When ALUS Red Deer County was launched in 2013, it became the third ALUS program in Alberta. A partnership between ALUS and Red Deer County, the ALUS Red Deer County program is an evolution of programs the County had been delivering since 2001. 

ALUS supports farmers and ranchers by helping them establish projects that produce ecosystem services on their land, and by providing annual payments for their management and maintenance of these projects.

The program aims to tackle local environmental priorities, such as fish and wildlife habitat, water quality in the Sylvan Lake watershed, enhancement of wetlands, forests, and riparian areas, pollinator habitat, and flood and drought resiliency county-wide.

As of April 1, 2019, more than 100 farmers and ranchers have enrolled almost 5,000 acres into the program. Their ALUS projects include more than 75 alternative-watering systems for livestock, more than 300,000 feet of riparian-management fencing, and more.

All these projects produce important ecosystem services upon which we all depend, such as cleaner air, cleaner water, improved fish and wildlife habitat, and flood- and drought-resiliency.

Under the guidance of the Partnership Advisory Committee (PAC), the ALUS Red Deer County program is delivered by Program Coordinator Ken Lewis and three ALUS Farmer Liaisons: Tom Towers, a rancher from just south of the City of Red Deer, Stephen Smith, who runs a mixed farm near Pine Lake, and Kevin Ziola, who farms south of Sylvan Lake. Each of these Farmer Liaisons started out as ALUS participants and now help bring new farmers and ranchers into the program.

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