[0:08] I'll call it to order at 9:00.

[0:15] Welcome everybody to the December 10th a service board meeting. Uh we'll call it

[0:20] to order at 9:00 and uh we'll start with number two the

[0:26] agenda. any additions to the agenda. We'll start to uh with Roy and work our

[0:30] way back in um

[0:35] a couple items. One is drainage update.

[0:51] We'll go 615 and 6.

[1:08] » Thanks, Roy. 65 66. >> I actually have nothing nothing to add

[1:13] today. >> No, I'm okay.

[1:17] » I have that. from the administration.

[1:21] » I just have a uh one amendment

[1:27] on

[1:31] 8.3 uh the way on reports will will not be available to uh uh any so not sure

[1:42] Mr. chairman if you want to add in or remove 8.3.

[1:47] » Maybe we'll leave it in case comes online.

[1:49] » Okay. >> And then we'll get up to see if we got

[1:55] a join last minute. All right. And delegation is going to be online at

[2:01] 10:00 sharp. The delegation with uh Megan.

[2:07] So uh with no other additions, can we have somebody make a motion? Wait for

[2:13] the agenda, please. I move that the Mont County Agricultural Service Board adopt

[2:17] the December 10th, 2025 cultural service board agenda as

[2:23] amended. Okay. All in favor? Carried. Number three, uh

[2:30] the adoption of the previous minutes page 5 to 8. You guys had a chance to

[2:34] look over them. Any uh errors or

[2:40] if not, I'll get a motion, please. We'll make a motion that L County A

[2:45] service board adopt the October 8, 2025 agricultural service board minute

[2:50] meeting our meeting minutes as presented. Okay. All in favor? Okay.

[2:55] Thanks. Uh Aaron carried number four follow-up action plan page

[3:00] nine uh 4.1.

[3:06] » Okay. So the uh on page nine uh going back to April 9th uh there is the over

[3:12] culture hall of fame. Uh we we did bring that forward. Uh Bonnie and I are still

[3:18] waiting for for the correspondence. Uh the applications we do have the

[3:22] applicant uh we did do a little bit of background information. So as soon as we

[3:27] we have that we will submit it. Uh in June uh we uh we had the service board

[3:35] approve the uh let's make a recommendation due to council to dispose

[3:40] of our 2013 ethanol spray drug. Uh we did tender out we did get one uh one

[3:48] application or one tender back. Uh after discussion with Mr. Turnowski I chose

[3:55] not to accept it. Uh it was pretty much a fun insult because Amanda and I were

[4:01] were at at our association of a culture human there's a lot of industry there

[4:09] and uh I did some solicity and and there's two individuals that that are

[4:14] are looking to quite interest. >> Let's get a bidding war going.

[4:19] » Pardon me. >> Let's get a bidding war going.

[4:22] » Yeah. Uh actually the one that is very interested uh he actually does all the

[4:29] uh the screening for uh for transportation.

[4:33] » Okay. I know what you're talking so he uh he was also interested in in

[4:40] being a part of of our roadside strike. So we're we very well could could kill

[4:44] two birds with one stone. So >> any more questions for you on that? I

[4:50] don't think don't panic and sell too fast. No, no, no.

[4:56] » Yeah, there's the value there, right? >> It starts due to getting a colder for

[4:59] $10,000 for for that spray truck. U the deck is worth more than 10,000. Yeah.

[5:05] Never mind the truck. uh our uh lemon county emergency uh plan uh that was was

[5:13] brought forward to uh to the budget deliberations and based on uh on my uh

[5:22] my understanding uh council did approve that based on on the grant. So we're in

[5:26] the process of making a grant application. The roadside brushing

[5:31] program uh that's still ongoing. uh the Sunland drainage rolling. Uh

[5:39] that that was completed up to a mile north of about 572

[5:47] uh where where the grass was and then once it got deeper in uh where there's

[5:51] brushing that's that's where we left it and then change elevation. So I'm not

[5:57] sure if you want to discuss that now. Yeah, we can just discuss that now.

[6:06] I thought we were going to go back

[6:17] that service board wants us to do. But uh

[6:22] the only caution that that I have is if we clean it u and we do have a lot of of

[6:28] water that that starts to move. I just don't want to have a repeat of what we

[6:34] had in uh in 21 where that water was driven and then before it uh it goes to

[6:41] North Scation

[6:45] up the ice cream. I'll rather try to slow the water down.

[6:59] Is there a lot of windows there? I I haven't been there. I don't know.

[7:05] There there is there there is regrows because the last time we went in there u

[7:11] we had uh Cody go in there with the and he done all that stuff and then some of

[7:18] the roots he landed up for the spring time and mulch all that stuff. So

[7:26] there's there's regrowth and the other reason we didn't spray it is because we

[7:30] have to get a special use approval from from environment to spray in the body of

[7:35] water. So u if if that's a direction that that the service board wants wants

[7:41] us to do. Uh we are most

[7:50] area but ultimately

[7:54] it's your guys the previous All right.

[8:20] Nobody touched it.

[8:26] all that stuff that was coming from 162 and then coming through

[8:33] and then going towards and then through through what used to be drainage when it

[8:39] goes through that that dra and that's why uh works have to upgrade

[8:46] that because the water was was moving so quick uh there was all that erosion and

[8:51] started And then all that silation winded up

[8:56] going through what's now Coon's property through that cross into

[9:02] JeffX.

[9:13] Will those are we talking? A mile, half a mile, quarter mile.

[9:16] » They're probably be pretty close to 3/4 of a mile.

[9:21] They'll probably hold stone stuff and then hold back water.

[9:27] » The the change in elevation starts to to go downhill. The the stuff that that we

[9:33] used our sidewalk for where it's easier to to take out the cows and and the

[9:38] grass. That's where chain elevation over a mile was uh was very minimal. So with

[9:46] it being caught that's why we we took those caps and grass out and then where

[9:51] where the change in elevation goes down um that's one of the reasons why we uh

[9:56] we never went with for the simple reason that I didn't want to have the water too

[10:02] fast to have

[10:10] target.

[10:18] I sw

[10:38] to the east of 162 starters.

[10:52] They were cleaned up years a couple years ago, right?

[10:58] We have to be very careful as well because

[11:02] in a way here we're going to have nothing but good.

[11:13] This is not

[11:29] all all the material doesn't take much to change it already.

[11:53] there. There is, but I I I know on the west side of uh 161

[12:01] is pretty flat, but where it starts off the 572 in the field, I thought there's

[12:05] a not very defined It's there there not a very very

[12:12] different channel there at all and that's one of the reasons why the uh

[12:18] producers are are able to

[12:32] out there in fall to see if they've been working

[12:36] on 62 each side. It's all capped

[12:43] on the east side of 162. Sorry, on the west side of 162. But I mean, so you

[12:49] know, sun drainage goes to both side here.

[12:54] I don't know. I guess can we go over if whatever guys have worked through can

[13:02] we just leave that don't go where is that right

[13:09] to the grass um we can't do very much grass but if the

[13:15] board's wanting us to to take out those trees because we're we're not far away

[13:20] we we can do it the only thing that I hope to is you Maybe you may be opening

[13:27] yourself up to to additional work because if you're going to do sunlight

[13:31] drainage is some want or they want to drainage and then where

[13:38] where do you where do you draw

[13:52] a human Just do

[14:04] everybody

[14:09] that takes water all the way from there.

[14:15] or so and it starts right >> but but all the water comes to uh to

[14:20] Whitford Lake then Wford Lake this drainage and go north right they go to

[14:27] where the find they built that channel

[14:39] » do do you want do you want the done or not do you do you feel you

[14:44] do the willows and don't don't disturb the dirt, you know, cuz you got to leave

[14:51] this much willows. Don't go into the dirt and

[14:55] see just the sun that drainage

[15:04] here and there and the other side of the gaps are this high.

[15:12] father's false

[15:23] guys. They used to work it right through and

[15:28] it's a ravine.

[16:03] that his grass water

[16:09] and then when when that water started to to drip through he inherited all that

[16:14] all that soil

[16:18] » and that's that's one of the reasons why I was I was trying to eliminated because

[16:22] yes, we took out the the trees and the initially just to allow the snow to come

[16:29] in and bleed and I and I get it that that those are there. Um,

[16:35] but I think we should have some sort of resistance there or have some built if

[16:42] we do have a quick meal and those that channel is full.

[17:01] register. That's that's where you go. But if the board want us to do it,

[17:08] there's like

[17:12] 574.

[17:17] We're not far away though. And then

[17:24] you're talking

[17:35] that's where the levels are along the south side

[17:44] where there where there's that uh that cut line that goes on going

[17:49] between 163 and 162 and then it jumps on the west side up 163 and then it goes

[17:57] for about eight mile to the west and then it comes back and it goes into

[18:08] the west on the on the west side and then there's

[18:13] a bit not very much

[18:21] stuff that's on drainage. The new owner that

[18:27] he put his in there

[18:34] redefining that that channel which he should have not touched.

