Important notice

Reservation data is being transitioned from the Geographic Land Information Management Planning System (GLIMPS) to the new Data Management Platform (DMP) in support of the Regulatory Transformation Project.

Reservation data conversion

Alberta Environment and Protected Areas has been reviewing existing reservations for conversion into the new Crown land reservation data layer. Every reservation will have its associated spatial information located within the Alberta Geospatial Services Platform (AGSP). The Crown land reservation data will be incorporated into Alberta Environment and Protected Areas and the Alberta Energy Regulator’s digital systems, while other regulatory processes will be updated to address the new data elements.

The newly converted data and Land Use Reservation Program (LURP) web-based application process is scheduled to be released in the summer of 2022.

Land Use Reservation Program Directive

Release of the Land Use Reservation Program Directive signals a reaffirmation and update to the use of reservations and the supporting program as a key land management tool. The directive provides a framework for the use of Crown Land Reservations responsibly to manage Crown land for intended outcomes.

Land Use Reservation Program overview

With multiple Crown land users and regulatory bodies, the Land Use Reservation Program (LURP) provides a common registry of information to guide and inform users and regulators.

The establishment of a Crown land reservation (a “reservation”) on a landscape enables provincial policy or program objectives that relate to the identified Crown land area.

Reservation information

The information within a reservation helps applicants make informed decisions when considering, planning and seeking authorization for any Crown land use activity they wish to undertake on Crown lands.

Reservation information also informs regulatory decision-makers about key management objectives on Crown land. For example, the presence of a reservation on a particular parcel of land may affect whether a proposed activity on that land should be authorized or how it could be mitigated to align with the management outcomes for that parcel of land.

What a reservation is

A “reservation” or “Crown land reservation” means a record within the public land registry that identifies and provides notice to users that a specified management intent as supported by policy and government programs applies to a parcel of crown land.

For additional clarity, a reservation is not a disposition, does not grant any rights to public land or rights to access or occupy public land or rights to the resources on the land or under it.

How reservations are managed

All public land is owned by the Crown and administered by the Minister responsible for the Public Lands Act. Reservations created by the Minister for other Ministries, agencies and external applicants are managed under the reservation program on their behalf.

A reservation can either indicate where communication with a reservation holder is required before any commitment is made on Crown land, indicate specific or detailed requirements regarding the use of Crown land, or prohibit specific land use activities on Crown land.

Accessing Crown land reservation layers

Applicants looking to obtain a disposition are subject to follow the appropriate regulatory process as informed by the regulatory body. Reservation data will be incorporated into those processes as appropriate.

Accessing converted reservation information

Although converted reservation information will no longer be kept within GLIMPS and identified within Land Standing Reports, an applicant will need to access existing spatial tools where this spatially mapped information and associated data attributes will reside, such as the Landscape Analysis Tool or OneStop.

Other application processes will consider these reservation spatial layers as related to those regulatory processes or land decisions.

Other GIS viewer updates

Other web-based GIS viewers that show disposition data have been updated to show Crown land Reservations. Updated viewers include:

  • ACL
  • ACIMT
  • AltaBase
  • CE-DST
  • FireWeb
  • FWIMT
  • GeoCulture
  • Parks
  • PHAP

Users of ArcGIS Desktop and ArcGIS pro can access Crown land Reservation feature classes in the BaseMapping and BaseFeatures enterprise geodatabases. It is also accessible via Layer Manager.

Crown land Reservations can be accessed via services at:

This data will be available soon to the public via service and downloadable spatial data at:

When accessing the ‘Crownland Reservation Layer’, reservations under application or active will be displayed with their associated data attributes. This means, users will also be able to view and access existing or proposed reservation information that could influence their application if a proposed activity intersects.

Referencing reservation numbers

As the department continues to transition and update information within the new DMP, and as reservation holders update contact information, applicants can reference the historical reservation number or the new Crown Land Reservation (CLR) number, and obtain contact information within the remarks portion of the reservation data attributes.

The process for addressing reservations in a disposition application will be outlined in upcoming publications when the new program features come into effect.

Responsibilities of reservation holders and applicants

Beginning mid-July 2022, you can access Crown land reservation information spatially and be aware of the requirements of existing reservations.

