Province invests in natural flood and drought protection

The provincial government is providing grants to 12 organizations through the Watershed Resiliency and Restoration Program that will help improve the flood and drought resiliency of communities across the province.

“Restoring Alberta’s natural flood and drought defences is a critical part of our government’s plan to better protect families, businesses and our economy from increasingly severe natural disasters. Improving the capacity of our natural landscapes to store water through measures like wetland and riverbank restoration is an added line of defence as we invest in major flood control infrastructure.”
Shannon Phillips, Minister of Environment and Parks

The grants are issued to organizations that support the program’s aim of protecting communities from flood and drought by improving natural watershed functions through the restoration of degraded areas.

“This timely grant by the Government of Alberta is integral to our conservation efforts. Based on our previous success engaging with communities in the Bow River watershed, we are confident that the grant will allow us to conserve land essential to watershed resiliency.”
Jerry Brunen, Executive Director, Western Sky Land Trust

In addition to education, outreach, and the development of analytical tools, grant approvals announced today will fund the restoration of more than five kilometres of riparian areas and the creation or restoration of more than 16 hectares of wetlands. Most of the work will be done in the Bow River or Oldman River basins.

The Watershed Resiliency and Restoration Program is a three-year, $21-million program. Funding is available to non-governmental organizations, stewardship groups and other not-for-profit organizations, as well as municipalities, First Nations and local authorities.

Media inquiries

Emily-Anne Paul
780-554-1992

Press Secretary, Environment and Parks

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