[18:47] Who was that cross?

[19:03] So while while the board is just deciding what they want to do uh and

[19:07] then some drainage that um it was complete but we can we

[19:13] can change it to ongoing and then on October 8th um we had a a policy that

[19:20] changed our our BM control and that's complete and And uh there was a

[19:26] recommendation to to have a uh a donation to uh to hardline training and

[19:32] support which normally there in the past was the program and both of those

[19:40] are

[19:46] any questions that we'll bring it back in 6.5 we'll have time to think about it

[19:52] till then right >> uh yeah any more questions on the

[19:55] followup action plan.

[20:08] » All right, we can get uh there's no more questions. Can we get a motion on that

[20:13] 4.1, please? >> Sure. My motion that the L County

[20:16] Agricultural Service Board accept followup action listed as information.

[20:21] » Okay. All in favor? >> All five carried. Okay, the delegation

[20:25] will be at uh at 10:00. So, we'll skip over 5.1

[20:30] and we'll go to sorry 6.1 new business page 10 through 11.

[20:37] » So, one of the things that studies been doing for for numerous years and more

[20:43] benefit for youth service board members. Um what we try to do is very similar to

[20:48] to what council has as as well as we have designated dates. So based on our

[20:55] our terms of reference um we have meetings every month with the exception

[21:01] of uh of July and and September. So what you have in in RFD is a meeting

[21:08] in January and that is a week prior to to the ASP provincial conference and

[21:13] that meeting is just to go through our our resolutions so that it gives the the

[21:19] board an hour or whatever it's going to take depending on how many resolutions

[21:24] we have so that we can talk as as a group. uh u Amanda and I can can give

[21:31] you any background information so that it allows the service board to make a

[21:35] sound decision and uh u then if there's any additional feedback or or research

[21:42] that you want it gives us the ability and then February, March, April, May,

[21:48] June, August, October and and December are the designated dates that that we're

[21:54] recommending. Any

[22:03] questions on the dates stand out for you guys?

[22:08] » No.

[22:12] » And these days are normally the day after uh I think it's the first council

[22:16] meeting. Yeah, the first council meeting council was on Tuesday and this is on a

[22:21] Wednesday.

[22:36] to approve the 61. >> I move that the Long County Agricultural

[22:43] Service Board approved the ASB meeting dates for 2026 as presented. January 14,

[22:50] 2026. ASB resolution review only February

[22:55] 11th, 2026, March 11th, 2026,

[23:01] April 8, 2026, May 13, 2026, June 10th, 2026,

[23:09] August 12th, 2026, October 14, 2026,

[23:16] December 9th, 2026,

[23:20] December refers to his

[23:26] » What day was that thing?

[23:33] » Okay. It wasn't >> It's not

[23:35] » It's not an 11th for sure.

[23:39] » All right. Thanks, Roy. All in favor? Okay. Passed car 6.2 to Caillou Caillou

[23:47] production program grants 12 to 19. >> So our department's been been getting a

[23:53] couple inquiries um asking if if Lamont County has a bounty program for the

[24:00] coyote and some of this also stems back from

[24:04] from one of our neighboring municipalities which is the county of

[24:07] Two Hills. They received a $30,000 grant over the next three years. So

[24:13] 90,000 over over three years to uh um manage their their coyotes.

[24:21] So they have a bounty. So they're they're going to be paying $20 per

[24:26] coyote. So $15 uh of that

[24:31] is is part of the grant and then $5 is um is to take care of the administration

[24:38] fees. Now, um what we did is we we went and we we surveyed some of the other

[24:44] municipalities within the area. Uh and if you look on page 14, uh the only the

[24:51] only municipalities that that do have a bounty is Two Hills. Uh Beaver County

[24:57] doesn't, St. Paul doesn't. they uh they got back or they pushed back in 2019

[25:04] um because they they had uh some ethical problems and uh some of the individuals

[25:11] felt that u when you take out the coyotes you're all you're doing is

[25:16] you're inviting the uh a different a different group of of co coming in um MD

[25:24] of Bonnieville um they they do have a bounty

[25:29] but they take care of it internally. Black Wish as well. Um those are two

[25:34] municipalities that that have uh trap lines and and and outfitters in there as

[25:39] well. Uh Smoky Way County doesn't uh but they are considering making a grant

[25:44] application. County of Minburn doesn't. County of Vermillion River doesn't. Big

[25:49] Lakes County. Uh they have been offered 1080 for uh producers with confirmed

[25:55] coyote accreditation. Daff in New County,

[26:01] but they also offer the 108 clear hills county has a

[26:08] $30 program. And then Duke, Yan County, and of Western River, they don't uh from

[26:16] our point of view, I would I would recommend not to have

[26:21] the program because uh who's going to manage it? Um so if you have a producer

[26:29] that that happens to bring in the coyote um what two hills has been doing is they

[26:34] bring in the coyote and then their administration goes in and cuts the paw

[26:38] off so that they know that that individual can't come into for instance

[26:45] two hills and then go to lant or min and uh and I don't want to say double dip

[26:51] but use that same coyote for for additional

[26:56] But at the same time, um, ethically, I I'm not prepared and and I wouldn't have

[27:03] have our staff sitting there with a set of pruning shears to, uh, cut a ball

[27:08] out. That's just it's it's ethically not not correct.

[27:14] And for every coyote that that you remove,

[27:18] you may be uh you might be inviting another another crew of of coyotes

[27:25] coming in because there is your good coyote and there's your bad coyotes. Uh

[27:29] there's there's coyotes that are in the area and they know they're having these

[27:35] they need to survive as well, but at the same time there's guys that are having

[27:39] coyotes that they're not having anyreditation in in their lives, but as

[27:45] well um how far does the municipality want to go with the local service? Is it

[27:51] really our responsibility to make sure that uh producers are are following

[27:56] proper husband husbandary? Um they need to manage their their own

[28:04] control of of their chickens or or their sheep or or

[28:10] right now the coyotes are really bad. We got the neighbors the other day, seven

[28:13] of them coming from the s pile in the morning. They're they're packing up. I

[28:18] sent you guys a picture. That's one day of hunt. One day of hunting. Uh that's

[28:22] what they got in one day. There there's a sheep farmer east of town. He's got

[28:25] 38. And uh another one of his friends has got 36 already this year. That's

[28:30] counting from November 1st. They like uh I know our area. They're coming at 7:00

[28:36] at night and eating cat food 7:00 at night. Then they drink water from the

[28:40] ditch.

[28:46] » Yeah. But we got before everybody had a gun.

[28:49] They were doing chores. They kept co down. Now there's not very many cattle

[28:53] producers. So I know it's uh we got lost in our area back.

[28:58] » I don't I don't hear any but there's no no livestock that was you know.

[29:06] So we still have the trappers there

[29:15] and that's that's one of the reasons as I mentioned my provision company and uh

[29:20] and they have trap lines up there. So the uh

[29:27] the individuals that that have trap lines they're also then contracted to do

[29:32] some of that that works as well. Um the ones in in our area

[29:40] » your neighbor

[29:47] » well there's nothing when you get there's nothing for the pellets you give

[29:49] zero dollars for now >> there's quite a few

[29:57] » well I carry on the fireman who want it >> kill some of them some of their own

[30:02] population but yeah carried on the farm. >> So there was a grand port from Alberta

[30:06] government. Is that what the >> Well, two county made. Uh they they did

[30:13] it early enough. I'm not sure >> it was

[30:18] their society. So that's fun from

[30:26] weed against the program. It's just not affected where you need it to be and

[30:30] pits are increasers. So you start taking

[30:47] I I would I honestly I would say not to. I mean if you if you want for 15 bucks a

[30:52] kite you take to the hut they give you the same amount.

[30:56] » Just go with your own just have your own problems. We're all We're all stewards

[31:00] of our own land. They scan them out and sell them all.

[31:21] whenever they see it, they take stuff. So

[31:26] » I think once they're bothered by it, they deal with their own right. They're

[31:30] having problems. You're going to take care of your own right.

[31:39] Oh, it's a No, I guess

[31:51] » Mr. Chairman, >> if it's no, then it would be the

[31:54] recommendation that that listed on page. >> Yeah.

[32:03] Make a motion that Lamont County a service board direct administration take

[32:06] no action on the Alberta Professional Outfitters Association Bodlife

[32:10] Management Fund grants for purpose of a cut reduction bounty program. All in

[32:16] favor?

[32:20] 6.3 2025 photo contest page 261.

