Soil Conservation

Soil Conservation

Lacombe County is blessed with an abundant and varied landscape of very productive soils. Under the Soil Conservation Act, it is an offence for landowners to allow soils to degrade either by wind or water erosion. While wind erosion is not a frequent problem in Lacombe County, water erosion can cause major land degradation.

The Act imposes a duty upon every landholder to take appropriate measures to prevent soil loss or deterioration or to mitigate the same where it has occurred. Where a breach of said duty occurs, the landholder may be served with a notice directing him or her to take remedial action within a specified time – usually 30 days. 

If the landholder fails to comply with the directions given in the notice, a person authorized by the local authority may enter upon the land and take remedial action at the landholder's expense. If the local authority does not take appropriate actions then the Minister can appoint an officer with the authority to do so. The legislation also provides appeal and dispute settlement mechanisms.

For more information, contact Community Services. We can assist in planning for shelterbelts and grassed waterways to help alleviate some of these problems.