$700,000 in gov't funding to protect land in Foothills County

A significant investment by the provincial government will boost land conservation across Alberta, including in Foothills County.

Through the Government of Alberta's Land Trust Grant Program, $5 million in grant funding will be awarded to 19 projects, protecting nearly 21,000 acres across the province. In Foothills County, two projects covering 863 acres will receive a combined total of $701,400.

The Southern Alberta Land Trust Society will receive $219,400 for the Pekisko Native Grasslands Project (250 acres), while the Western Sky Land Trust Society Foothills County Ranch Project 1 (613 acres) is getting $482,000. As the projects encompass privately-owned land, precise locations are not available to the public.

The funds will support a total of 19 projects across Alberta as they work to conserve ecologically-important areas by preventing habitat fragmentation, maintaining biodiversity and preserving native landscapes. Funding recipients will protect important areas such as watersheds, riparian areas and grasslands while ensuring the land, nearly the size of Airdrie when combined, can still be economically-productive agricultural lands.

“Alberta farmers and ranchers are natural environmental stewards of their lands. This funding helps provide the support needed to preserve their lands for future generations, all while ensuring they can continue to provide for their families, keeping food on our tables and our economy strong," said Rebecca Schulz, provincial minister of environment and protected areas.

Outside of Foothills County, projects receiving funding include a conservation site in Red Deer County working to reduce wetland loss while protecting critical habitat for species at risk and a virtually-untouched habitat in Lac Ste. Anne County made up of swamps, marshes and wetlands that will support a healthy watershed.

The Land Trust Grant Program has awarded more than $50 million to land trust organizations since 2019 to support the conservation of over 142,000 acres of private land.

A full list of projects approved for funding this year is below:

• Athabasca Country Land Conservation Project (160 acres) - $33,332.50
• Calgary to Cochrane Connector Project (156 acres) - $234,834.25
• Cypress County Ranch Project 1 (1,759 acres) - $351,000
• Cypress County Ranch Project 2 (320 acres) - $150,000
• Foothills County Ranch Project 1 (613 acres) - $482,000
• Jumpingpound Watershed Project (1,198 acres) - $783,750
• Lac Ste. Anne County Land Conservation Project (295 acres) - $221,541
• Lundbreck Hills Wildlife Habitat Project (316 acres) - $189,400
• Manyberries Sage Grouse Project (12,375 acres) - $250,000
• Martin Project (338 acres) - $345,720
• Matzhiwin Creek Ensminger Project (350 acres) - $195,725
• Oldman River Native Grasslands Project (1,280 acres) - $500,000
• Oxley Creek Egger/Blake Ranch Project (325 acres) -$186,500
• Parkland County Land Conservation Project (83 acres) - $218,406.72
• Pekisko Native Grasslands Project (250 acres) - $219,400
• Ponoka County Project (160 acres) - $103,150
• Red Deer County Land Conservation Project (159 acres) - $140,660.53
• Western Sky Land Trust Society Bullshead Creek Ensminger Project (321 acres) - $185,180
• Willow Creek Watershed Project (417 acres) - $209,400