[32:26] » So we want a local service board annual photo contest for county residents to

[32:31] share memorable photos with the public. This year the residents we received 21

[32:38] pictures for county life and nine for egg and industry. These photos are used

[32:44] here county apartments for promotional purposes. They also showcase on our

[32:49] website and Facebook page and they always receive positive feedback from

[32:53] residents who eagerly awaiting photos. The egg sales board um did determine two

[33:02] sorry the six winners. So the financial winning amounts are first prize is $150,

[33:08] second prize 100, third prize is 50. So for county light

[33:15] first prize winner is Shelley Joelnik. Second prize is Rose McAffrey. Third

[33:23] prize is Karen Crossy Quasnia for a industry.

[33:30] First prize is Captain Herald. Second prize is Sophie.

[33:36] Third prize day.

[33:52] » Good. We got That's usually the hardest part is finding the try and add up all

[33:56] the numbers and stuff. So, we got the winners. We get a motion on that. I

[33:59] guess the

[34:03] 63, please. The Lamont County Agriculture Society

[34:09] Board approves the 2025 photo contest winners. County Life was Shelley Joe

[34:17] Melnik first. Second was Rose McGaffrey. Third was Karen Casiqu.

[34:26] Okay. Uh agriculture and industrial castin and Harold. Second was Sophie.

[34:35] Third was Joan Dave. >> Okay. Thanks. All in favor carried.

[34:42] Dave, we got 6.4 2000, excuse me, 2026 ASB provincial conference 22.

[34:51] So, Mr. Chairman, uh we do have our our ASB provincial conference. Uh it's going

[34:56] to be held at the Delta South Edmonton uh from January 20th to 22nd. Um we did

[35:05] get the agenda yesterday. Uh they are recommending that uh we register sooner

[35:11] than later. Um our region, the Northeast region is is the region that has hosting

[35:17] them. Um we plan for the works best. Uh what we

[35:22] did is we we booked the rooms for for all five board members plus uh Amanda

[35:31] and myself plus uh the CEO. Um it's easier for us to counsel than to try to

[35:38] find rooms. But more importantly, what do you want to do? We want to get the

[35:41] registration done. So we need some direction on who's going to be.

[35:50] » All right. Uh, I'll be going. >> Yeah.

[35:58] » Yeah.

[36:06] » All right. Perfect.

[36:10] So, six recommendation, please. Make a motion that the Lamont County

[36:17] Agricultural Service Board confirm the board members attending the 2026 ASB

[36:23] provincial conference. Okay, thank you. All in favor? Okay. Carried. Uh so that

[36:29] puts us to 6.5 drainage. Do we have time to think about the willows there? Uh any

[36:35] any comments?

[36:45] » They might like they say they're not don't have to go down in the dirt. They

[36:49] can mulch it right now. >> Just take the tops off.

[36:52] » Take the top down and leave some root system for so there's no uh

[37:02] » that'll avoid your erosion. Right. >> Yeah.

[37:07] Any more comments? >> What do we want to do on the 162

[37:19] go

[37:25] that address

[37:29] the whole thing to the east side? Okay. So, so that

[37:36] will come straight in between 162 163 up towards 980.

[37:41] » That walk that

[37:45] I mean the equipment's there. What's it going to take that day? Yeah through

[37:51] there

[37:58] once you get from I keep drainage

[38:04] when you get that big then it crosses by the church and then they say that big

[38:10] I believe fixed in two years last year two years

[38:15] ago because there was

[38:22] schedule.

[38:29] That's right.

[38:38] that part.

[38:46] » Okay, let's do that balance on the east side of 162. We'll assess it in

[38:55] fall. See where it goes. 162. >> James, let me make motions on the board,

[39:02] please. >> Drainage between 162 and 16.

[39:06] » Just let him finish. Yeah, let him

[39:10] » south of

[39:15] 580.

[39:36] That's that's area we went with with the with the and we we did the the swale and

[39:43] we did the cail.

[39:48] There we go. Yep. I motion that the Mont County Edger call service for direct

[39:54] administration to brush the willows and sunlight drainage between Rain Road 162

[40:00] and Rain Road 163. South of Township 580 down to township road 574.

[40:08] » All right. Thanks, John. All in favor? Carry. All right. Uh 6.6 uh uh brushing

[40:14] is an add-on. >> Right.

[40:18] » Okay. Uh

[40:23] what's the brushing that completed last year on the program for this year?

[40:30] » Second question. Uh what we're trying to do is this the

[40:36] areas that never got done last year were incorporating into this year. So that

[40:41] were ideally we should have caught some from from 2425 versus 25 26 but I'm

[40:49] trying to coordinate it as as a block so that we have minimal

[40:56] polization. >> Okay. I was just wondering about that

[41:00] because uh some people have asked that you know if we're mowing in a different

[41:05] area did that. So the intention is >> they do that four.

[41:10] » Yeah. So there is roads uh and I don't have the map in front of me. Um

[41:17] I want to say it was 163 from 45. Uh that stuff never got done.

[41:26] they're stuck on 560 that that never got done. Um, as soon as we're we're done in

[41:32] the area we are right now, we're going to start moving ourselves south of uh of

[41:38] energy. Yeah, logistically it makes more sense to to haul the equipment three or

[41:44] four miles versus all the equipment 16 miles from one side to another. And then

[41:49] once we do that, then we're going to to circle back and and

[41:54] get and I mean to to use the division but circle back and if you're stuck in

[41:59] division one and then catch yourself in division three and then division two and

[42:03] then and then

[42:08] » okay that's the only question I have and that'll be some brushing

[42:12] » and that's that's where the advantage we have with three pieces of equipment

[42:18] having a small what's

[42:24] a lot more And uh currently right now we have two

[42:30] different projects. We have uh we have a beaver truck on a chainsaw and we have

[42:35] you know a small

[42:43] drainage and then the other big

[42:51] but they should be done within the next three days and then the small one is is

[42:54] going to go assist the uh the other programs and and all

[43:06] Did you ever talk to you about

[43:13] what when we do 560?

[43:17] So when we talk about just east of 855 you guys are going the small one is just

[43:28] going to truck that up and and do that and that's part of the drainage that

[43:34] that comes comes by there in the yard. So it's it needs to be done as well.

[43:40] » Yeah, that's all I have. >> All right. Um,

[43:46] we get a motion on the screen, please. >> I move that the Mont County Agricultural

[43:52] Service Board accept the roadside roadside project information.

[43:57] » Okay, that's for 616. All in favor? Thank you. North. Okay. Uh, we still

[44:02] have uh 16 minutes before our delegation. Uh, we get to the

[44:07] correspondence, please. Page 23 to 24. So on on page 23, uh there was a u a

[44:18] letter that that was sent by MD of Spirit River uh to both the provincial

[44:23] and and federal ministers u with regards to a declaration by a disaster for MD of

[44:29] Spirit River. Then on page 25, uh there is a

[44:37] some correspondence that was sent by Gradwell County

[44:41] to the Minister of Transportation. Uh Grazel County was very concerned with

[44:47] with the uh MCTism of roadside maintenance on on highways.

[44:55] uh they're saying that that the brush is is overgrown. The vegetation is is

[44:59] obstructing sight lines. There's higher than than normal amount of prohibited

[45:05] noxious and noxious weeds. Uh and then uh on same same day uh there

[45:12] was a correspondence that Grazville County sent uh with with regards to

[45:19] quality that uh the website's recommendation is is going on with with

[45:24] the orphan law program. Uh then on page 27 uh there is uh by

[45:31] Brazwell County as well the reconsideration of of the call order of

[45:37] uh the universal office front. Um unfortunately

[45:43] I don't know the outcome of that one. Then on page 28 um there was a uh

[45:53] the uh the shadow minister uh did send send some some correspondence with

[45:59] regards to a uh a survey uh with regards to the uh the rich ground squirrels. uh

[46:07] they are trying to uh to reinstate the the 2% strict night. So uh

[46:15] be aware of that. Uh Dan on 30 and 31. Uh there's a uh a

[46:24] conference that some of our board members have attended

[46:28] in in the past. It's it's called Crossroads. It used to be far deck. to

[46:35] be held at at the uh Expo Center. Uh they originate in between Edmonton and

[46:41] Selberry. This year it's in Edmonton. It's it's uh January 27th 28th. Uh reg

[46:49] they they do still have openings for for registrations. Um registration is is in

[46:54] the neighborhood of $165. Uh some boards do send some of their

[47:00] members. I don't I won't be attending. I I don't

[47:06] see there's there's a baker to it. Then on a

[47:14] page 41 there was a report

[47:20] from the Alberta Prairie Con.

[47:24] It was sent to to our CAO. There is a uh an extended

[47:33] package like the campaign. I'm not going to get through it. Um but mainly sent to

[47:41] uh Peter and Peter for GP Harbor uh based on their study that they did in

[47:47] 1990 and 2000 2010 2020 over the last 30 years they found that

[47:55] that there's over 5200 acres of of native prairie that uh that have been

[48:01] used.

