No say in Ducks Unlimited projects
Although members of the East New Norway Water Management Area approached Camrose County about its concerns about two proposed Ducks Unlimited projects, the County informed them that the projects are between the landowners, Alberta Environment and Ducks Unlimited.
The New Norway representatives provided information at the January 9 council meeting and again on February 13.
“Yesterday we sent a letter to Tracy Scott of Ducks Unlimited about the code of conduct and the projects are in contravention of the code and the projects require Alberta Environment approval before going ahead and proceeding. The code does not apply to a wetland project that occurs within a flood way. The code defines a flood way and so does the Camrose County land use bylaw. Both these definitions support the drainage ditch is a flood way and it would be a contravention of the code to place the wetland upon it. It states it must not affect another water user or licence holder,” said water management spokesman Scott Keller.
The group asked council to work together to come up with new and updated guidelines to work together.
“Legally, as Camrose County we can’t tell a landowner what they can or can’t do on their land. Even if we come up with a bylaw, it wouldn’t have an effect in this situation,” said councillor Tina Sroka.
“When I look at this interim licence, it talks about drainage of agricultural land. Nowhere in it does it say that the purpose of draining that land is to feed the Battle River Watershed or basin to provide water for other water licence holders. I think that is making a greater assumption,” said councillor Carlene Wetthuhn.
“When we sought legal advice, they were clear to us what our role in this is and it doesn’t have an impact on the ditch and it’s ability to drain water. The only thing we should worry about is the purpose of this licence. I understand these (your) comments, but for us to go against legal advice is very difficult now. That would put us in a situation because we purposely sought advice and then to go against it would really put us in a difficult situation,” added Wetthuhn. “Our role is only to file a statement of concern because we are not the governing body. We are not Alberta Environment to approve or not approve this. Our legal advice is that we have no justification to file a statement of concern.”
Ducks Unlimited and Alberta Environment and Protected Areas provided information at a January 18th meeting with the County.
The Ducks Unlimited projects, Fankhanel 1 (SW6-45-20-W4) and Fankhanel 2 (SE5-45-20-W4M) are on quarters of land that have the East New Norway Water Management Licence easement held by Camrose County. This water management area is a system of ditches that facilitates the movement of spring run off from the 49 member parcels.
Ducks Unlimited notified Camrose County of the projects in March 2023 and then confirmed the projects were going ahead in November 2023. As an easement holder Camrose County was notified.
County Agriculture Services manager Kevin MacDonald had responded in the spring of 2023, to the notification as is normal practice, expressing concerns about weed control.
At the time of the November project confirmation notice, administration had heard from the landowners that they had concerns, so administrator Teresa Gratrix and MacDonald met with Tracy Scott of Ducks Unlimited to get more information on the project.
Camrose County administration scheduled and held a general meeting of the Water Management Area members on December 14. During the discussion on this matter, the attendees requested that the wetland restoration matter come before council.
A delegation of the landowners spoke to council and presented their concerns at the January 9 meeting. A meeting was also held on January 18th in which the contractor for the project, Ducks Unlimited and a representative of Alberta Environment and Protected Areas, met with the landowners and representatives of council to discuss the project and their concerns.