Province

Alberta

Maintaining the magic of wild places and wide-open spaces.

How Ducks Unlimited Canada Water Retention Projects Support Albertans?

Ducks Unlimited Canada projects deliver ecosystem services and help reduce the impacts of drought and flood on Alberta’s landscapes.

Safeguarding water is essential for sustaining ecosystems, supporting agriculture, and building resilience against flood and drought in Alberta. Ducks Unlimited Canada has always worked towards conserving and restoring wetlands and their associated habitats for the benefit of waterfowl, wildlife and people.

As of March 31, 2024, DUC has 4,532 projects under management in Alberta. Collectively, these projects represent 1,690 basins that store an estimated 1.6 billion cubic metres of water. That’s equivalent to 90 Glenmore Reservoirs or 640,000 Olympic-size swimming pools.

Ducks Unlimited Canada is proud to support Albertans in addressing the many challenges facing waterfowl, wildlife, and people in our province.

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Flock of swans take off from Frank Lake, Alberta.

Alberta by the numbers

We share a common vision to conserve our most valuable natural assets because once they are lost, so too, is our way of life.

2.3 million Acres conserved

4,532 Habitat projects

4,893 Landowner Partners

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Building Resilience for Alberta’s Future

Ducks Unlimited Canada’s innovative water retention projects across Alberta quietly deliver solutions for drought and flood mitigation while supporting communities and landscapes throughout the province. These infrastructure projects not only provide reliable sources of stock and irrigation water and enhance water quality but also create exceptional habitats that support biodiversity.

These projects strengthen our natural resilience, contribute to Alberta’s economic prosperity, and support agriculture, industry, and sustainable growth for future generations.

Read about how water retention projects support Albertans

The Latest Stories from Alberta

Prairie Pothole Region, Science, Wetlands

The role of wetlands in Alberta’s groundwater

Volunteers

Kevin Guenard, National Volunteer of the Year

Wetland restoration

How water retention projects support Albertans

Biodiversity, Pollinators, Science

How messy croplands help farmers and pollinators

Media releases

Advancing Conservation Together

Alberta North American Waterfowl Management Plan

The Alberta NAWMP Partnership aims to retain important wetland and upland habitats and facilitate wetland and upland restoration through securement programs that include land purchase, conservation easements and agreements, management agreements, and forage agreements.

Learn more about NAWMP

Explore Wetlands in Alberta

Wetlands are beautiful places to relax and connect with the outdoors. Explore Alberta’s wetland destinations, ready for your visit any time of year.

McIntyre Ranch

Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) are working together to conserve one of the largest remaining tracts of intact Prairie grasslands and wetlands in Canada.

Alberta Landowner Programs

Marginal Areas Program

This program offer provides producers with an option to manage areas within their fields that are hard to access, have salinity issues or are just unproductive. Focus your efforts on the acres that make you money.

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Wetland Restoration Lease Program

The restored area remains under the management of the landowner and can be hayed or grazed but not drained, altered or tilled during the term of the agreement. The lease program is a very good fit for cattle producers who have drained wetlands on grazing lands.

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Conservation Easements

A conservation easement (CE) allows for compatible agricultural land use such as haying and grazing on a property. Because a CE supports the growth of native plants and protects the land’s natural features, perennial cover is maintained and can serve as a sustainable source of forage.

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Forage Program

The DUC forage program provides cash-back incentives on Proven® Seed forage varieties paid at full retail price when producers convert cultivated land to hay or pasture land.

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Revolving Land Conservation Program

Through this program, DUC purchases land, restores its wetlands and grasslands and then makes it available to buyers on the real estate market with a conservation easement on the title.

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Alberta Wetland Classification System Field Guide

The Alberta Wetland Classification System Field Guide is designed for use in the field and intended for anyone interested in identifying and classifying wetlands in Alberta, from industry and government practitioners to landowners, Indigenous communities and more.

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Alberta Hay and Graze Tender Program

Sound grazing management of pasture land keeps forage stands healthy and vigorous. It helps with weed control and serves as productive waterfowl habitat. To support local producers, DUC makes land available for haying and/or grazing with annual tenders.

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