Thank you for attending the ELC webinar on March 26th. Rewatch the webinar below.
The webinar reviewed highlights from our new publication Regulatory Evaluation of Alberta’s Wetland Policy Implementation. This publication, along with a companion document which provides more detail about the Wetland Policy and its regulatory context, is now available on our website.
It is important to recognize that the evaluation conducted by the ELC was a desk-top review. Regulatory evaluation would also benefit from a review of application and decision documents accompanied by a review of on-the-ground wetland conditions. However, this type of review is not within the purview of the ELC’s expertise as it requires scientific assessment of wetland biophysical conditions.
The Government of Alberta adopted the Wetland Policy in 2013 to address the loss of wetlands. As it has been over 10 years since its adoption, a substantive review of the Wetland Policy is due. The ELC undertook a regulatory evaluation of the Wetland Policy. The overall purpose of this evaluation is to ultimately achieve a regulatory regime that meets Wetland Policy goals, ensuring effective regulation and policy for the management and conservation of Alberta’s wetlands.
The ELC evaluated the key regulatory system components identified in the Wetland Policy, as well as decision-making related to wetland disturbance approvals issued under the Water Act. The ELC found that many of the key regulatory system components identified in the policy either remain undeveloped or are in need of improvement. We also found that decision-making could be improved to better implement the mitigation hierarchy, a key principle of the Wetland Policy.
Based on the results of our regulatory evaluation, the ELC makes several recommendations. For the regulatory system components identified in the Wetland Policy, we make recommendations for the completion and improved accessibility of necessary knowledge and information systems; the development of performance measures and enhanced monitoring and reporting to assess progress toward policy goals; and improved supports for wetland education, outreach and stewardship. These recommendations include the creation of a Wetland Policy Registry as a centralized depository of all wetland information.
The ELC also makes recommendations to improve the implementation of the mitigation hierarchy in regulatory decision-making. These include integration of wetland management goals, thresholds and targets into regional, municipal and water management planning; and providing clear definitions and guidance on the mitigation hierarchy steps of avoidance, minimization and replacement to establish primary focus on avoidance. Other recommendations are designed to refine the use of wetland reclamation and replacement as options in wetland management and decision-making.
THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT
Your support is vital for stronger environmental legislation. As Alberta’s leading environmental charity, the Environmental Law Centre has served our community for over 40 years, providing objective guidance on crucial legislative changes. Your contribution helps protect our environment for future generations.
Please support our work: Share, engage and donate to the ELC