A restored wetland in Strathcona County.
Alberta’s government is investing $5.3 million through the Wetland Replacement Program to add 67 hectares of new wetlands – roughly five times the size of West Edmonton Mall – across central and southern Alberta. The seven projects will help strengthen our natural flood and drought defences, improve water quality and support healthier communities.
Wetlands act as nature’s “sponges.” They store and slowly release water to help reduce the damaging effects of flooding and drought, and filter runoff to help keep our rivers and lakes clean. Wetlands also recharge our groundwater and provide diverse habitat for plants and animals.
“Restoring wetlands is one of the most cost effective ways to reduce future flood and drought risks. These projects show what’s possible when governments, local partners and landowners work together. By rebuilding wetlands where they matter most, we’re creating a stronger province.”
“Strathcona County is pleased to partner with the Government of Alberta on this important investment in wetland replacement. Wetlands play an essential role in sustaining the natural systems that support our communities. Together with the province, we are restoring landscapes that will benefit residents, wildlife and the long term health of our ecosystems.”
“This investment supports our long-standing commitment to land stewardship and watershed health. By restoring wetlands at the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area, we are strengthening biodiversity, improving water quality, and creating healthy landscapes that support local communities, landowners and shared environmental outcomes across the region.”
The seven projects include:
- In Special Area No. 3, turning a drained wetland on private land back into a fully functional wetland that will help store more water in a typically dry region.
- In Strathcona County, large end pit lakes from past industrial use will be converted into wetlands that will help store, filter and clean water near the North Saskatchewan River.
- In Parkland County, turning a low-lying upland area into water-storing wetlands to reduce the risk of floods downstream.
Alberta’s Wetland Replacement Program is a model for Canada and growing each year. Since 2020, Alberta has invested more than $25 million through the Wetland Replacement Program into restoring or constructing about 676 hectares of wetlands across the province.
This is part of the government’s work to protect Albertans from drought and floods, and support strong, thriving communities across the province.
Quick facts
- The Wetland Replacement Program provides a way to restore wetlands across the province and prioritizes areas with the highest rates of wetland loss. If a wetland is impacted during construction of a project, the proponent can choose to pay a wetland replacement fee to the Alberta government in lieu of replacing the lost wetland.
- Projects receiving funding in fiscal year 2025-26:
- Parkland County – $343,750 to construct a 1.25-hectare wetland northeast of Spruce Grove
- Strathcona County – $2,424,467 to construct an 11-hectare wetland north of Sherwood Park
- Sturgeon County – $414,975 to construct a 1.65-hectare wetland northeast of St. Albert
- Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area – $267,232 to construct a 1.1-hectare wetland in the conservation area
- Ducks Unlimited Canada - $1,933,985 to construct three wetlands totalling 52.11 hectares in partnership with private landowners southeast of Holden, southwest of Youngstown and southwest of New Sarepta
- Municipalities, non-profits and rural landowners play a critical role in delivering wetland replacement projects. Since 2020, rural landowners have received more than $6.04 million in payments for hosting new or restored wetlands on their properties.