Alberta invests $5.3 million to restore wetlands
The Alberta government is investing $5.3 million through the Wetland Replacement Program to restore and construct 67 hectares of wetlands across central and southern Alberta.
The seven projects are intended to strengthen natural defences against flooding and drought, improve water quality and support healthier ecosystems and communities.
Strathcona county wetland. Photo Government of Alberta
Wetlands store and slowly release water, reducing the impacts of floods and drought, while filtering runoff, recharging groundwater and providing habitat for wildlife.
“Restoring wetlands is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce future flood and drought risks,” said Environment and Protected Areas Minister Grant Hunter. “These projects show what’s possible when governments, landowners and partners work together.”
One project is located in Special Area No. 3, where a drained wetland on private land will be restored to a fully functional wetland, increasing water storage in a typically dry region.
Another major investment supports Ducks Unlimited Canada, which is receiving nearly $1.94 million to construct three wetlands totalling more than 52 hectares in partnership with private landowners southeast of Holden, southwest of Youngstown and southwest of New Sarepta.
Additional projects include wetland construction in Parkland, Strathcona and Sturgeon counties, as well as the Ann and Sandy Cross Conservation Area.
Since 2020, Alberta has invested more than $25 million through the Wetland Replacement Program, restoring or constructing about 676 hectares of wetlands across the province.
The program prioritizes areas with high wetland loss and allows developers to pay a replacement fee when wetlands are impacted by construction. Rural landowners play a key role in delivering projects and have received more than $6 million since 2020 for hosting new or restored wetlands.
Projects receiving funding in the 2025–26 fiscal year include:
Parkland County: $343,750
Strathcona County: $2.42 million
Sturgeon County: $414,975
Ann and Sandy Cross Conservation Area: $267,232
Ducks Unlimited Canada: $1.93 million