Publications

A guide to understanding and using the project selection and priority ranking tool

Description

As part of the government's response to the June 2013 flooding in Southern Alberta, the Southern Alberta Fisheries Habitat Enhancement and Sustainability (FISHES) Program was established with the... More ≫

Description

As part of the government's response to the June 2013 flooding in Southern Alberta, the Southern Alberta Fisheries Habitat Enhancement and Sustainability (FISHES) Program was established with the aim of mitigating the flood-related effects on fish and fish habitat in the short term and to re-establish a healthy aquatic environment over the longer term. In the absence of an existing process, a number of new tools were developed by the FISHES Program to support effective decision making and the allocation of program funds. The Project Selection and Priority Ranking Tool was developed to help evaluate potential projects based on thirteen biological, social and economic criteria which are weighted to reflect both provincial fisheries management priorities and local fisheries issues and concerns.

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Ungulate response guide

Description

This guide provides a standard approach in deciding ungulate management responses. It is a resource for government staff who must act in situations of conflict where clear, concise and consistent... More ≫

Description

This guide provides a standard approach in deciding ungulate management responses. It is a resource for government staff who must act in situations of conflict where clear, concise and consistent direction is needed. The guide is the result of collaboration among biologists, enforcement officers, and problem wildlife specialists.

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Cougar response guide

Description

This guide provides a standard approach in deciding cougar management responses. It is a resource for government staff who must act in situations of conflict where clear, concise and consistent... More ≫

Description

This guide provides a standard approach in deciding cougar management responses. It is a resource for government staff who must act in situations of conflict where clear, concise and consistent direction is needed. The guide supports the province's Cougar Management Plan (2012) and is the result of collaboration among biologists, enforcement officers, and problem wildlife specialists.

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Alberta environmental site assessment standard

Description

This document is intended to provide a consistent outline of minimum requirements for Phase 1 and 2 environmental site assessments (ESAs) and confirmatory investigations. It also provides guidance... More ≫

Description

This document is intended to provide a consistent outline of minimum requirements for Phase 1 and 2 environmental site assessments (ESAs) and confirmatory investigations. It also provides guidance on related regulatory requirements of Alberta Environment and Parks and of the Alberta Energy Regulator.

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Translocation of greater sage-grouse from Montana to Alberta : 2011-2013 progress report

Description

In 2008, a collaborative project was initiated between Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and Alberta Environment and Parks to augment the remaining Canadian population of Greater sage-grouse in... More ≫

Description

In 2008, a collaborative project was initiated between Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and Alberta Environment and Parks to augment the remaining Canadian population of Greater sage-grouse in southeastern Alberta. Over a two year period (2011-2012) 41 sage-grouse were captured in Montana and translocated to Alberta. These birds were monitored remotely through the use of Global Positioning System (GPS) Platform Transmitter Terminals (PTTs). This report presents results of the project to date.

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North Saskatchewan River hydrodynamic and water quality model calibration

Description

The application of a dynamic water quality model representing the North Saskatchewan River (NSR) reaches, being potentially impacted by activities in the Capital Region and Industrial Heartland... More ≫

Description

The application of a dynamic water quality model representing the North Saskatchewan River (NSR) reaches, being potentially impacted by activities in the Capital Region and Industrial Heartland (IH), was identified by the IH Steering Committee as a key component in providing support for implementation of the Water Management Framework. As such, Alberta Environment and Parks (formerly Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development) has developed a hydrodynamic and water quality model, based on the Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code (EFDC) platform for the North Saskatchewan River system. The use of this model application evaluates contaminant loadings, and their effect on river water quality, under various management and engineering options in the IH area. Additionally, the dynamic water quality model is the basis for a larger integrated model of the NSR Basin to support broader-scale watershed and regional planning.

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Directive for monitoring the impact of sulphur dust on soils [2015]

Description

Specifies regulatory requirements and provides guidance for monitoring and mitigation of the impacts of air-borne sulphur dust on soils from sulphur handling, processing and storage facilities.

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Development and validation of analytical methods for elemental sulphur in Alberta soils

Description

Deposition of air-borne sulphur dust from industrial facilities that handle or process solid elemental sulphur has the potential to cause soil acidification at or near those sites in Alberta. Lack... More ≫

Description

Deposition of air-borne sulphur dust from industrial facilities that handle or process solid elemental sulphur has the potential to cause soil acidification at or near those sites in Alberta. Lack of suitable analytical methods for elemental sulphyr has become a challenge for soil monitoring for industry operators and regulators. An acetone extraction-sodium cyanide colorimetric analysis method has been used in Alberta but environmental consultants and laboratories complained about the high detection limit and questioned its reliability. A chloroform extraction-HPLC analysis method developed in New Zealand was reported to work well with a wide range of agricultural mineral soils and some sediments. It was not clear if it would be suitable in Alberta because the impact of elemental sulphur on soils is frequently monitored in forested sites where organic materials from forest litter may interfere. There was also a need to assess if the above-noted methods were compatible with the...

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Technical report for the 2012 Lower Athabasca Region air quality management framework (AQMF) management response

Description

The Government of Alberta is reporting to Albertans on the results of a technical investigation of air trigger exceedances for Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) at air monitoring... More ≫

Description

The Government of Alberta is reporting to Albertans on the results of a technical investigation of air trigger exceedances for Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) at air monitoring stations in the Lower Athabasca Region (LAR) for the year 2012. The investigation was initiated under the Lower Athabasca Region Air Quality Management Framework for Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) (LAR AQMF) and helps fulfill a commitment made in the Lower Athabasca Regional Plan to initiate a management response when annual assessments indicate triggers or limits have been exceeded. The monitoring results are found in the 2012 Status of Ambient Environmental Conditions report. The air quality investigation followed the first two steps (verification and preliminary assessment) in the management response and recommendations from the investigation will inform the selection of mitigative management actions. This report presents the findings of the investigation, as described...

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Preliminary classification of silver sagebrush (Artemisia cana) community types

Description

The Nature Conservancy has developed a standardised hierarchical system to facilitate the identification and classification of vegetated terrestrial communities (Schneider et al. 1997; NatureServe... More ≫

Description

The Nature Conservancy has developed a standardised hierarchical system to facilitate the identification and classification of vegetated terrestrial communities (Schneider et al. 1997; NatureServe 2000). The upper hierarchical levels (class and subclass) are based on vegetation structure, height and leaf form; the middle levels (group and formation) are based on climate, hydrology and leaf form; the lowest levels (alliance and association) are based on floristic composition of the uppermost strata (alliance) and total floristic composition (association). An important aspect to the classification is that the community elements are related to a set of environmental factors rather than to a particular site, allowing the classification to have ecological meaning over a broad geographical range. The lowest level of the hierarchy (the plant association) has a definite floristic composition and uniform physiography, and represents uniform habitat conditions. Habitat refers to the...

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