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Wetland Restoration in Alberta
Thorsten Hebben, MSc., PBiol. Limnologist and Policy Analyst
Policy Division
Alberta Environment &
Sustainable Resource Development
Outline
• Mechanisms
– Legislative Authority
– Interim Wetland Policy
– The Compensation System
• Activities
– Re-Contouring
– Engineered Wetlands
• Restoration Agencies
• System Limitations
• Path Forward
Enabling Wetland Restoration
• Significant paradigm shift: – Estimated 60-70% of wetlands lost in White Area
– Agricultural Productivity Integrated Water Management
– Promoting drainage Enabling restoration
• Wetland restoration is enabled through Alberta’s Water Act. – Approval required for engineered projects and projects where the
affected drainage course contains flowing or standing water.
– Restoration of wetlands drained under an existing authorization is subject to cancelation/amendment of the authorization.
– Projects are accompanied by a monitoring and maintenance requirement.
Regulatory Considerations
• Under the Water Act, all water in Alberta is owned by the crown.
• Under the Water Act, most activities that will impact a water body in the province require regulatory approval to proceed.
• Under the interim Wetland Policy, activities resulting in wetland impacts are subject to a minimum 3:1 (area-based) compensation requirement.
• Under the Public Lands Act, the crown may choose to claim ownership over the bed and shore of a wetland (usually class IV and V), requiring additional compensation.
The Interim Policy
• Wetland Management in the Settled Area of Alberta: An Interim Policy (1993) – The primary driver for wetland restoration in Alberta
– Limited to mineral wetlands (‘sloughs’) in the White (settled) Area
• Provincial Wetland Restoration/Compensation Guide (2007): – Requires 3:1 compensation for wetland losses in the province:
• Restoration of drained or altered naturally occurring wetlands
• Does not allow for development of artificial wetlands
• Alternate suggestions considered (e.g., Olds College Wetland)
• Restoration within the same or nearby watershed
• Offsite restoration permitted (up to 10:1)
The Basis for 3:1
• The interim wetland policy is based on the principle of
no net loss of wetland area (presumed to equate to a
1:1 replacement):
1. Wetland restoration is an imperfect science – some proportion of
restoration projects will fail.
2. Anticipated loss of some wetland functions in compensation – a
restored wetland is unlikely to achieve the same degree of
function as the original system.
3. Temporal lag between the wetland loss and the time a restored
wetland becomes reasonably functional .
Compensation Ratios
Restoration Activities
• Re-establishment of a naturally occurring wetland with a functioning natural ecosystem whose characteristics are as close as possible to conditions prior to drainage or other alteration: – Re-Contouring
• Wetlands restored to natural water level through the use of local soils and vegetation.
• Frequently involves the filling of drainage ditches.
– Engineered Wetlands
• Earth fill embankments, fixed or variable crest water control structures, outflow conveyance systems
• Wetland type often spills water to downstream areas during runoff events and is part of the effective drainage area of the larger drainage basin.
Restoration Guide
• “Wetland restoration must be part of an overall plan to
achieve long-term ecosystem preservation and wetland
retention in Alberta.”
• Ideally adjacent to protected wetland system.
• Criteria:
– Must be either an individual or complex of drained or altered
naturally occurring wetland types.
• Once a site has been restored, it will be monitored
annually by the restoration agent.
– Includes maintenance/repair requirement
Re-Contoured Solution
Re-Contoured Solution
Engineered Solution
Engineered Solution
Restoration Agencies
• Ducks Unlimited Canada is the primary wetland restoration agency in Alberta at this time.
• Does not preclude other organizations from becoming restoration agencies: – Impaired by limitations within the current system for certification.
– Further limited by 30-year securement/monitoring/liability considerations.
– No financial incentive.
• ESRD is currently working on a pilot project with the County of Vermilion River: – Will require a fundamental shift in monitoring, evaluation, and
reporting systems to support broader application.
System Limitations
• Lack of a defined certification system for restoration agencies and qualified wetland aquatic environment specialists.
• Lack of a mechanism establishing formalized, legally binding relationship between the agency and the GOA.
• Lack of a comprehensive, integrated management system: – Guidelines and criteria for defining restoration areas, restoration
and construction activities, monitoring requirements
– Information systems, incorporating inventories and databases
– Electronic reporting systems
Bog Fen Swamp
Marsh Shallow Open Water
The Path Forward
• Standardized tools: – Guidelines and criteria for wetland restoration and construction,
monitoring, and reporting.
– Prioritization of restoration areas
– The Alberta Wetland Classification System (vs. S&K/CWCS/Cowardin Combo)
• Integrated data systems: – Alberta Wetland Inventory (+ refresh cycle)
– Centralized database for approvals and corresponding compensation activities
– Online reporting capacity.
• Established certification system and defined qualifications for QWAES and restoration agencies.
Under a New Policy
• Make the link to wetland value (functional attributes +
human benefits) to enable execution of informed
management decisions.
• Establish a wetland banking system.
• Enable innovation and continuous improvement.
– Incorporation of new science and knowledge into the restoration
system.
• Consider a carbon offset protocol.
• Create incentive programs to encourage the maintenance
of wetlands on the landscape.
• Design enhanced education and outreach programs.