Updated wetland replacement monitoring processes get auditor general stamp of approval

File photo of wetlands.

Alberta’s Environment and Protected Areas department has successfully implemented a 2010 recommendation from the auditor general to create a formal process to monitor wetland restoration projects.

Wetland replacement is done by approved restoration agencies, which are overseen by the ministry. Fifteen years ago, the auditor general found the ministry lacked the processes to ensure funds meant for restoration were being spent appropriately.

The auditor general again recommended better controls in 2015 and 2021.

Now, under the Alberta Wetland Replacement Program (WRP), the department tracks report submissions by restoration agencies to ensure they are submitted on time, has wetland specialists review these reports, and conducts site audits to confirm a restored area’s function.

The auditor general concluded in a report released Wednesday that the changes were adequate after testing a sample of projects.

Environment and Protected Areas is also working on a process to evaluate the effectiveness of its monitoring every five years beginning this year. Agency contracts, review reports, site audits and more will be examined as part of this.

Three cases started under the old policy are either still being monitored or were recently resolved:

• In 2022, the Alberta government entered into an agreement with Ducks Unlimited Canada under which the organization would use $6 million in unspent funds to restore 359 hectares of wetlands. The auditor general has reviewed the work done so far, and department wetland specialists will review future work under the WRP technical review process;
• The City of Calgary collected about $35 million between 2009 and 2015 to restore 85 hectares of wetlands by 2031. To date, one project has been completed and $32 million remains unspent, earmarked for projects to be completed in the 2026 and 2027 fiscal years.
• The County of Vermilion returned more than $500,000 in unspent funds collected under the previous policy, identified in earlier audits.