2024 Achievements in Environmental Sustainability

Parkland County recognizes the unique natural beauty and biodiversity of our region and are proud of our focus in 2024 to uphold our pillars of sustainability. Here is a quick overview of our highlights to share:

Did you know? In 2024, we focused on planting numerous trees on multiple sites as follows:

• Number of Sites Planted: 13
• Area Planted: 35,000 m2 (OR 9 acres)
• Number of trees planted 28,000
  
  

More Highlights:  

Fire Guard Planting:

• Agriculture and Environment worked with AWES (Alberta Woodlot and Extension Society) and planted locations along the Range Road 70 fire guard near Entwistle - between the Pembina River and Range Road 72, south of Entwistle.
• Planting was done on properties that had fire guards on their property and where residents expressed interest in planting those fire guards.
• The species planted were: Saskatoon, Chokecherry, Jack Pine, Tamarack, Black Spruce, Trembling Aspen, Poplar, White Birch, Red Osier Dogwood, White Spruce, Prickly Rose, Sandbar Willow, Lodgepole Pine

Range Road 43 Soil Stabilization (Funded through WRRP grant):

• 700 trees and shrubs were planted adjacent to Range Road 43 to help stabilize the soils within a steep slope area that has been subject to slumping
• Species planted: Balsam Poplar, Trembling Aspen, White Spruce, and Red-Osier Dogwood

Prospectors Point Stabilization (funded through WRRP grant):

• 280 shrubs planted within an area subject to soil erosion within the North Saskatchewan River Valley
• The planted area is adjacent to the wooden staircase along our trail system, east of Prospector’s Point
• Species included: Woods Rose, Snowberry, Wolf Willow

Sauer Lake Riparian Planting:

• 360 trees and shrubs were planted within a disturbed riparian area adjacent to Sauer Lake (funded through WRRP grant)
• The planting took place as part of a public workshop hosted on October 6th
• Species planted: Trembling Aspen, Balsam Poplar, Bebbs Willow, and Pussy Willow

Edinburgh Park Planting:

• Planting took place at our wetland construction project in the Edinburgh Park Subdivision (funded under the provincial Wetland Replacement Program)
• Included 1,000 aquatic plugs and 600 willows
• Species included Creeping Spike Rush, Utriculata Sedge, Bebbs Sedge, Water Sedge, Wild mint, Pussy Willow, and Yellow Willow