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Enforcement activities, annual report

Description

The GoA is committed to a vision of a vibrant and prosperous province where Albertans enjoy a superior quality of life and are confidence about the future for themselves and their children. Safe... More ≫

Description

The GoA is committed to a vision of a vibrant and prosperous province where Albertans enjoy a superior quality of life and are confidence about the future for themselves and their children. Safe and adequate supplies of water, clean air and land, together with healthy, dynamic communities are the foundations of a high quality of life. All Albertans share responsibility for stewardship of the environment and the responsible use of our natural resources. As part of its mandate, Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development is responsible for working with Albertans to ensure that environmental quality is maintained and that natural resources are used responsibly.

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Limber pine, whitebark pine, alpine heath, and terricolous alpine lichen vegetation alliances in Alberta

Description

This study provides a provincial-level classification of plant associations within the Alberta limber pine, whitebark pine, and alpine heath vegetation alliances, and further characterizes other... More ≫

Description

This study provides a provincial-level classification of plant associations within the Alberta limber pine, whitebark pine, and alpine heath vegetation alliances, and further characterizes other high elevation treeless vegetation types. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used to identify vegetation associations. Qualitative information was used from published and unpublished reports. The quantitative approach used Alberta Ecological Site Information System (ESIS) data (14 limber pine plots, 66 whitebark pine plots, and 447 treeless plots with elevation >/=2000 m) which were analyzed by via classification, ordination, and statistics. Qualitative and quantitative types were merged where they overlapped.

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Growth intercept models for assessing the site potential of young lodgepole pine stands in Alberta

Description

Forest management practices related to tree harvesting and regeneration in Alberta have historically attempted to replicate the effects of natural disturbance patterns. In order to maintain a... More ≫

Description

Forest management practices related to tree harvesting and regeneration in Alberta have historically attempted to replicate the effects of natural disturbance patterns. In order to maintain a sustained yield, and an ecosystem based sustainable forest management practice that aims at duplicating or potentially exceeding natural forest yields, and that emphasizes the maintenance of diversity among forest types, an assessment of the regeneration performance on the harvested areas is required. This assessment includes the quantification of regenerated site potentials, as commonly measured by site index. Growth intercept models were developed in this study to estimate site index based on a few years of juvenile height growth above a conveniently selected base height. In addition to being able to be used to predict site index in juvenile stands, these growth intercept models can also be used as the basis for projecting regenerated yields, evaluating silvicultural alternatives, and...

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Sand and gravel ... where a river runs through it : (a report on sand and gravel extraction in river valleys)

Description

This document focuses on the resource manager's approval process for extraction activities of surface materials in relation to existing guidelines or studies undertaken by different agencies. Many... More ≫

Description

This document focuses on the resource manager's approval process for extraction activities of surface materials in relation to existing guidelines or studies undertaken by different agencies. Many of these guidelines and studies have not been used by field staff in the past.

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Ecologically based site index curves and tables for major Alberta tree species

Description

This document presents ecologically based, reference-age invariant polymorphic height growth and site index models for major Alberta tree species. The models were developed using tree sectioning... More ≫

Description

This document presents ecologically based, reference-age invariant polymorphic height growth and site index models for major Alberta tree species. The models were developed using tree sectioning data from dominant and codominant trees. They can be used to predict the following: 1. Tree height from site index and breast height age, 2. site index from tree height and breast height age, 3. years needed for a tree to grow to a specified height, 4. height growth intercept. Since the models were fitted for the province as a whole and for groups of newly classified Natural Regions of Alberta, they can also be used to examine the regional differences of the height growth pattern. Relationships among breast height age, stump age and total age were also established so that compatible height growth and site index predictions can be made from any type of tree age. Tables and computer programs for predicting height growth and site index were prepared, along with a brief description of how to use...

