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.

Questions?

Photo Credit: Clayton Spytz