[48:04] They're hoping that the expanded approach to find would allow the

[48:08] munities to uh review their how they how they deal with some of the

[48:15] landscape changes that they're going on pertaining to the conservation amendment

[48:20] and stewardship of the the land of our native prairies.

[48:29] So read um it's it's a very like reading material. Feel free to spend your time

[48:35] going through that. Then on page um 184 there is a uh a letter that that was

[48:46] sent to both uh honorable Rebecca Schultz and Honorable RJ Singerson

[48:52] pertaining to the farms pesticide certification program. Uh, Northern

[48:57] Sunrise uh does support the no other that Daniel County and Green View

[49:05] uh saying that currently right now uh if if you want to have Canadian poison uh

[49:12] at the municipality as a producer you have to be certified. You have to take

[49:17] the force and and it's up to the municipality to uh to train train you.

[49:23] So um

[49:26] all these municipalities are having a concern with that that port 1080 is up

[49:32] to the municipality but if you need a aquatic license or or pest license on

[49:39] collar are the ones that are doing this. So, um, this is one of the reasons why

[49:44] Amanda and I have also made the decision not to continue participation with the

[49:50] 1080. Um, it's really dwindled down and over the last four years, we've only had

[49:57] one producer in uh, individually one that's been using it as

[50:03] a control measure just to keep the cats down. Um but it's also part of the

[50:10] condition that as a producer you have to have your management plan and

[50:15] controlling guidance not just have the toxicate. So that's why u the liability

[50:22] and the administration from from our point of view is that much greater. So

[50:26] we chose not to uh not to do it. Then on page uh 186 uh

[50:36] Northern Sunrise does support county men's u letter pertaining to uh updating

[50:45] the uh the amount of of animals that that you can slaughter on farm.

[50:52] Initially the uh the government did have a limitation and with the price of beef

[51:00] and with a lot of consumers wanting to know where where their their food is

[51:04] coming from. Um they are echoing what what the county has has said all is um

[51:11] what the producers work with with the on on farm slaughter plants and continue

[51:17] doing that. Um and then saddle gills very as as well

[51:24] they also support that uh we allow the uh the uh the slot to take place on page

[51:34] 189 u MD plan is is asking the federal government honorable Keith McDonald to

[51:43] see when when they're going to fill the uh uh the voidness from from Dr.

[51:48] Rosemary uh Deep Clerk. Uh she was the uh the weed biolog biological control

[51:55] enthmologist. Um currently right now um the the void is is at the uh the CDC

[52:03] North in in Westridge. Uh, and if they don't feel it, uh, they don't have

[52:08] anyone that's, um, taking care of the, uh, the the bio control for, uh, uh, for

[52:16] any of the invasive species that that are, uh, are coming in.

[52:22] Then on page 191, uh, one of the things that we've done is we we work with, uh,

[52:27] with Albert Kingston. uh in the summertime we we have u pest

[52:34] surveillance and uh Amanda and her team uh where we're doing this. So in 2025 uh

[52:42] there were no no Brisbane uh no warnings uh that were beyond 300 uh there were

[52:50] very small amounts so nothing to be worried about. Uh for for Creek Mitch uh

[52:56] they sampled five fields and uh they only found two two specimens in one

[53:03] field. uh P pew weed weevil um um they did increase but but they are still uh

[53:11] at the motor level. Uh cabbage pod seed weevil um there were none that were

[53:17] found and in 2025 there were no reports of any worms at that and I think a lot

[53:24] of that is because it was driving to us. uh the works uh research has has shown

[53:33] that there are very few that that were affected uh with the M catches that that

[53:39] were as I mentioned under 300 hunters. And then on page

[53:46] 196 uh uh we did share this with you in in the path that the uh what used to be

[53:53] the North family and and then the uh the Beimo uh

[53:59] has now been given to the upper association of egg societies. There's a

[54:06] resolution that that came forward last year. So they alter the north and the

[54:12] south we fall to the north. So,

[54:20] the ability to start thinking about who you would go on to nominate as as a uh a

[54:26] farm family, we do have till uh till

[54:32] August August 1st of of 2026. So, if there's any that that you think of, um,

[54:39] bring them forward to an upcoming ASU meeting and, uh, we will we'll work with

[54:44] them and, uh, they're their nominated.

[55:00] No.

[55:07] summarize um we did a lot of education and awareness earlier in the season

[55:14] green houses. We did have issues with our GI program. So that was a struggle

[55:19] for it and they sent 293 letters

[55:25] we noticed. We didn't have to do any enforcement. So, it was a good work for

[55:30] us. They helped out with all the pest monitoring, the grasshopper surveys,

[55:35] delivering herbicide, things like that. And then towards the end of the season,

[55:39] she was helping out with the past program.

[55:44] » Any questions for

[55:52] if not we get a motion there 7.14? Sure. I motion that Lamont County

[55:58] Agricultural Service Board accept all correspondence as information.

[56:03] » All in favor? Okay. I I think we'll take a five minute break so that uh the

[56:08] delegations we have time to get them up on the computer and stuff.

[56:12] » Um see and then we'll continue on with 8.1 after the delegations.

[56:22] that picture kind of one day uh John's sister-in-law and her husband shot all

[56:28] that in one day over there All that stuff.

[1:02:47] All right, we'll go to our delegate 10 o'clock delegation here uh from Alberta

[1:02:54] Invasive Species Council uh Executive Director Megan Evans. Uh

[1:03:01] if you're ready to go, we'll uh finally like to hear your presentation.

[1:03:10] Great. >> Thank you so much. Thanks for the

[1:03:12] opportunity to be here. Uh I will sh Oh, I will share my screen

[1:03:20] and

[1:03:24] with any luck are you seeing the full screen that you should see on your end?

[1:03:30] » Yes. >> Yeah, we got the

[1:03:34] » Great. Okay. All right. Well, again, thank you so much for the opportunity to

[1:03:38] be here. My name is Megan Evans and I am here on behalf of the Alberta Invasive

[1:03:42] Species Council. So, what I'd like to do with our time this morning is talk to

[1:03:46] you a little bit about uh invasive species, what they are, why they matter,

[1:03:51] and some of the things that we do as a nonprofit organization to help combat

[1:03:55] them, working in collaboration with municipalities across Alberta like

[1:03:59] Lamont County. Uh so, this is our our year in review infographic. Uh we put

[1:04:05] this together every year. This is for last year, of course. Uh, but this is

[1:04:08] kind of our elevator pitch. When people ask what we do, this is kind of a great

[1:04:11] visual to sum that up. Now, I know there's a lot on the screen, but really

[1:04:15] quickly, uh, we attend a lot of outreach events. Uh, we offer bio control

[1:04:20] releases. So, those are little bugs that, uh, target and eat specific weed

[1:04:26] species. And, uh, bio control is a really important part of, uh, managing,

[1:04:31] uh, invasive species in an environmentally friendly way. We really

[1:04:34] like that program. There's a lot happening there. We also have invasive

[1:04:38] species reporting apps. We'll talk more about those later. Those are called EDM

[1:04:43] Maps. That's kind of a goofy name, but we'll we'll chat more about that in a

[1:04:46] little bit. We're active on all the social media platforms, and we even uh

[1:04:50] started a Tik Tok channel account in 2024, which has been eye opening for

[1:04:56] everybody, but we're learning a lot as we do that.

[1:04:59] Uh the Alberta Invasive Species Council uh administers Alberta's certified

[1:05:04] weed-free forage program. We've had minimal uptake on that program, but we

[1:05:09] uh we have a lot of uh hopes. We we we think there's a lot more we could do

[1:05:14] there. So, we look forward to working more on that in the future. We host an

[1:05:18] annual conference every year, which is the place to go if you are interested in

[1:05:22] being brought up to speed on everything invasive species in Alberta. what's

[1:05:27] coming, what we're dealing with, what are the new management um options, etc.

