Historical Land Use in the Special Areas
Group 4B Kenna Wilkinson Chris Ca oni Coleen Mahoney Our Ques on
How has the Special Areas Act affected land use within the Special Areas?
Our Method • Examine historical and present land use prac ces
• Look at the Special Areas Board
• Case study of Oil and Gas
Why is this important?
Disaster-a natural hazard that impacts a vulnerable popula on Dr. Holden
Vulnerability- the degree and manner to which a system of interests is suscep ble to and able to cope with the adverse effects of climate Marchildon et al., 2007
Land Use in the Special Areas
• Pre 1880s: First Na ons and grass-buffalo economy
• 1880 – 1906: open range ca le ranching – 3 main reasons for the collapse of ca le ranching
• 1908 – 1920s: wheat crop cul va on – Dominion Lands Act opened the Great Plains to se lers
• 1930s – present: mix of farming & ranching in the Special Areas – Land that is not used for agriculture is used for oil & gas – Farmers & ranchers in the Special Areas are involved with conserva on Wandel & Marchildon, 2010 Jay Slemp
Response to drought
• The main objec ves of the Tilley East Act (1927) and the Berry Creek Act (1932) by provincial government: – more local control over the Special Areas – changing from farm-based to ranching
• Special Area’s Act (1938) – further increased the power of the provincial government by elimina ng municipali es
Marchildon et al., 2006 Evolu on of The Special Areas Board
1927 1932 1934 1938 Tilley East Berry Creek Acts Special Act Act Combined Areas Act
Main responsibili es of the Board include: • Leasing public land • Land exchange • Set aside community pastures • Use money for be erment of area • Pay for municipal services • Con nue tax proceedings Current Legisla on
• Minister of Municipal Affairs can delegate many du es and responsibili es - Appendix to Ministerial Order No. L:005/13 (h p://municipalaffairs.gov.ab.ca/documents/LGS/ L_005-13.pdf) • Current structure is changing to ensure each Area is represented on the Board • Elected Advisory Council nominates 3 members to Board • Minister appoints Board Chair • Board regulates land use (h p://www.lawlibrary.ab.ca/staycurrent/2013/11/bill-38- statutes-amendment-act-introduced-november-7-2013/) What Does the Board Do?
• Agent of the Crown - broad land use control powers
• Provides municipal services - essen al infrastructure
• Land rehabilita on and conserva on - soil and land policies and prac ces
Popula on
Rural and Urban Popula on in the Special Areas 1916 - 2011
35000 RURAL 30000 URBAN 25000 20000 TOTAL 15000 10000 Popula on 5000 0 1921 1931 1941 1951 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001 2011 1916 1926 1936 1946 1956 1966 1976 1986 1996 2006 Year
Marchildon, 2007, Wandel et al., 2009, & Sta s cs Canada Other Municipali es
Land use in Vulcan County and Wheatland County
“…no individual council or group of Councilors can make a decision or ask administra on to take ac on except within mee ngs of council where an appropriate bylaw or resolu on is passed” Wheatland County website
Oil & Gas in the Special Ares Sec on 3 – Public land
• All public lands within the Special Areas are under the administra on of the Minister except lands that are under a different administra on or any land under Sec on 2(2) of the Public Lands Act
Sec on 6 – Applica on of other Acts •The Special Areas Act is only subjected to Parts 9-12 & 15 of the Municipal Government Act and to the Weed Control Act
Sec on 7 – Powers of Minister •Gives the Minister power over the direc ve of any public land •Appendix to Ministerial Order No. L:005/13 Enacted Policies • Through the aforemen oned acts, the Special Areas Board was able to enact ; – Policy 06-01 • Pipeline Road Crossings – Policy 06-02 • Access for Seismic drill Lines and Well Site Development Near Water Bodies within the Special Areas – Policy 06-03 • Access Historical or Cultural Sites - Policy 06-05 • Minimum Disturbances on Na ve Range – Policy 06-06 • Invasive Introduced Forages on Reclama on Sites – Policy 07-12 • Parking of Water Trucks on Special Areas Roads Policy 06-01 Rates in Effect
Mineral Surface Leases Per Acre Gen Dist Per Acre Ann Rent Per Applica on Admin Amendment Fee Grazing Lease or $90.00 $50.00 $100.00 Plus $50.00 permits $25.00 Applica on Fee $125 Applica on Filing Fee Public Land in a $150.00 $300.00 $150.00 Plus $50.00 community pasture $25.00 Applica on Fee $125 Applica on Filing Fee Cul va on Lease or $90.00 $100.00 $100.00 Plus $50.00 permit, Irriga on Lease $25.00 Applica on Fee $125 Applica on Filing Right of way Disposi ons / pipelinesFee
Per Acre Plus Applica on Fee Amendment Fee
Grazing lease or permit or $50.00 $25.00 Plus $50.00 Temp work spaces $125.00 Applica on Filing Fee
Public Land in a Community $75.00 $25.00 Plus $50.00 Pasture $125.00 Applica on Filing Fee
Cul va on Lease or Permit, $80.00 $25.00 Plus $50.00 Irriga on Lease $125.00 Applica on Filing Fee
Conclusion • The large popula on, reliance on wheat produc on, and drought condi ons made the Special Areas especially vulnerable to drought in the 1920s & again in the 1930s
• Management by the Special Areas Board has resulted in a land use shi to mixed farming & ranching, as well as oil & gas produc on
• A smaller popula on and diversifica on of land use prac ces has lessened the vulnerability of the Special Areas to drought
• Oil & gas provides farmers and ranchers with a diversified income through mineral surface leases & pipeline right of ways
• The Special Areas Act allowed the provincial government to delegate authority to people living in the area who be er understand the issues
Acknowledgments
Jay Slemp, Special Areas Chair
Dr. Holden and Dr. Norman
References • Alberta Government. (2013). Surface Rights Act. Edmonton: Alberta Queen's Printer. • Alberta P.O. (2013). Public Lands Act. Edmonton : Alberta Queen's Printer. • Alberta, P.O. (December 11, 2013). Special Areas Act - Revised Statutes of Alberta 2000 Chapter S-16. Edmonton: Alberta Queen's Printer. • Marchildon, G.P. 2007. Ins tu onal adapta on to drought and the Special Areas of Alberta 1909 – 1939. Prairie Forum 32(2): 251 – 272. • Marchildon, G.P. 2009. The Prairie Farm Rehabilita on Administra on: Climate crisis and federal–provincial rela ons during the Great Depression. The Canadian Historical Review 90. • Slemp, JJ. (September, 2001). Policy 06-01 - Pipeline Road Crossings . Hannah Alberta: Special Areas Board. • Special Areas Board. (2013). Rates in Effect. Retrieved 02 22, 2014, from Special Areas Board: h p://specialareas.ab.ca/downloads/rates-in-effect. • Sta s cs Canada: www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/dp-pd/hlt-fst/pd-pl/ Table-Tableau.cfm?LANG=Eng&T=302&SR=1&S=51&O=A&RPP=9999&PR=48&CMA=0 • Wandel, J. & Marchildon, G.P. 2010. Ins tu onal fit and interplay in a dryland agricultural, social-ecological system in Alberta, Canada. Adap ve Capacity and Environmental Governance, Spring Series on Environmental Management. • Wandel, J., Young, G., and Smit, B. 2009. The 2001 – 2002 drought: Vulnerability and drought in Alberta’s Special Areas. Prairie Forum 34(1): 211 – 234.