East Slopes Buck For Wildlife (BFW) Streambank Fencing Program Annual Maintenance Cost Reduction Strategy - Alberta Government Owned Lands

Author(s)

Calvin McLeod and Jim Berdula

Summary

In 1997 the Alberta government delegated responsibility for the management and administration of the Alberta Fish and Wildlife Trust Fund to the Alberta Conservation Association (ACA). As a result of the delegation, the ACA became responsible for the management of some of the activites and programs associated with the Alberta Fish and Wildlife Trust Fund. One of the specific programs that the ACA became responsible for was the Buck For Wildlife (BFW) Streambank Fencing Program. This program involved the building and maintenance of fences and livestock watering and crossing facilities on a limited number of streams. 

In the mid 1990's, concerns had been raised by government staff and stakeholders about the increasing annual maintenance costs associated with the BFW Streambank Fencing Program. In response to this concern, ACA and government staff developed a strategy to reduce annual maintenance costs associated with the program. One of the strategies was to phase out the maintenance of BFW Streambank Fencing Program projects on Crown lands. This document will summarize the ACA and government agreed on strategy to reduce annual program maintenance costs as it relates to BFW Streambank Fence Program projects on or adjacent to Alberta government owned lands. Not withstanding, each Crown agreements contains its own unique conditions and as such, all Crown properties will have to be handled on a case-by-case basis at the time maintenance commitments are trasferred. This document will serve as a general guideline, addressing many of the common concerns/issues that will arise during the transfer of fence maintenance responsibilities. 

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