Weeds

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Weeds designated as "prohibited noxious and noxious" under the Alberta Weed Control Act can spread rapidly and cause serious problems. Property owners are responsible for controlling these plants on their property.

Integrated Pest Management

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is the scientific approach to effectively prevent and control pests, including weeds, using a combined effort of multiple methods while continuing to be environmental stewards. The different types of methods are Biological, Mechanical, Cultural and Chemical. Parkland County uses an IPM approach to weed control on County property.

Goats

Parkland County is conducting a pilot program using goats for vegetation management which started in the summer of 2020 and continued in 2021.
The goats provide organic vegetation control to help manage invasive species and encourage natural succession of native species. Native plant re-establishment (seeding) will also happen in the fall after the site is evaluated.
The goats are owned by BAAH'D Plant Management and are timed to be brought on-site to most effectively control the weeds and their regrowth. In 2021 they were on site at Saur Lake in August and again in September.
The goats are trained to target browse specific weed species and are accompanied by an experienced shepherd and livestock guardian dogs who are on-site full time.
The pilot is taking place at Sauer Lake and Chickakoo Lake.

Benefits of Goats

Help reduce liability from herbicide use and are safe to use in sensitive areas like water bodies and parks.
Goats destroy weed seeds and don't redistribute them or promote plants to go to seed.
They prefer weeds to grass and will help native plants re-establish and succeed.
They eat the seed producing part of the plants first and help manage seed banks.
They will keep the site looking tidy and manage fire fuel sources.
Goat droppings are dry like deer and dissolve after a few rains, this will also help to fertilize the soil.
They leave little compaction to the soil, in addition they dramatically increase soil content and health.
Goats are safe in wildlife and riparian areas.
The are effective in wind, rain and sun.
Goats are agile all-terrain animals who are able to control vegetation on steep sloes where it would be unsafe for other control methods employed by staff.
Goats are less threatening to area users when encountered and easy to avoid.

Biological Control

Biological control is the deliberate use of a weed's "natural enemies" to suppress its population. There natural enemies feed upon or cause disease in the weed, thereby limiting its grown, reproduction and spread over time.
We currently have 8 sites in the County that are using biological control for Canada thistle, toadflax, and leafy spurge.
Species currently being used in these efforts are Canada thistle stem weevils, stem gall flies, black spurge beetles, and yellow toadflax stem-miner.
Parkland County only uses approved biological control agent under the Plant Protection Act or the Pest Control Products Act and CFIA's requirements for importation, handling and release in Canada under the policy Directive D-12-02: Import Requirements for Potentially Injurious Organisms (Other than Plants) to Prevent the Importation of Plant Pests in Canada.
Following Federal approval, the classic biological control agents (arthropods) are released on their target weeds at selected experimental sites, which are closely monitored. Data from these sites help to assess both the natural enemies' potential for survival under field conditions in western Canada and their potential to cause damage to the target weed.

Roadside Vegetation Control

Parkland County spot sprays roadsides and subdivisions between June and September. Spot herbicide applications and other integrated management practices will be used throughout the County to control weeds and brush.
Selective herbicide application on roadsides is done to control the spread of noxious and prohibited noxious weeds and re-growth of small brush. The Provincial Weed Control Act dictates which species of weeds are to be controlled by the municipality and on private property.
The herbicides that could potentially be used are:

Clearview PCP #29752,
Truvist PCP #30920,
Lontrel 360 PCP #23545,
Milestone PCP #28517,
Navius VM PCP #31382

Some of these herbicides have residual characteristics and it is advised against the use on any soil or plant material from the ditches or any County owned property.

Subdivision and Reserve Weed Control

Agricultural Services will spot spray ditches or reserves with a selective herbicide for species designated as prohibited noxious and noxious under the Weed Control Act. Any subdivisions or reserves where chemical weed control will be taking place will have signs placed out prior to the application, that will be removed from the area after the re-entry time has past.
The County uses an integrated approach which includes, chemical, mechanical, biological and hand removal control methods for invasive species.

You can view the List of Subdivisions where weed control may take place this season.

Programs

Parkland County offers additional programs targeted at weed control in compliance with the Alberta Weed Control Act.

No spray agreement program

A no spray area is a section of municipal road which would normally be maintained under the regular Roadside Vegetation Management Program, but it has been requested by the immediately adjacent landowner to not be sprayed. Once the Agreement is signed and in place, the County provides the owner with two signs to be mounted on stakes which are a minimum of five feet tall. These signs must be placed in a highly visible area as close as possible to the property line.

Participation (Before May 1)

The no spray agreement is on an annual basis and must be completed each spring and returned, prior to May 1. By signing the agreement, you assume responsibility for all vegetation control in the designated area, including prohibited noxious and noxious weeds as listed in the Alberta Weed Control Act, along with grass, brush and sweet clover.

Inspection

If an inspection by County staff is completed and the vegetation is found to be improperly managed by non-chemical means, we reserve the right to spray the affected area. The area requested not to be sprayed will be returned to the regular Roadside Vegetation Management Program.

Roadside mowing program

Roadside mowing commences in June, weather permitting. Collector roads are given priority and are mowed more than once per season for safety considerations on high traffic roads.
Roadside mowing is completed with safety and weed control as top priorities, not for aesthetics. Due to the large land base of the County and the size of our mower fleet some roads may not be mowed until later in the season. Each year mowers are sent to different sections of the County and spread out on a rotational basis. We are not able to determine exactly when the mowers will arrive in a specific area as there are so many variables that affect the time it takes to mow each area. We appreciate your understanding and patience during the growing season.
Please ensure that all signs without a permit are removed before June 1st. Parkland County will remove and dispose of any unpermitted signs that are left within the road allowance.

Weed inspection program

Weed inspectors conduct random inspections and investigate complaints. Weed inspectors have the authority to enter private property without a landowner's permission to conduct inspections for prohibited noxious and noxious weeds. They may issue a notice for prohibited noxious and noxious weeds not being controlled.

Prohibited noxious weeds

Landowners must destroy prohibited noxious weeds as soon as they are found. These weeds spread rapidly and are highly competitive. Weeds in this category are restricted to prevent establishment in Alberta.

Noxious weeds

Landowners must control these weeds to prevent spreading and further establishment. Noxious weeds spread rapidly and cause severe crop losses and economic hardship.

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