Environmental Initiatives

A cost sharing program for land regeneration for marginal and environmentally sensitive lands.

The ALUS program helps agricultural producers in three main ways:

1. Identifies stewardship opportunities
2. Shares project establishment costs (materials and labour, typically cost-share is 50/50)
3. Provides annual payments for production of ecosystem services

Types of ALUS projects include:

• Creating watering systems for livestock
• Implementing rotational grazing practices
• Creating fencing around water bodies or improving waterbody buffers
• Restoring, creating, enhancing, or expanding wetlands and riparian areas
• Housing bird nesting structures or other habitat structures
• Planting flowering plants for pollinator habitat
• Reforesting or enhancing tree stands
• Building shelterbelts of trees to protect fields from wind and snow
• Planting native grasses for forage or habitat

How ALUS works?

1. Expression of Interest: 
   Complete the Expression of Interest application or call the ALUS Coordinator to discuss your farm.
2. Site Visit: 
   The ALUS Coordinator will tour your project site and discuss project opportunities.
3. Project Proposal: 
   The ALUS Coordinator will create a project proposal and present it to the Watershed Advisory Committee (WAC) made up of local farmers and technical experts. The WAC will review and approve, decline or suggest changes to the proposal.
4. Term Agreement: 
   Once the WAC approves the project, you will sign a flexible 5 to 10 year term agreement with the option for renewal. You can opt out at any time and payments will be adjusted accordingly. This contract will contain project details and the payments (project establishment costs and annual payment) that ALUS covers.
5. Approval:
   Once the project is approved by the Northern Sunrise County ALUS WAC, it is ready for implementation. The producer can begin installation and the ALUS Coordinator will be available to provide support throughout the project.
   
   

Questions?
Contact Katie Bartman, the Environmental Program Coordinator at 780-322-3831 or kbartman@northernsunrise.net 

Interested?
Submit your application to kbartman@northernsunrise.net or drop it off at the County office.

More Information?
View the ALUS Northern Sunrise Community Information Brochure or visit the ALUS website.

Landowner Habitat Program

The Landowner Habitat Program (LHP) was initiated to help conserve key habitats and reduce habitat loss and fragmentation on privately owned land. The program provides incentives for landowners who are willing to sign a legally binding agreement to retain habitat for a term of five to 20 years; a condition of the agreement is for landowners to provide reasonable public foot access. 

Riparian Conservation Program

The primary goal of Alberta Conservation Association’s (ACA) Riparian Conservation Program is to protect and restore riparian habitat in priority watersheds through on-the-ground habitat restoration projects by engaging landowners, the public, and other stakeholders through community outreach and education activities. Our collaborative partnerships with landowners, industry, government, watershed groups, and other stakeholders are an integral component of project delivery. 

Landowner Compensation and Damage Prevention 

• Waterfowl Crop Damage Prevention Program
• Wildlife Predator Compensation Program
• Shot Livestock Compensation Program

Greening Communities

Tree Canada Community Tree Grants provide support to community greening, innovation and stewardship initiatives.

• Greening Canada's School Grounds

• Edible Trees

• Treemendous Comunities

National Greening Program

The National Greening Program targets areas in need of reforestation or afforestation with mass seedling plantings. Growing trees where forests have been degraded – or where there was no previous tree cover – provides multiple benefits to nature, from ecosystem stability to cleaner air, water and soil. 

Landowners benefit from Tree Canada’s extensive experience in project design, qualified staff and Forestry Specialists, our partnerships with conservation organizations as well as funding and support.

Applications can be submitted here or by working with the County's Environmental Program Coordinator who can be reached at 780-322-3831 or by email at agservices@northernsunrise.net.