Watershed Resiliency and Restoration Program 2020 Grant Approval Fact Sheet

Approved Grants (June 2020) – All funds disbursed in 2020/21

Recipient Project Location and Description Amount Athabasca Watershed Pembina River (Athabasca basin) $210,000 Council Assessment of the quality of riparian functions along streams, rivers and lakes in the upper and lower Pembina River watershed, and outreach to landowners with the goal of restoring degraded riparian areas. Bow River Basin Nose Creek (Bow basin) $375,000 Council Development of a modelling tool to assess the hydraulics, hydrology, and water quality of the Nose Creek watershed, which will inform municipal stormwater management decisions. City of Calgary Bow River (Bow basin) $471,239 Incorporate bio-engineering techniques using native plants to restore the river bank and naturalize the floodplain in a public area along the Bow River. Friends of Fish Creek Fish Creek (Bow basin) $17,800 Provincial Park Build public awareness in Fish Creek Provincial Park about the role of Society beavers in watershed resiliency and establish a demonstration site with beaver pond leveling devices and culvert exclusion fencing to allow park users and beavers to co-exist, Greater Bragg Creek Bragg Creek and Ranger Creek (Bow basin) $100,000 Trails Association Foster stewardship in west Bragg Creek and Ranger Creek public lands and implement agricultural management practices to enhance riparian areas, such as livestock exclusion fencing and off-stream watering systems. Lakeland Industry & Beaver River (North Saskatchewan basin) $66,680 Community Construction of a rain garden in public area to educate residents about low Association impact development practices for flood and drought mitigation. Miistakis Institute for Bow River (South Saskatchewan basin) $77,850 the Rockies, Inc. Develop a mapping and assessment methodology for municipalities to integrate natural areas, such as green spaces and parks, into their flood and drought mitigation planning.

alberta.ca/watershed-resiliency-and-restoration-program.aspx ©2020 Government of Alberta | Published: June 2020 Miistakis Institute for Elbow River (Bow basin) $35,940 the Rockies, Inc. Study the feasibility of assessing the contributions of natural infrastructure, such as wetlands and forests, to support conventional flood management infrastructure (e.g. dams, culverts, ditches and storm drains) in the Elbow River watershed. Nature Conservancy Waterton River (Oldman basin) $194,363 of Canada Work with agricultural landowners to restore riparian areas in the Waterton River watershed through adaptive management techniques, such as fencing and off-stream watering systems that keep livestock away from the river. Northern Sunrise Heart River (Peace basin) $48,155 County Addition of wildlife-friendly fencing to keep livestock away from stream riparian areas and the establishment of native vegetation to enhance 4.17 hectares (11 acres) of riparian area. Oldman Watershed Oldman River basin $176,250 Council Integration of Traditional Environmental Knowledge into watershed stewardship in the Oldman River basin, and engagement with youth from the Pikani and Kainai Nations. Siksika Lands and Bow River (Bow basin) $53,720 Natural Resource Assessment of historic wetland hydrologic control structures and the Management development of an operations and maintenance manual to manage wetlands for watershed resiliency functions. Southwest Alberta Waterton River (Oldman basin) $42,193 Sustainable Workshops to increase awareness and knowledge of the importance of Community Initiative native grasslands in watershed resiliency and training for participants in grassland assessment and restoration. Sustainable Red Deer Piper Creek (Red Deer basin) $60,000 Society Riparian restoration of 4.05 hectares (10 acres), using native vegetation plantings, in support of beaver habitat at a public demonstration site on Piper Creek in the Red Deer River basin. Western Irrigation Rosebud River (Bow basin) $109,000 District Installation of riparian fencing and off-stream watering systems to exclude livestock and maintain the riparian area along Rosebud River. Western Sky Land Bow River, Nose Creek, Rosebud River (Bow basin) $244,815 Trust Re-engage riparian landowners along the Bow River that previously indicated interest in conserving their land, and engage new landowners along the Rosebud River and Nose Creek with the goal to conserve 2023 hectares (5000 acres) of riparian lands and wetlands. TOTAL $2,283,005

alberta.ca/watershed-resiliency-and-restoration-program.aspx ©2020 Government of Alberta | Published: June 2020 Applicant Eligibility  Conservation initiatives  Data collection efforts for the purpose of Municipalities, First Nations, local authorities, non- research, evaluation and assessment related to governmental organizations, stewardship groups a specific project(s) for watershed resiliency and other not-for-profit organizations are all eligible  Education and outreach associated with a to receive funds under the program, provided the specific project(s) for watershed resiliency funds are for projects undertaken in partnership with landowners. Private entities, whether it is an Structural projects eligible for funding under individual or enterprise, are eligible to participate Environment and Parks’ Alberta Community and contribute to projects but are not eligible to Resiliency Program (ACRP) are not eligible to receive funding under the WRRP. Partnerships receive funding under the WRRP. Examples of between multiple stakeholders are encouraged ineligible projects include: under this program.  Structural restoration or construction of dams, Project Eligibility berms, dykes, tunnels, riprap, bridges, etc.  Municipal infrastructure, such as stormwater The WRRP focuses on watershed mitigation efforts ponds, etc. that promote the long-term ability of watersheds to  Groynes and other in-stream structures mitigate the effects of future flood and drought  River training or realignment events naturally. Examples of eligible projects  Erosion protection efforts include:

 Riparian enhancements (e.g., plantings, re- vegetation, grazing management, off-stream Project Selection Criteria watering) The primary criteria focus on the degree to which a  Wetland enhancements (e.g., wetland creation, proposed project mitigates the potential impacts of conservation or restoration) flood or droughts, and impacts on community safety  Floodplain or river improvements (e.g., channel and health (e.g., headwaters and floodplains where naturalization, removal of old structures, removal individuals could be affected). Secondary criteria of flow impediments, floodplain storage capacity such as biodiversity and additional environmental enhancements, etc.) benefits, and complimentary criteria including data  Creation of or increased absorptive capacities of gathering, capacity building, outreach, education a watershed and stewardship, will also be considered.  Irrigation or drainage district enhancements