Enhancing Stewardship and Conservation within Agriculture
The Stewardship Alliance for Conservation Agriculture was originally known as the West-Central Conservation Group. In 2012, following a restructuring of the group from the original five counties and WCFA, the group underwent a branding change to reflect the new partnership between Yellowhead County, Woodlands County and West-Central Forage Association.
The west-central region has a large variety of enterprises that producers must work in cooperation with (oil and gas, forestry, and the tourism industry). The area is comprised of a large variety of topographies within this gray-wooded soil region. SACA covers the North Saskatchewan and the Athabasca watershed basins. The region has a large number of waterways that could potentially be impacted by agriculture (six major rivers, eleven creeks and tributaries, including the Paddle River, and 20 large lakes).
Our goal is to assist the agricultural community to find practical, environmentally sustainable practices and raise awareness with workshops, information sessions and demonstrations. Through this partnership SACA is able to connect producers to the information they need to adopt beneficial management practices.
Canada thistle stem-mining weevils are an effective biological control agent for use in controlling Canada thistle.
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Canada thistle stem-gall flies are an effective biological control agent for use in controlling Canada thistle.
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The Alberta EFP program is a voluntary, whole farm, self-assessment tool to help identify environmental risks and develop plans to mitigate identified risks. WCFA is committed to assisting producers in completing their EFPs.
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The Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a five-year, $3 billion federal-provincial-territorial initiative aimed at generating economic growth in the agricultural sector and delivering the greatest benefits for farmers, food processors and Canadian families.
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This initiative aims to bring awareness of riparian health, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, water quality, and shoreline health to landowners, producers and recreational users on or near Shiningbank Lake.
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Each year SACA partners with a number of counties to offer Pond Days programming to Grade 4 and 5 students in June. Students are taught about conservation and environmental stewardship, and specifically the importance of Riparian areas.
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West-Central Forage Association and Yellowhead County, as partners in the Stewardship Alliance for Conservation Agriculture (SACA), secured funding with the Land Stewardship Centre of Canada to initiate the Chip Lake Stewardship Project in 2012. The project aimed to address concerns regarding the environmental condition of Chip Lake, the riparian area around the lake, and it's adjacent landholdings.
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West-Central Forage Association and Yellowhead County, as partners in the Stewardship Alliance for Conservation Agriculture (SACA), secured funding with the Alberta Conservation Association to initiate the Lobstick River Stewardship Project in 2014. The project focused on concerns regarding the environmental condition of the Lobstick River, the riparian area along the river, and its adjacent landholdings.
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Beginning in 2010 this project consisted of riparian health assessments, water sampling and a number of other activities carried out by SACA and the Paddle River Stewardship Group members to improve the riparian zone along the river.
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