Municipal Leaders
Rural and urban municipal leaders create plans, bylaws and incentive programs to protect and manage riparian areas. They also educate citizens and landowners about the importance of these areas and facilitate the adoption of beneficial management practices.
Some beneficial management practices for municipal leaders include:
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Ensure that your municipality has policies for sufficient development setbacks and buffers of native plants to safeguard water bodies
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Improve stormwater management by controlling the rate and volume of runoff from developments; require “low impact development” techniques in new development
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Manage the lands adjacent to riparian areas, through techniques such as wetland conservation, to ensure that riparian areas are not being overloaded
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Utilize policy tools such as Environmental Reserves, Conservation Reserves and Conservation Easements to ensure that hazard and sensitive lands are not developed; enforcement of these policies prevents encroachment
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Ensure riparian areas are protected during development construction by using sufficient construction standards and management
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Encourage and support landowners and community initiatives to maintain and improve riparian areas through water and land stewardship groups
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Eliminate or control invasive species in municipal riparian areas and promote natural and native species along shorelines
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Educate the public about recreational use impacts and why some activities are restricted to specific places or seasons
Battle River Watershed Alliance
The BRWA created actions and strategies to promote riparian health and to address root causes of riparian health issues inthe watershed.
The Miistakis Institute
This 2017 report discusses how the Environmental Reserve tool has been applied at the municipal level.
Nature C anada
Bird Friendly City supports communities in reducing urban threats and restoring habitat, helping protect interconnected ecosystems like riparian areas and watersheds that birds rely on for food, shelter, and migration.
North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance (NSWA)
This NSWA guide covers jurisdictional considerations, planning and development, public riparian area stewardship and a riparian health case study.
The Association of Summer Villages of Alberta (ASVA)
Summer villages as municipalities have specific considerations because they live in such close proximity to riparian areas. This guide addresses issues and considerations for lakeshore owners.
Government of Alberta
This short resource document provides Alberta's Sustainable Resource Development Standard for riparian setbacks and buffers.
The Alberta Urban Municipalities Association
This shows a range of watershed management topics (from land use, wetlands, and stormwater to invasive species) showing how municipalities can use integrated practices to manage and protect regional and downstream water quality.
The Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA)
This short resource document provides Alberta's Sustainable Resource Development Standard for riparian setbacks and buffers.
EPCOR
This comprehensive guide provides detailed information on how to plan new developments with LID principles in mind. It also gives an overview of green roofs, bioswales, and other LID techniques.
Miistakis Institute
This website provides tools for landowners and land managers who are looking for creative methods and tools toco-exist with beavers.
Fiera Biological Consulting
This report summarizes the current state of riparian health
in the province, key
considerations, management strategies, and barriers
to success.
Government of Alberta
The Agricultural Service Board Grant supports initiatives to control weeds, conserve soil health, and various other agricultural initiatives.
Miistakis Institute
Providing municipalities with tools to implement green infrastructure such as riparian areas and buffers.
Environmental Law Centre
This covers legal, policy, and environmental considerations for riparian management, showing how you can use planning tools, bylaws, and coordinated policies to conserve riparian areas while reducing environmental and legal risks.
Environmental Law Centre
This report reviews how different regions set riparian targets, showing how municipalities can use planning tools and science-based goals to guide conservation and restoration despite inconsistent standards.
North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance (NSWA)
This outlines best management practices for municipal riparian regulation, showing how municipalities can use bylaws, development requirements, and planning to protect riparian areas.