LAC LA BICHE - Lac La Biche County will be receiving $189,200 through the provincial Wetland Replacement Program to restore 1.4 hectares of wetlands in Plamondon. However, it’s unclear when work could begin.
On Nov. 27, the government of Alberta announced that it was providing $5 million by way of the Wetland Replacement Program to three provincial municipalities – Lac La Biche County, the City of Red Deer, and Sturgeon County. Two organizations, Ducks Unlimited Canada and NAIT , were also included in funding announcement.
From late October to early November, Lac La Biche County had information on its social media page regarding the restoration of the 1.4 hectares of wetland on the site of the old Plamondon Reservoir. The information stated that the project, which was set to begin on Nov. 14, was made possible through Alberta Environment and Parks’ Wetland Replacement Program. These details are no longer available online.
While social media posts from Lac La Biche County earlier in the year suggested the local project – which would transform 1.4 hectares at the former Plamondon water reservoir into an environmental wetland area – was expected to begin this past November, more recent updates have pushed back that date.
On Thursday, Nov. 28, Jihad Moghrabi, a spokesperson with Lac La Biche County, said the project has been put on hold until next year and that officials were unable to any provide additional details.
“This project has been postponed until 2025, and we cannot offer further information at this time,” Moghrabi told Lakeland This Week.
According to information from the government of Alberta news release, this funding will be used to assist more than 165 hectares of provincial wetlands through the selected program partners. The wetland projects are said to be ways to bolster the province’s drought and flood protections, improve water quality, and build healthier ecosystems.
Rebecca Schulz, the province’s minister of environment and protected areas, said the current provincial government has invested more into wetlands than any other government in recent memory.
“Wetlands not only help protect Alberta from the devastating impacts of droughts and floods, but also support healthy, thriving ecosystems all across this province,” she said.
With the provincial announcement made, Lac La Biche County officials are looking forward to announcing more details as the planning stages move to reality.
“We’ll be sure to announce more when it’s available next year,” said Moghrabi.
