Environmental Stewardship Award program

Nick Harper, a Restoration Ecologist with a background in land conservation, was selected as the 2024 recipient.

Nick’s achievements reflect his deep commitment to restoring and preserving natural systems. On his parents’ property, he has implemented several noteworthy initiatives:

• Reforestation Projects: Planting over 150 native trees, including trembling aspen, white spruce, paper birch, lodgepole pine, green alder, and river alder, to enhance biodiversity and restore natural habitats.
• Pond Restoration: Restoring a small pond by fencing off the area to protect it from grazing, planting approximately 40 willow shrubs to stabilize the shoreline, and installing a trough watering system to ensure livestock have alternative water sources.
• Sustainable Grazing Practices: Advancing sustainable land management through rotational grazing, chemical-free weed management, and pasture overseeding, contributing to improved soil health and ecosystem resilience.

2023

Ward Nelson, a County resident for the past 10 years, has been actively involved in environmental initiatives in his community. Situated alongside the picturesque Medicine River, his property spans approximately 1.4 kilometres of the riverbank. Ward has dedicated himself to safeguarding this vital ecosystem by diligently mitigating livestock-related damage to the river and its adjacent banks. Ward's land management practices have seen the integration of a rotational grazing system, ensuring that no area is overgrazed and facilitating the flourishing of native flora.

To keep his cattle and horses from using the river as a water source, Ward installed a solar-powered livestock watering system and constructed a dugout. Additionally, he has embarked on an ambitious reforestation project, planting over 2000 tree seedlings along the riverbanks to restore the natural vegetation and enhance the stability of the riverbanks.

In a remarkable display of collaborative stewardship, Ward actively partnered with Lacombe County to employ thistle weevils as a biological control measure for Canada thistle, thereby significantly reducing the use of herbicides and contributing to the preservation of the local environment.

He is an active Medicine River Watershed Society member, actively engaging in various initiatives to protect and enhance the river's health. He regularly participates in meetings with oil companies operating in the area, passionately advocating for the importance of the Medicine River and its continued protection.

2021

Lacombe County is pleased to announce that Sharon and Rick Wiebe are the 2021 Environmental Stewardship Award Recipients. They are being recognized for the work they have done on their property. Located southwest of Blackfalds, Sharon and Rick have completed a number of projects, including:

• • Organic community garden with 10-12 share
  • Rainwater collection for the community garden
  • Vegetable waste from garden is composted
  • Developed an off-site watering system, to isolate cattle from sensitive areas
  • This past spring, 150 trees were planted to replace fallen and windblown trees
  • Creation of bird and bat habitat
  • The landscaping around the house is made up of perennials with an emphasis on species that are beneficial to pollinators

2022

Lacombe County is pleased to announce that Joan Olafson is the 2022 Environmental Stewardship Award Recipient.
Joan carried forward her father's legacy of being a steward over their home quarter (located seven miles northwest of the City of Lacombe), including 80 acres of wetlands, forest, and spring-fed streams surrounding 74 acres of agricultural land.

Joan and her predecessors have received recognition from organizations such as Lacombe Fish & Game and the Red Deer River Naturalists related to preserving these natural areas. Joan has a deep connection to the land and would like to see these natural areas preserved for future generations.

2021

Lacombe County is pleased to announce that Sharon and Rick Wiebe are the 2021 Environmental Stewardship Award Recipients. They are being recognized for the work they have done on their property. Located southwest of Blackfalds, Sharon and Rick have completed a number of projects, including:

• Organic community garden with 10-12 share
• Rainwater collection for the community garden
• Vegetable waste from garden is composted
• Developed an off-site watering system, to isolate cattle from sensitive areas
• This past spring, 150 trees were planted to replace fallen and windblown trees
• Creation of bird and bat habitat
• The landscaping around the house is made up of perennials with an emphasis on species that are beneficial to pollinators