Ducks Unlimited Canada will receive more than $11.6 million in grant funds for wetland conservation and restoration work to help reduce the impact of flooding and drought in Alberta.
The funding comes from the Alberta government’s Watershed Resiliency and Restoration Program. Wetlands have the ability to store water and slow the release of water into surrounding streams and rivers, which in turn, reduce flood heights and volumes.
The funding will help conserve and restore an additional 1,380 acres in Alberta, said Barry Bishop, head of conservation programs for Ducks Unlimited Canada.
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“Money spent on wetland conservation and restoration provides significant and long-term social returns,” said Bishop. “Wetlands remove excess nutrients, pollutants and sediment in watersheds, help with carbon sequestration, and improve overall water and air quality. They also add value to the land for activities such as recreational use, grazing or development.”
Planning for the projects in south-central and southern Alberta is underway and the conservation and restoration work will be begin by September and last three years. Projects take into account an area’s natural hydrology levels, historical photography, land use and landscape. They will be done during a three-year period on landscapes located in south-central and southern Alberta.