[1:05:31] And we also offer a host of resources, including fact sheets. We have now over

[1:05:36] 200 fact sheets in our library, and those fact sheets are one-stop shop for

[1:05:41] anything you would want to know about a particular invasive species. Um, and we

[1:05:46] also have outreach campaigns. So, we do a lot of extension and outreach and we

[1:05:49] promote a lot of the same campaigns that people use in other jurisdictions,

[1:05:53] including uh, you know, don't let it loose, buy local, burn local for

[1:05:58] firewood, clean drain, dry your gear for preventing aquatic invasive species like

[1:06:03] zebra muscles. >> Uh, and we've started to develop our own

[1:06:08] campaigns. And in 2024, we launched our rat on rats campaign, uh, which is, uh,

[1:06:15] a really exciting campaign that's really encourages Albertans to report rat

[1:06:18] sightings and and help encouraging people to join the rat patrol and keep

[1:06:23] Alberta rat free. We'll talk more about that in a moment as well. We also

[1:06:27] distribute the invasive plants of Alberta guide. Uh, this is a really

[1:06:30] important resource. We've distributed over 33,000 copies to date and all of

[1:06:34] them have been distributed at a subsidized rate uh which we're able to

[1:06:38] do through securing grant funding. The list of regulated weeds in Alberta is

[1:06:42] being updated this winter as you're probably likely aware. So these are out

[1:06:46] of print right now. We are currently working on revising them and we hope to

[1:06:49] have print copies available for you this spring. Uh and as a registered nonprofit

[1:06:54] in Alberta, we are uh you know accountable to our members. We have 183

[1:06:59] members. uh and a board of directors uh which consists of 16 board directors uh

[1:07:07] and five staff members and we also have 39 in 2024 we have 39 partner

[1:07:11] organizations across the province uh that have been a really important part

[1:07:16] of uh our programming um and I do want to point out that again we are fully

[1:07:20] independent nonprofit and we are not a government agency. A lot of folks think

[1:07:24] that we are. So I want to touch a little bit on how we're funded uh just to give

[1:07:28] you some context. So we've been around for almost 20 years. Uh and we don't

[1:07:33] actually get any core uh government money. So we don't get any you know

[1:07:37] admin or core operational money from uh from the government. What we do survive

[1:07:42] on is is largely grants. So we write a grant application and we have you know a

[1:07:46] project objectives and deliverables and we and we deliver on that and that is

[1:07:50] the bulk of what we do. That's about uh twothirds of our our revenue. We uh

[1:07:55] bring in revenue with our annual conference. Uh we also have an AGLC

[1:07:59] fundraising casinos. I'm sure everyone you're at least likely familiar with

[1:08:04] working these casino shifts till two or three in the morning. So those those are

[1:08:07] an important fundraiser for us. We generate revenue through our biocrol

[1:08:11] release program and also through uh the partnership program which is primarily

[1:08:16] supported through rural municipalities across Alberta and through membership

[1:08:19] dues. Uh but I do want to point out that the only restrictive funding that we do

[1:08:23] receive is through our partnership and our membership uh uh dues. So that's the

[1:08:28] only funding that we receive that comes with no strings attached. And that in my

[1:08:32] opinion is the most important revenue that we receive because it allows us to

[1:08:36] apply for other grants to grow our programs to add new things and to do new

[1:08:41] and innovative things. Uh and whereas everything else there's strings attached

[1:08:45] with how we spend that money. So this partnership program that we have that

[1:08:49] Lamont County has been a part of is part of the reason why we've been able to

[1:08:52] grow and really uh improve our impact and create awareness in Alberta. So

[1:08:56] we're really grateful to Mont County and uh and all of our partners uh for that

[1:09:01] program. So starting at the basics, uh if we're

[1:09:06] uh if this is an egg service board, then you guys already know what an invasive

[1:09:09] species are. You're probably already dealing with them at home, maybe at work

[1:09:12] or wherever. uh and and we're all familiar, but just to make sure we're

[1:09:16] all on the same page, invasive species are organisms that originate somewhere

[1:09:21] else and that uh make their way to a new environment where they cause harm.

[1:09:26] » And the reason why they cause harm is because they've come without the things

[1:09:30] that would naturally suppress their populations. So that could be climate or

[1:09:34] temperature or water or uh competition, predation, diseases, all kinds of

[1:09:39] things. So that those things are absent in the new environment. the new species,

[1:09:43] the invasive species out competes the native species because they have some

[1:09:47] type of competitive advantage. Um, and that those that out that out competing

[1:09:52] of the native species upsets the ecological balance, the trophic systems,

[1:09:56] the ecological function, the ecological goods and services that these ecosystems

[1:10:00] provide. And all of those ecological impacts translate very firmly into e

[1:10:05] econ economic impacts. Uh and so invasive species are literally impacting

[1:10:10] every one of us here in Alberta whether we recognize those impacts or not. So

[1:10:14] some some invasive species impact stats uh are you know $2 billion is the

[1:10:21] estimated cost that invasive species are impacting the Alberta economy annually.

[1:10:26] Two billion dollars every year. There's a real money coming out of the pockets

[1:10:29] of producers coming out of the pockets of Albertans and grocery stores. The

[1:10:32] majority of those impacts we think are due to weeds and agriculture too. And

[1:10:36] there's a whole lot more weeds. There's a whole lot more invasive species and

[1:10:40] other types of categories that are on our doorstep that would really make that

[1:10:44] number jump substantially higher. So the these are non-trivial uh impacts.

[1:10:49] Globally over $400 billion a year invasive species are considered to be

[1:10:53] the second biggest threat to biodiversity in the world. Uh and 60% of

[1:10:59] our global species extinctions have been caused either solely or in part by

[1:11:04] invasive species. And in Canada, 44 of our species at risk uh are list invasive

[1:11:10] plants as factors in their at risk status. So invasive species, they don't

[1:11:15] often they don't always get the attention that they deserve. These are

[1:11:18] really really this is an important issue that has very real uh consequences.

[1:11:23] And invasive species come in all forms. They obviously we have weeds or invasive

[1:11:27] plants uh and we've got lots of those in Alberta. I live in the Crows Pass. I

[1:11:31] don't know if anyone's driven through here lately, but we are ground zero for

[1:11:34] a lot of weeds. We're pretty weedy place. Uh invasive plants. There's a lot

[1:11:38] of them. Uh very problematic. We also have invasive animals like pigs and

[1:11:42] rats. Very destructive. Uh as well, very problematic. Invasive mollisks like this

[1:11:48] zebra muscle. That's the shell you can see on the screen there. We do not have

[1:11:53] any invasive muscles in Alberta yet. We do not have uh zebra, quaga, or golden

[1:11:58] muscles. Those are very, very, very problematic. They come with a very high

[1:12:02] price tag. Those invasive muscles have infested most water bodies in North

[1:12:06] America and Alberta remains one of the few jurisdictions that does not yet have

[1:12:11] uh these very destructive invasive species. They clog uh they attach

[1:12:15] themselves to hard surfaces and clog up any type of uh uh aquatic infrastructure

[1:12:21] and we're very concerned about them getting into our irrigation

[1:12:23] infrastructure in southern Alberta. Be very destructive, very damaging. We have

[1:12:27] invasive diseases like you can see with these fish that are looking a little

[1:12:31] contorted. They have been impacted by whirling disease. We have an a major

[1:12:35] invasive goldfish problem. Uh I'm not sure what the situation is there. And

[1:12:40] this tends to be more of an an urban issue where people are taking their live

[1:12:44] fish and releasing them into water bodies. And of course once that happens

[1:12:49] uh they're very very hard to get rid of. Uh goldfish and some of their cousins

[1:12:52] have the ability to clone themselves. So, one fish can easily turn into a 100

[1:12:56] thousand. And uh they are very very hearty. They survive our winters. They

[1:13:01] breed like crazy. Very problematic. We have invasive insects like this

[1:13:05] beautiful emerald ashbor. Uh and our uh particularly our urban forest, well, all

[1:13:10] of our forests are very susceptible to tree pests. Uh Alberta is very lucky. We

[1:13:14] don't really have major issues with most of these invasive forest pests yet, but

[1:13:19] again, we need to to maintain our uh vigilance to keep them out. and even

[1:13:23] invasive fungus. So the the pine branch that you can see on the screen has been

[1:13:26] impacted by white pine blister rust. That is an invasive fungus that is now

[1:13:31] present uh in North America. The spores are just everywhere. They were brought

[1:13:35] over accidentally on nursery stock from Asia. And that fungus is the leading

[1:13:40] cause of decline um for uh and and mortality of white bark and limber pine

[1:13:46] which are two endangered uh pine trees in Alberta.

