Multiple Use Opportunities on Provincial Grazing Reserves
- Types of Grazing Reserves
- Multiple Use Planning
- Multiple Use Activities
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Alberta has 32 provincial grazing reserves that are administered by Lands Division staff at Alberta Sustainable Resource Development.
The reserves, or community pastures as they are often referred to by the grazing users, are best described by the type of forage produced on them.
In the South Region there are two types of grazing reserves, native or natural grassland reserves and reserves that produce forage by irrigation. On an irrigated reserve only a portion of the reserve is irrigated, with the remaining area producing tame dryland forages or native forages.
In the central and northern parts of the province the reserves have been developed from primarily forested or bush covered land. A portion of each reserve is cleared and seeded to tame forages. Areas that haven’t been developed are reserved for wildlife habitat and aren’t used for grazing livestock.
While the grazing reserves vary in size from 6,602 acres (Seven Persons) to 76,681 acres (Pinhorn), the majority range in size from 15,000 to 25,000 acres.
Since the inception of the Grazing Reserve Program in the early 1930s, the public has had the opportunity to use grazing reserves for other uses. These activities traditionally were of a dual nature and focused primarily on hunting after the livestock were removed, and oil and gas exploration.
Riparian areas on public land are the vegetation zones next to flowing and standing water bodies (e.g., rivers, lakes, sloughs). They are found in all natural regions of the province, from the prairies and foothills to the boreal mixedwood region. Although they make up only about two per cent of the land in Alberta, they are often far more productive than adjacent uplands. Because of this, they are used extensively by wildlife, agricultural producers and recreationists. Riparian areas are highly valued areas on provincial grazing reserves that provide excellent habitat for riparian wildlife species.
Initiated in 1977, the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund Grazing Reserve Development Program (AHSTF) introduced multiple use planning to the Grazing Reserve Program and all agencies with an interest in public land management. Formalized development plans were prepared and approved by agencies having an interest in the lands designated to form the 10 new provincial grazing reserves which would evolve through this process. Two reserves that were being developed with funding from the General Revenue Fund were also transferred to the AHSTF Program for completion.
In some areas of the province, grazing reserves are the only remaining accessible parcels of public land available to the public for recreational purposes such as hunting, cross country skiing, snowmobiling and general sight seeing. General recreational use of the reserves is permitted at no charge to the public.
Industrial users of public lands are required to pay the surface disposition rental fee established by Alberta Sustainable Resource Development. All fees collected from industrial activities go to the General Revenue Fund of Alberta Treasury.
Local municipalities receive a grant in place of taxes for the areas of reserves grazed by livestock. This grant is equivalent to what private landowners would pay in taxes for land of equal quality.
The Grazing Reserve Program continues to be a model for demonstrating how livestock grazing and multiple use activities can be accommodated on the same parcels of land. These other activities are permitted provided the activities don’t adversely affect the grazing of livestock.
Currently, there are a variety of multiple use activities accommodated on grazing reserves. Reserves close to large urban centres are now recreational destination points for many Albertans.
The grazing reserves offer hunting opportunities for big game and migratory and upland game birds, as well as a variety of other wildlife or nature-related pursuits for interested individuals. Group and recreation activities such as summer camps, hunting dog trials, church group trail rides, students outings, winter survival camps, trail riding, snowmobile rallies and 4 H activities also take place at grazing reserves.
For updated information
Contact any of the offices below:
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development
Lands Division
Rangeland Management Branch
South Tower, Petroleum Plaza
9920 - 108 Street NW
Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2M4
Telephone: (780) 427 3595
Land Dispositions Branch
South Tower, Petroleum Plaza
9915 108 Street NW
Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2G8
Telephone: (780) 427 3570
OR call the Lands Division office in your area.
