Fort Air Partnership 11 Apr 2005 Beaver Hills Initiative Planning for a Sustainable Future

Fort Air Partnership 11 Apr 2005 Overview History of the BHI Role of the BHI Landscape Management Principles Data Available Next Steps for BHI

Fort Air Partnership 11 Apr 2005 History of the BHI Initiated in 2000 by Elk Island National Park Contacted municipalities to discuss common land use planning issues and approaches

Fort Air Partnership 11 Apr 2005 Partnering Organizations Municipal government: –Strathcona, Lamont, Leduc, Beaver Counties Federal government –Elk Island National Park (Parks Canada), PFRA (Agriculture & Agri-food Canada) Provincial government –Sustainable Resource Development, Municipal Affairs, Community Development, Environment, and Agriculture, Food & Rural Development

Fort Air Partnership 11 Apr 2005 Partnering Organizations ENGO’s –Ducks Unlimited (DU), Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), AB Fish and Game Assoc., North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance and AB Conservation Association (ACA) Industry –Alberta’s Industrial Heartland, Northeast Capital Industrial Association, Fort Air Partnership

Fort Air Partnership 11 Apr 2005 Common Land Use Issues… Competing demands for land base: –Rural residential subdivisions –Industry (e.g., oil and gas) –Agriculture –Recreation –Transportation –Environmental conservation

Fort Air Partnership 11 Apr 2005 Population – Pronounced Migration Pattern Source:

Fort Air Partnership 11 Apr 2005 Source: /Regional/CalgEdm_popchg_E.pdf Population – Rapid Growth Rate Alberta Key Map

Fort Air Partnership 11 Apr 2005 Different types of farmers – in competition with one another & others in energy, transportation, recreation, wildlife, urban development, rural sprawl, … for a resource base of varying quality PFRA Study Leduc Ag Land Evaluation

Fort Air Partnership 11 Apr 2005 Sustainable, functioning systems underpin a healthy economy and secure quality of life for future generations

Fort Air Partnership 11 Apr 2005 Edmonton Leduc Beaumont Sherwood Park Fort Saskatchewan Tofield Bruderheim Lamont Gibbons Bon Accord St. Albert … On Unique Lands

Fort Air Partnership 11 Apr 2005 Role of the BHI Regional framework for planning decisions Data to support planning Public information and awareness Forum for decision makers to discuss issues

Fort Air Partnership 11 Apr 2005 BHI Business Plan Phase 1: Establishing the framework ( ) Phase 2: Developing the implementation plan ( ) Phase 3: Sustaining the BHI ( )

Fort Air Partnership 11 Apr 2005 Vision The Beaver Hills Initiative values the region for its natural beauty, quality of life and supports co-operative efforts to sustain the quality of water, land, air and natural resources and community development.

Fort Air Partnership 11 Apr 2005 Mission Working together for a sustainable region, through shared initiatives and coordinated action.

Fort Air Partnership 11 Apr 2005 Guiding Principles Working Together Land Use Planning Practices Quality of Life Economics Environment

Fort Air Partnership 11 Apr 2005 Landscape Management Principles Quality of Life Biodiversity Water Land Air

Fort Air Partnership 11 Apr 2005 Vegetation

Fort Air Partnership 11 Apr 2005 Wetlands

Fort Air Partnership 11 Apr 2005 Species At Risk

Fort Air Partnership 11 Apr 2005 Groundwater

Fort Air Partnership 11 Apr 2005 Agricultural Soil Capability

Fort Air Partnership 11 Apr 2005 Future Studies and Projects Filling data gaps –Updated rare species records –Wetland inventory –Natural area sustainability analysis –Surface water quality study –GW quality, abundance and refined flow mapping –Water resource use (SW and GW license withdrawals) –Socio-economic values study –Economic drivers baseline

Fort Air Partnership 11 Apr 2005 Future Studies and Projects Joint management projects –Weed inventory –Fire history mapping –Non-vascular plants and air quality Communications –Website –Public consultation and awareness program

Fort Air Partnership 11 Apr 2005 Current Focus Public consultation to solicit feedback from public Report back to member councils Seek council ratification of landscape management principles Establish long-term strategy for sustainability within Beaver Hills

Fort Air Partnership 11 Apr 2005 Questions?