[1:13:52] So these invasive species, there's lots of different kinds of them and they have

[1:13:54] lots of different pathways by which they come into Alberta. Any type of mud can

[1:14:00] carry seeds and a seeds, you know that hitchhiking, weeds hitchhiking uh on our

[1:14:05] boots or our pets or our tires is is a major pathway. I know that my dog if if

[1:14:10] there's a patch of bo somewhere, he will find it uh and and he will carry that

[1:14:15] around. You know, any type of wildlife can be a vector. The middle photo on the

[1:14:19] top here, that's the undercarriage of a quad that I took this photo. And this

[1:14:23] was a quad that had been uh transported on a truck and brought to a new location

[1:14:28] in the back country. And I was horrified to look at the undercarriage. And this

[1:14:31] is not just an invasive species issue. This could be a, you know, a fire hazard

[1:14:34] as well. So, we want to make sure that we're cleaning our gear, right? That is

[1:14:38] just a clean drain, dry, play, clean, go. Cleaning our gear is a really great

[1:14:41] way to prevent the introduction and spread of these things. The overland

[1:14:45] transport of boats. So there's a boat being hauled out of the water there from

[1:14:49] if a boat comes from an infested water body with an aquatic invasive species

[1:14:52] and into an uninfested water body. That's how they are introduced. We know

[1:14:56] that uh substrate forage and gravel can be a problem as well. There's bock

[1:15:01] sitting bours on the the that hay bale really really problematic. Again there's

[1:15:07] things that we can do like having forage certified etc. Firewood is another

[1:15:11] vector. Moving firewood is a vector of spreading uh forest pests. And of

[1:15:15] course, I have a beautiful photo of goldfish in their tank because sometimes

[1:15:18] our pets can become invasive when they're released into the wild. So all

[1:15:22] of these methods and these pathways are, you know, humans have a big role to play

[1:15:26] here. We are, you know, most of these invasive species don't do a great job of

[1:15:29] moving themselves around. We are helping them move and we are a big part of the

[1:15:34] problem. And in that same sentiment, we are the solution uh to preventing the

[1:15:40] introduction and spread of invasive species. Don't move firewood. Don't let

[1:15:44] your pets loose. Uh clean, drain, dry, play clean, go. So the awareness piece,

[1:15:49] letting making people aware, getting them to care about this issue is such a

[1:15:52] big part of the solution. Um and and we are a big part of the solution. Uh and

[1:15:57] and our behaviors are as well. So this is the invasion curve and I I think this

[1:16:02] will be the last boring slide that I slow show you and we'll get into some

[1:16:05] more exciting stuff here momentarily. Uh but this is a really important slide. So

[1:16:10] on the bottom we have time and on our x- axis we have area occupied and cost and

[1:16:15] basically um you know as we we move along the invasion curve the area

[1:16:20] occupied and cost associated with an invasive species increases dramatically

[1:16:25] and you can see that there's some ratios on the bottom those are the economic

[1:16:29] returns of these different uh stages of invasion. So you can see for every

[1:16:34] dollar that we spend on a prevention activity, which could be, you know, a

[1:16:39] watercraft inspection station, a boot uh brush cleaning station, uh an awareness

[1:16:45] campaign, education, outreach, every dollar we spend on a prevention activity

[1:16:49] can yield $100 in savings down the line. So this is a huge return on investment.

[1:16:56] Uh by far the single best way to manage invasive species is to prevent them from

[1:16:59] being introduced in the first place. So prevention is where we see the biggest

[1:17:03] bang for our buck. And the ultimate irony here is that that is where we

[1:17:07] spend the least amount of money uh on invasive species. So it would be really

[1:17:12] great to you know really see more investments in prevention. Uh

[1:17:15] absolutely. Inevitably though invasive species will arrive uh and then we need

[1:17:21] to have uh eyes on the ground and we need to take an early detection rapid

[1:17:24] response approach to managing those new invaders. And that yields a very high

[1:17:28] return on investment as well. $1 spent for $25 uh savings down the road.

[1:17:34] » If we lose the opportunity to eradicate a species, we move into the containment

[1:17:38] phase and that's where we're trying to prevent them from spreading. Uh and

[1:17:42] that's still a very worthwhile it's very worthwhile to manage invasive species in

[1:17:46] that stage. We're still seeing a good solid return on investment. And then if

[1:17:50] we move out of containment and we lose that battle kind of we what we move into

[1:17:55] what we call like long-term control or assetbased protection. So I I'm using

[1:18:01] Canada thistle as the example here which is probably an invasive species we're

[1:18:05] all familiar with. That is one where you just, you know, you're just trying to

[1:18:08] keep Canada thistle out of your pasture, out of your yard, out of your natural

[1:18:12] area that you manage, right? That's what we mean by asset based detention. I

[1:18:16] would put dandelions here as well. Although we've really kind of there's

[1:18:20] not a lot of control there. There's not a requirement to control in a natural

[1:18:23] area. They're still an invasive species and still very problematic. So

[1:18:27] prevention is the biggest bang for our buck. The single best way to manage them

[1:18:30] is in prevention. And again, awareness and outreach. And the more Alberta's

[1:18:34] know, Albertans know and care about this issue, the more they will adopt

[1:18:38] behaviors that will help prevent the introduction and spread uh reducing the

[1:18:42] overall costs both economically and ecologically associated with invasive

[1:18:47] species. >> So some of the resource, so this is

[1:18:50] where we come in. So we come in, we do a lot on the prevention side, a lot of the

[1:18:54] awareness, extension and outreach. And this is just a list of some of our

[1:18:57] existing resources that we currently have. Uh we do have our fact sheet

[1:19:00] library. Again, I mentioned that already. We are adding to that every

[1:19:04] year. We add new fact sheets and every year we work to revise and edit and make

[1:19:08] sure that they remain up to date. These are a really important resource and we

[1:19:12] uh we do a lot of work on these. These are very important. We also have the

[1:19:17] invasive plants of Alberta uh guides which I mentioned already and there's a

[1:19:20] QR code there to download if you're interested in having a look. Again,

[1:19:23] we're out of print copies but we will have some ready by spring. We also

[1:19:27] distribute the complimentary um I have one here aquatic invasive species pocket

[1:19:32] guide. So this is a a government publication but we print and distribute

[1:19:36] them on our online store. We get grant money again distribute them for a

[1:19:39] subsidized rate. Uh we do webinars, we have rack cards, there's the certified

[1:19:44] weed free forage program which is super important. The conference and then we've

[1:19:48] also recently established um the Alberta Bioontrol Consortium. Uh this is a

[1:19:55] really important program where we're bringing people municip uh

[1:19:57] municipalities industry uh nonprofit groups across the board together to talk

[1:20:03] about bio control and to fund the research and development of new biorol

[1:20:07] agents. We're seeing things like herbicide resistant kosha. We need more

[1:20:12] tools and so the goal of this group is to you know uh to develop and and to to

[1:20:17] help fund development of new tools for controlling invasive plants in Alberta.

[1:20:22] And then we have our apps, the Ed Maps uh and the Ed Maps Pro that we'll talk

[1:20:26] about next. So EDM MAPAP stands for early detection and distribution mapping

[1:20:32] system, which is like a very descriptive name, but they're not very catchy. Uh

[1:20:36] but it's a really really these are really really powerful apps and they're

[1:20:40] really useful. So there's both the citizen science version where you could

[1:20:44] encourage you know people in your county to go out and report invasive species

[1:20:48] that they think you might not be aware of. So, it can help you get your

[1:20:52] rateayers to be your eyes on the ground. Uh, and then there's also a professional

[1:20:56] version of the app that was designed for municipal uh weed programs basically.

[1:21:01] So, if you're not collecting uh digital data uh spatial data with your weed

[1:21:05] program, you you could use this app free of charge. We will train you and show

[1:21:08] you how to use it. Uh it's a real handy thing. But um when these reports come in

[1:21:14] from the citizen science version, all of the reports are verified by us and then

[1:21:18] we send them off to the local authority. So you can use EDM maps anywhere in

[1:21:21] Alberta. You can collect invasive plant data. We get them. We'll verify them

[1:21:25] based on the photos and send them off to whichever jurisdiction that happens to

[1:21:29] be in. And what I'm presenting on the screen to you is the result of an Ed

[1:21:33] Maps query. So all of the data are publicly available. And I pulled up all

[1:21:37] the data for Alberta. There's 50 there's over 50,000 invasive species records for

[1:21:42] Alberta. Uh, and that QR code will take you to an interactive web page where you

[1:21:47] can zoom in or out on any of the points. That can be really powerful if you want

[1:21:51] to know what's happening in your neighbor's jurisdiction so that you can

[1:21:54] be aware of the you know some of the things that are uh potential issues for

[1:21:58] you in the future. Uh, and or I also queried the data just for Lamont County

[1:22:03] uh and those are there as well. So there there was 40 records for Lamont County.

[1:22:07] So interesting uh and and lots of opportunities there to use those apps.

[1:22:12] The other thing is um Edm Maps is probably maybe not maybe you've never

[1:22:16] heard of it. It's not the most popular app, but you've probably heard of the I

[1:22:20] Naturalist app, which is a very popular app. It connects now to our EDM maps and

[1:22:26] we can pull in those data uh and we pull in all of the regulated weeds and we are

[1:22:32] working through triaging those and sending those reports off to

[1:22:34] municipalities as well to make sure you're aware of those. So, just some

[1:22:38] things to be aware of with those apps. There's a lot of good work happening

[1:22:41] there. So projects that we currently have

[1:22:44] funding to work on, uh, we did get an environmental damages fund grant to do

[1:22:48] aquatic invasive species work in the Edmonton area. So it was a big grant but

[1:22:53] with a very narrow focus. Um, and but it did allow us to install uh these boat

[1:22:59] wash units in and around the Edmonton area. Uh, and we're also working to

[1:23:04] publish a children's story book featuring Tank, who is our goldfish

[1:23:09] mascot. uh and we're really excited about that. So, we've got a lot of

[1:23:12] programming with Tank. He's our uh the goldfish that reminds children not to

[1:23:18] release their pets in the wild. And we've also done some uh environmental

[1:23:22] DNA monitoring for aquatic invasive species uh uh throughout Alberta as well

[1:23:27] to help fill in the gaps with some of the other agencies that do monitoring.

