This fall, Alberta’s government will remove Water Act approval requirements for routine agricultural activities involving ephemeral water bodies and temporary and seasonal wetlands on private cropland.
“Farmers should not have to spend thousands of dollars and wait on government approval to carry out routine work on their own land. We are restoring private property rights and getting government out of the way where it doesn’t need to be. These common-sense changes will save farmers time and money and give them greater control over how they manage their own property.”
Grant Hunter, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas
The changes respond directly to concerns raised by Alberta farmers and agricultural organizations about unnecessary regulatory burden.
Under the current system, routine farming activities can trigger regulatory requirements if they affect a temporary or seasonal wetland. In some cases, a farmer may have to hire a qualified wetland professional, complete an assessment, wait for government review and pay wetland replacement costs before proceeding.
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