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Canmore flood risk mapping study

Description

The Canmore Flood Risk Mapping Study was conducted as part of the Canada-Alberta Flood Damage Reduction Program to prepare flood risk maps for a 20 km reach of the Bow River from the Banff... More ≫

Description

The Canmore Flood Risk Mapping Study was conducted as part of the Canada-Alberta Flood Damage Reduction Program to prepare flood risk maps for a 20 km reach of the Bow River from the Banff National Park boundary, through the Town of Canmore,to downstream of Dead Man Flat. This study is concerned with only surface flooding caused by open-water floods. Potential flooding because of groundwater was not investigated. A review of historical flooding int he study area indicates that recent flood events, including the 1974 flood, have return periods lower than five years based on the hydrologic assessment by Alberta Environment, Hydrology Branch. The review also indicates that ice-related flooding has rarely occurred through the Town of Canmore.

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High River - Highwood River, Baker Creek and Little Bow River - flood hazard study

Description

This study delineates flood hazard areas and determines design flood levels along an approximate 31 km length of the Highwood River through High River. The design discharge for the Highwood River... More ≫

Description

This study delineates flood hazard areas and determines design flood levels along an approximate 31 km length of the Highwood River through High River. The design discharge for the Highwood River ranges from 750 m³/s at the upstream study extent to 650 m³/s at the downstream extent. Included in the study area are lands flooded by overflow from the Highwood River into the Little Bow River via Baker Creek and the Little Bow Canal, along approximately 3 km of Baker Creek and almost 1 km of the Little Bow River. The flood hazard mapping in a portion of the overflow area and along the Little Bow River is currently under review by Environment and Sustainable Resource Development. The study was prepared in August 1992. Flood information available after study completion may not be reflected in the current flood hazard study report or flood hazard mapping.

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Assessment and remediation of earthen pits associated with oil and gas production in Alberta

Description

This document provides a framework for contaminant assessment and its use in identification of remedial options. Particular attention is paid to potential roles for land treatment and backfilling.... More ≫

Description

This document provides a framework for contaminant assessment and its use in identification of remedial options. Particular attention is paid to potential roles for land treatment and backfilling. These operations are likely to be considered early in the decommissioning process because of their perceived economy and frequent historical use. Whereas land treatment is expected to play a role in future decommissioning, it is appropriate only in certain instances and is but one of the many tools available to their land manager. Because inappropriate spreading of wastes on land damages soil that currently is not degraded it is paramount that circumstances leading to this result be avoided. Proposals following are designed to minimize the occurrence of unnecessary environmental damage.

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Vegetation, flora, fauna and special features of the proposed McGregor Lake natural area, Alberta, Canada

Description

The McGregor Lake area was chosen as a prospective Natural Area because of its representative foothills vegetation and the presence of Oplapanax Horridum (Devil's club). A biophysical survey of... More ≫

Description

The McGregor Lake area was chosen as a prospective Natural Area because of its representative foothills vegetation and the presence of Oplapanax Horridum (Devil's club). A biophysical survey of the McGregor Lake Natural area was undertaken from August 15-21, 1987. The vegetation and physical features of 25 stands, representing seven major vegetation types, were described. The vegetation types were mapped at 1:15,000. The vegetation and flora were found to be characteristic of the Boreal Uplands Ecoregion. Approximately 80 percent of the study area is dominated by lodgepole pine and/or white spruce forests. Other habitats include poplar forests, shrub-forb thickets, tall grass meadows and a treed fen.

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The proposed Alberta-Pacific pulp mill : report of the EIA Review Board

Description

Although the proposed mill would be one of the least polluting bleached kraft pulp mills in the world, and even though it would have economic benefits associated with it, the Review Board... More ≫

Description

Although the proposed mill would be one of the least polluting bleached kraft pulp mills in the world, and even though it would have economic benefits associated with it, the Review Board recommends that it not be approved at this time. The major reason for this recommendation is the effluent which would be discharged to the Athabasca River, and in particular, its content of chlorinated organic compounds and the cumulative effects this effluent and that from other mills would have on the Athabasca-Peace River system. The Alberta-Pacific would use technology which would reduce the chlorinated organic compounds to a low concentration. However, the limited available data indicate that there are already measurable amounts of dioxins and furans in fish in the river system near existing mills and extending to more than 1000 km downstream.

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