[1:23:31] We are currently testing out some equipment for controlling invasive plant

[1:23:35] seed production. particularly worried about invasive annual grasses which are

[1:23:40] a major problem in the south and we're trying to find ways that we can

[1:23:43] effectively harvest seed from those plants and

[1:23:47] » looking at some hedge trimmers and things like that. Um we also are have

[1:23:53] funding from the Alberta Real Estate Found Foundation to develop a a tree

[1:23:57] pest guide that will look a lot like our invasive plants of Alberta guide. Um and

[1:24:01] then we've also secured another round of $100,000 in funding to contribute

[1:24:06] towards common tanzy biocontrol research. So we've been researching

[1:24:11] we've been contributing this funding uh this research for 12 years. We are

[1:24:14] getting to the uh nearing the end of of that which is really exciting.

[1:24:19] And we're also working to develop a new campaign uh to increase awareness and

[1:24:23] prevent the introduction and spread of invasive plants which is really needed.

[1:24:27] We don't have a lot of great uh slogans for that yet, but we're really excited

[1:24:32] to launch our Wild Flowers Not Weeds campaign, which will come up this

[1:24:35] spring. This isn't what it will be, but it's a little teaser. And I I just want

[1:24:39] to point out that it's harder with invasive plants to convince the public

[1:24:43] that they're a problem. And that's because this field of oxide daisy to

[1:24:48] most people is wonderful. It's beautiful. What could possibly be wrong

[1:24:52] with this? And if you are into invasive plants, you understand these issues.

[1:24:56] This is a nightmare. This is absolut This is not what this should look like.

[1:24:59] This should be a montaine meadow with a diversity of native plants which are now

[1:25:03] all gone. And this is literally just oxide daisy and tall buttercup. And this

[1:25:07] this issue with this not being a problem is so prevalent that this was used in a

[1:25:12] tourism poster for Fernie, British Columbia. So this again, it doesn't help

[1:25:16] our cause. Oxide daisy, tall buttercraft, those are regulated noxious

[1:25:19] weeds in Alberta and these are problematic. They are ecologically and

[1:25:23] economically destructive and damaging. And so fundamentally fun increasing the

[1:25:28] ecological awareness of the difference between wild flowersowers and weeds is

[1:25:32] really critical. So we are really excited to uh to launch that this

[1:25:35] summer. Another campaign that we've recently launched in 2025 was our

[1:25:40] protect our waters campaign. Uh prior to this, clean, drain, dry your boat, your

[1:25:44] gear was the main message. And I it just wasn't super cool or pulling enough at

[1:25:50] people's heartstrings to get them to understand the why we need to clean,

[1:25:53] drain, dry. And the why is to protect our waters and all the critters that we

[1:25:57] love and care about. And so that's what we've uh produced here.

[1:26:01] » Of course, a rat hopefully you've heard of our rat on rats campaign. This was

[1:26:04] one we were really excited about. So you I'm sure you're aware Alberta is the

[1:26:09] world's largest rat jurisdiction. Albertans are proud of that status.

[1:26:13] However, rat populations are booming in uh municipalities across North America.

[1:26:19] They're they're really uh booming and and exploding right now. And we have,

[1:26:23] you know, hundreds of thousands of new Albertans that have moved to the

[1:26:26] province. And this program has been so successful, we have an entire generation

[1:26:30] of Albertans that has maybe never seen a rat. So, we felt as though it was timely

[1:26:35] to remind Albertans that we are rat free.

[1:26:39] » However, rats do make their way into the province and we need people to rat on

[1:26:43] rats so we can let the rat patrol know. So, we did think that this was timely.

[1:26:47] It also happened to be timely with the Stanley Cup playoffs. I don't know if

[1:26:51] there's any hockey fans in the room, uh, but as some of you are aware, the

[1:26:54] Edmonton Oilers faced off against the Florida Panthers last year. And

[1:26:58] interestingly, the Florida Panthers fans throw plastic rats on the ice when they

[1:27:04] win. And we thought there was a great opportunity for us to talk about

[1:27:08] invasive species and raton rats with the Stanley Cup playoffs. And we started

[1:27:11] promoting it, doing a lot of work on that. And we also had the added benefit

[1:27:15] of Lauren McDavid, who is the Emmonton Oilers captain, Conor McDavid's wife,

[1:27:20] who was uh posting about Alberta's rat patrol and the rat free status on her

[1:27:25] social media, which was amazing. So, we reached out to Lauren and asked her if

[1:27:28] she wanted some of our rat patrol stuff, and she said yes. So, on the right hand

[1:27:33] side is the Rat Patrol uh package that we delivered to the McDavid's home. Uh

[1:27:39] and then you can see some photos of Lauren McDavid wearing the Raton Rats

[1:27:42] t-shirt. This is advertising that is so much more than what we could ever

[1:27:48] afford. It's just so incredible. Uh and we got a lot of traction and we what we

[1:27:53] did there was, you know, we didn't create the situation, but we leveraged

[1:27:56] it and we got connected with so many people that were not tuned into invasive

[1:28:00] species who didn't know about this and again brought them into our world and

[1:28:03] created a lot of general awareness. Really cool, really exciting stuff. Now,

[1:28:06] the only thing that would have made this story better is if the Oilers would have

[1:28:10] won the playoffs, which unfortunately, tragically, sadly, they did not. But

[1:28:15] that's okay. It was a great run and, uh, and it was exciting. We do a lot of

[1:28:19] marketing. Um, we do billboards. We, uh, submit articles for, you know, all of

[1:28:24] the main magazines in Alberta. We go to trade shows. We create wearable merch,

[1:28:29] which actually we've had tremendous success with. Every time somebody wears

[1:28:33] a squeal on pigs or a rat on rats or protect our waters hat, it generally

[1:28:37] starts a conversation and that fundamentally is the goal of that

[1:28:40] wearable merch. And so we love this and we have a lot of fun with it and it's

[1:28:44] it's a really important part of what we do.

[1:28:46] » We attend a lot of events. This is Tank. This is here he is in the flesh. He is a

[1:28:50] goldfish with legs, but that's okay. He's really functional and we have so

[1:28:54] much programming with him. He gets out, other people borrow him. We're having so

[1:28:57] much fun with Tank. Uh, in 2025, AISC attended 93 events and we've connected

[1:29:03] with over 60,000 Albertans, which is really fun. Um, this is a video. I don't

[1:29:08] know if I can get this to work for you, but this is at an Edmonton Riverhawks

[1:29:11] game and that there's our beloved tank on the uh the Jumbotron. So, so there

[1:29:17] you have it. We have a lot of fun with this stuff. It's just such a great way

[1:29:19] to to connect with Albertans. And as I've mentioned before, connecting with

[1:29:22] Albertans and creating that awareness is such a really important part of the

[1:29:26] solution. Some pending projects that we have

[1:29:29] coming up include uh we've got a big grant uh in the queue to do a lot more

[1:29:34] wild boar and rat programming and outreach. We also have a very solid

[1:29:40] project idea and some grants in the queue to reframe the conversations

[1:29:44] around integrated pest management which is really the best way to approach

[1:29:48] managing invasive species. And we're really excited about that and working

[1:29:52] with all of the municipalities on integrated pest management programming

[1:29:56] which is something we know that producers are hungry for. So we we're

[1:29:59] really really excited about that. We're developing an invasive species to watch

[1:30:03] list for Alberta, some economic impact infographics and we have a big grant in

[1:30:07] the queue to develop invasive species resources that are aligned with the

[1:30:11] curriculum and of course our tank the goldfish story book will be involved

[1:30:15] with that as well. Another really important thing that the

[1:30:18] AISC does as an organization is we respond to emerging threats. So, uh it's

[1:30:24] never a dull moment. You never know what you're going to get here at the office.

[1:30:28] People mail us dead bugs. Uh we get photos of the craziest stuff, but these

[1:30:32] are two examples um of invasive species that were reported to us. The the toad

[1:30:38] on the left is a cane toad. That is cane toads are one of the most notorious

[1:30:43] destructive invasive species on the planet. It's arguable about whether they

[1:30:47] could survive Alberta's climates and whether they'd be a real risk here, but

[1:30:49] they are like a very destructive invasive species. This particular cane

[1:30:53] toad hitched a ride on nursery stock from Florida to a Calgary rona store and

[1:30:58] uh that Rona store knew to contact us. We got in touch with a fish and wildlife

[1:31:02] officer who came in, removed and destroyed the toad. And then in 2025, we

[1:31:06] had Cal like Alberta's slug fiasco. A bunch of nursery stock that came into

[1:31:12] Home Depot was infested with these giant slugs which are not native to North

[1:31:16] America. They've been introduced where they become invasive in BC and this

[1:31:20] nursery stock came from the Okonogan where they were loaded with these slugs.

