting, laying eggs and more!

Part of the process in creating the wetland areas included spreading ‘rough and loose’ soil around the area. This is what you will currently see if you visit one of the project sites. It may look messy, but helps immensely with erosion and sediment control that naturally occurs in these areas.

The hot and dry weather we had this summer was great for earthwork, but is not supportive to establishing wetland vegetation. The area will be expected to look ‘dirty’ and bare until later next spring when willow staking and aquatic species plugs will be planted to further help with vegetation establishment. While some water may accumulate if we have sufficient rainfall, the wetland project isn’t expected to hold significant water until the spring melt. 

As mentioned in the above question, we are waiting until Spring 2023 to begin planting vegetation, willow staking and aquatic species plugs, which will help establish vegetation in the area. If we were to plant now, most species would not survive the winter. Water may accumulate in the area if there is sufficient rainfall before winter, but will most likely begin to hold significant water after the spring melt.