  • Applicant responsibilities

    If you are an applicant, it is your responsibility to be aware of any impacted reservations by your proposed activity and if required, address the reservation requirements to meet requirements of regulatory application.

    Applicants prior to application, need to perform the following steps:

    1. Reference the Crownland Reservation layer,
    2. If the proposed activity intersects one or more reservations, assess if the activity falls into one of the identified Sectors.
      1. If your sector is identified, it is your responsibility to complete or address the identified Action.
      2. If your sector is not identified, then no further action is required of this reservation.
    3. If you have already addressed the reservation requirements prior to this updated release, the applicant may provide those documents and information as justification in meeting the identified Action.

    Should an applicant have any questions, they can contact their appropriate regulatory regional office to assess any impacts to an upcoming proposed application.

  • Reservation holder responsibilities

    If you are a reservation holder and, for example, the reservation indicates the Action for “Clearance” of a particular Sector, your responsibility will be to respond to a clearance request from an applicant.

    Your responsibility is to indicate whether you are satisfied the proposed activity meets the clearance requirements as informed by the overall management intent and/or it can be mitigated.

    Note: Should a reservation holder fail to respond to a request within established timelines, an applicant may still submit a regulatory application, to which the receiving regulatory body will assess if further steps are required to manage the impacted reservation.

New LURP benefits

The Land Use Reservation Program will be supported by a new reservation database structure that will inform spatial systems and processes.

The LURP will transition from a paper-based application to a new, web-based digital application system to submit and manage Crown land reservations for purposes of streamlining administrative processes.

Reservation decisions will be made only after affected stakeholders impacts have been considered as informed through referral to their governing ministries or agencies.

The reservation program will achieve the following goals:

  • Outdated or irrelevant reservations will be removed,
  • Reservation data will be restructured where data attributes will communicate clear direction for regulatory processes
  • There will be increased clarity for proponents, holders and decision makers through clear policy direction.

Reservation data changes

  • All reservation types will fall under one reservation type and as referred to as a Crown Land Reservation (CLR). This was changed in an effort to provide clarity by reducing the variety of reservation types for the same tool within the land-use system.
  • All reservations will be reviewed to align with relevant Government of Alberta policies and programs. This assures all reservations are credible when informing allocation, application processes and regulatory decisions.
  • Decisions to establish reservations will be defensible by assigning the statutory decision-maker role to senior individuals in AEP that have strategic visibility and operational understanding of complex issues on a busy public land base.
  • The program will undergo process enhancements by transitioning to a web-based application process accompanied with a standardized set of requirements used to evaluate reservation applications.
  • The new DMP will improve the collection of data, better inform and manage referral processes, and simplify spatial data requirements of applicants.
  • Improved reservation data will better inform regulatory decision-makers who rely on available information to make decisions on the management, allocation of public land or subsurface land sales.

Here are the new and important database characteristics of a Crown Land Reservation:

  • Crown Land Reservation (CLR)

    This new type will be established for existing and new reservations within the database and reflected in spatial layers. Historical reservation numbers will be retained for reference as created in past systems.

    Previously referred to as nine reservation types, such as:

    • Company Notation Consultative
    • Consultative Notations
    • Holding Reservations
    • Industrial Sample Plots
    • Protective Notations
    • Legislated designations, including:
      • Ecological Reservation by Order-in-Council
      • Designated Historic Resource
      • Heritage Rangeland
      • Natural Area by Order-in-Council
      • Parks Reservations

  • Disposition Reservations (DRS, PRS, RDS)

    These types will continue to exist as crown land disposition types and no longer within the reservation context. Terms, definitions and procedural documents will be updated over the next few months to provide clarity and align processes with this new understanding.

    Applications can continue as currently enabled for these processes while these updates occur.

  • Actions

    Indicate the action(s) required within a reservation to meet the outcomes of specific management intent of the reservation.

  • Sectors

    Adapted from past Restriction and Exemption codes, these database characteristics indicate the specific sector identified to complete the assigned action(s) as defined within a reservation type. Applicants of an identified sector are required to complete identified actions to meet regulatory application processes.

Contact

Connect with the Lands Division of Alberta Environment and Protected Areas regarding the Land Use Reservation Program and its development and implementation.

Future and ongoing engagement sessions will occur regarding the project, program details and timelines of release.

Email: [email protected]