ALUS Assiniboine West, formerly the Little Saskatchewan River program, has greatly expanded since its origins as the first-ever ALUS pilot program in Canada. 

It would be hard to name an ALUS program that is growing faster than ALUS Assiniboine West in Manitoba.

The ALUS Assiniboine West program has its origins in Canada’s first-ever ALUS pilot project, which took place from 2006 to 2009 in the former Blanshard Municipality. In 2014, the ALUS program returned to its roots, plus about one million acres around this original area, and launched the ALUS Little Saskatchewan River program in partnership with the Little Saskatchewan River Conservation District (LSRCD).

After six successful years, the LSRCD amalgamated with the Upper Assiniboine River Conservation District and the Lake of the Prairies Conservation District, to form the new Assiniboine West Watershed District (AWWD) in 2020. The AWWD is now partnered with ALUS for an even larger ALUS community, now known as the ALUS Assiniboine West program.

Popular ALUS Assiniboine West projects include riparian fencing with offsite watering systems that keep livestock out of waterways to protect water quality within the watershed. Farmers are also interested in ALUS’ support to convert marginal cropland to perennial plantations providing soil stability and wildlife habitat.

All these natural areas are important for producing cleaner air, cleaner water and more wildlife habitat, as well as groundwater recharge, flood prevention and climate change adaptation.

“The ALUS program is a great tool in our toolbox,” said Program Coordinator Colleen Cuvelier.

Through their ALUS projects, ALUS Assiniboine West participants will help to produce cleaner water, cleaner air and more biodiversity, including pollinator habitat, for the benefit of communities at large.

Together, ALUS and the Assiniboine West Watershed District are working towards sustaining agriculture, wildlife and natural space for all residents – one acre at a time.

For more information and for application forms, please contact ALUS Assiniboine West’s program coordinator.