Introduction

Ownership of small acreages, hobby farms and recreational properties is growing. Increasingly, these property owners are searching for information and support to manage their properties in a sustainable manner.

Land Stewardship Centre developed the Green Acreages resources (workbook and primer) especially for acreage, hobby farm and recreational property owners, to help them develop and implement stewardship practices that conserve and protect the valuable natural assets, such as air, land, water, wildlife, associated with their properties.

With funding from Alberta's Watershed Resiliency and Restoration Program and support from rural municipalities, Land Stewardship Centre is expanding the Green Acreages program and is now accepting applications from small acreage, hobby farm and recreational property owners to fund cost-shared, eligible stewardship initiatives on their properties.

Through this funding initiative, eligible projects will be funded on a 25-75 cost-share basis up to a maximum of $4500 per project against cash expenditures with receipts. Property owners must contribute 25% of the total project cost in cash or in-kind value. Applicants are welcome to seek funding from other sources/other grants but cannot not apply for the Beaver Hills Biosphere Rural Residential Stewardship Program funding for the same project.

To be eligible, cost-share projects must incorporate beneficial management practices that will lessen the impacts of flooding and drought incidents. For example:
  • Projects that enhance natural watershed function (drainage projects, rain barrels and associated hardware do not qualify)
  • Wetland enhancements, such as enhancing riparian and upland vegetation associated with wetlands
  • Stormwater management, such as natural erosion controls, planting vegetation, wetland enhancements or construction, hydrologic function enhancement for the watershed (may include planting, contouring, wetland construction), floodplain restoration, low-impact developments (such as rain gardens and bioswales)
  • Riparian zone enhancements through planting native species and buffers
  • Shoreline remediation and/or re-naturalization, such as planting native species, reinforcing shoreline through soil bioengineering and other natural methods
  • Erosion reduction measures (e.g., shoreline or riparian naturalization with native plants, establishing a buffer of native plants between landscaped areas and bodies of water, and re-establishment of shorelines through soil bioengineering and other natural methods)
  • Exclusion fencing, off-site watering systems and stream crossings (e.g., to keep livestock out of water bodies and away from riparian areas)
  • Projects must use native species in planting initiatives to be eligible for funding. Refer to this list to ensure the species you select are native to Alberta.
If at any time you have questions about the Green Acreages program or this application form, please contact the program coordinator, Milena McWatt at milena@landstewardship.org or 780-483-1885 extension 222.
 
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