[1:31:23] So again, very problematic, but we're here to help and support. We connect

[1:31:26] with Alberta agriculture, environment protected areas uh and and we can kind

[1:31:30] of mobilize things very quickly. So those are things that we do as well.

[1:31:35] So to summarize uh invasive species are a very serious threat to both the

[1:31:40] economy and the environment. Those species come in all forms with all

[1:31:45] different kinds of pathways. Most of those pathways are human mediated and

[1:31:49] prevention is the single best best way to manage them. Um here at the AISC we

[1:31:54] respond to those emerging threats. We create campaigns. We conduct outreach to

[1:31:58] raise awareness. And we're always working to create new resources for

[1:32:02] other people like yourselves to use in within the county to help create

[1:32:06] awareness and help people manage their invasive species. That partnership

[1:32:10] program that you folks are a part of and we're so grateful for is our only no

[1:32:13] strings attached funding and it is our most important revenue stream and we

[1:32:17] will leverage every dollar that we get through that to bring in more money to

[1:32:20] create more resources and develop new programs. So we're really grateful for

[1:32:23] that and for your support over the years. Thank you. Uh, and with that, I'm

[1:32:27] will leave you with my contact information. Uh, and I don't know if

[1:32:31] there's time for questions. I would love your questions. If we don't have time

[1:32:33] today, please reach out to me on phone or email. I'm happy to talk about

[1:32:36] invasive species anytime. And, and I'm really grateful to have your time this

[1:32:40] morning as well. So, so thank you very much.

[1:32:45] » Thanks a lot, Megan. There's a lot to take in here. It's a busy place for you

[1:32:49] guys covering plant, animals, fish, dirt. Uh there isn't uh there isn't

[1:32:55] anything you guys don't cover. I gota say anybody have any question. Sorry.

[1:33:02] » Yeah. No. Yeah, we cover the whole gamut. Exactly.

[1:33:05] » We got big advice over there. Anybody have any questions for Megan?

[1:33:12] » Well, that was quite informative.

[1:33:17] » Good presentation. Very good presentation. I guess we did the one the

[1:33:21] one thing that I like to tell the board is is that u Amanda and I lean on Megan

[1:33:27] and and her team quite extensively. AISC is is really instrumental in making our

[1:33:35] our lives a lot easier. As you see, they they deal with with everything from uh

[1:33:40] from zebra muzzles to to wild bo uh uh to everything else in in between. And uh

[1:33:49] uh and I I thank the service board for for allowing us to to give some money

[1:33:55] back to them so that they are in uh still stay in operation and hopefully

[1:34:00] for for years to come we can uh we can even work closer with with them.

[1:34:06] » Their fact sheets and weed booklets are like the Bible for our weed sectors.

[1:34:10] They send out a fact sheet and every weed letter we send out. We rely very

[1:34:14] heavily on those. They've got such good information.

[1:34:18] » Very good. Any any more questions for me?

[1:34:24] » Thanks a lot for all your time. Very interesting. Very good. Uh uh learned

[1:34:28] learned quite a bit today actually. So is uh is good.

[1:34:39] » So there's no questions. All right. Thank you. Thanks a lot. we'll uh we'll

[1:34:43] discuss here and see what we can do. >> Thank you so much. Really appreciate

[1:34:48] your time. Nice chatting with you this morning. Thanks again.

[1:34:51] » Yeah,

[1:35:00] » all right. That looks pretty good. Interesting. will uh um

[1:35:08] what did somebody need to go ahead and take it as information?

[1:35:11] » Yeah, we have someone approve it. >> Yeah. Number five 5 5.1 a motion on

[1:35:17] that. Please take it as information. >> The the county Agricultural Service

[1:35:23] Forest Alberta and faces species executive director Megan Evans

[1:35:29] presentation is information. >> All right. Thanks. Uh Gerald, all in

[1:35:34] favor? Okay, carried. Thanks a lot. Uh we'll go back to where we were in the

[1:35:39] meeting. Uh 8.1 uh agriculture fieldman report page 202.

[1:35:48] Okay. So my report is uh sorry from October till end of November. Uh the

[1:35:55] roadside grass motor program concluded on on October 17th. the uh the

[1:35:59] questioner roads were were done at as at the third pass and was pass

[1:36:05] third time they went on the roads not only the first 15 but we did a uh a

[1:36:12] second pass adjacent to it. U I kind of base this off what transportation does

[1:36:19] very similar to what they do from from shoulder to shoulder or from from

[1:36:24] property line to property line. uh for transportation does that uh especially

[1:36:29] for the first couple snow snow plow operation that that they do. It allows

[1:36:34] the snow to go straight across and even on on our collector roads and uh that

[1:36:39] definitely helps. Uh the tractors in the motors were cleaned up and repair which

[1:36:44] was was made for for the 2026 season. uh unit 4348

[1:36:50] which is a Ford tractor uh that was handed over to the public work uh and it

[1:36:56] was prepared for uh a quick start up drive lease. Uh the brushing program

[1:37:02] started with the initiate and overview of the units and the program. uh we had

[1:37:07] a contractor come in and and made sure that that our operators are competent

[1:37:12] and if they had any any questions we address sooner than later. Uh we did

[1:37:20] want to have a very aggressive start before snow hits and then allow us to

[1:37:25] see where the rocks and some of the other hazards are. Um as I mentioned

[1:37:30] earlier the uh the crew is broken into two different areas. uh the John Deere

[1:37:34] TR hole and the uh the new PDP300 V that for us here. Um they started on 175 and

[1:37:44] 572 uh and they were commencing to the east

[1:37:49] on on 165. A lot of the smaller unit was was concentrating on the site lines. Uh

[1:37:54] it allowed us to uh to mobilize and and not have public the work.

[1:38:02] Uh the beaver program is uh is in a rather safe state right now. Um we are

[1:38:08] we were the uh the beaver dams. Uh just in areas where are going to be prone for

[1:38:16] flooding and uh we're just trying to be proactive. U

[1:38:21] we're just as I mentioned we are trying to plan for both a wet winter and uh and

[1:38:27] hopefully not too wet summer but we definitely need moisture.

[1:38:32] I was also busy doing some education with the oil and gas sector. Uh due to

[1:38:37] some of the water wells being or sorry the wells well sites being reclaimed

[1:38:43] under the orphan wall program. uh I worked on behalf of those producers and

[1:38:49] uh some of the contractors weren't cleaning their equipment properly,

[1:38:54] weren'tifying the land owners and uh so we kind of did a little bit of risk

[1:38:59] assessment and uh this way at least there there won't be any spread of of

[1:39:04] club root. uh been getting lots of calls from from the fall and and during during

[1:39:11] early winter now uh more than than normal on inquiries on on alternative

[1:39:17] feeding source and and water suits. Uh many producers have been buying feed

[1:39:22] will continue buying feed and uh u looking for sources for for water water

[1:39:29] wells or or dugles right. Uh so a lot of that has been referred back

[1:39:36] to 310 farm. Uh I've also been working with the uh uh with our communication

[1:39:41] officer and uh making sure that if producers have those they can call 310

[1:39:47] directly. Uh our rental equipment is is starting to go out more regularly. Uh

[1:39:53] our grand bag grower especially uh as I mentioned we we tended out our our 2013

[1:39:59] spray truck. Uh but I was very unhappy with with the tender and uh uh last week

[1:40:06] I I did a great job of doing some uh one-on-one canvasing. Um also working on

[1:40:12] the orientation package for the ASV board uh and attending the regional ASB

[1:40:18] conference with them in in Verville. Uh you had the first go round of that. Um

[1:40:25] unfortunately Dillis is able to uh to be with us today

[1:40:30] in this package is is her her report but as well there is going to be more

[1:40:36] extensive u orientation for service board and that's going to be on on the

[1:40:41] first day of of the uh provincial conference. So when when the chairman

[1:40:47] and myself are are going to be at the meeting with with the deputy minister

[1:40:52] and uh uh discussing some of the resolution report cards u the board

[1:40:58] members have have the ability to to go to to that course. So when when Bonnie

[1:41:03] sends out the packages to you guys, uh there is a uh a section in there that if

[1:41:09] uh you're going to attend that, please check it off uh so that the committee

[1:41:14] knows how big of a room we we need to have. Uh

[1:41:20] finalize the operational sample components for the ASV section of of the

[1:41:24] budget. um that we discussed last week and and um unfortunately I wasn't able

[1:41:30] to to attend uh there virtually. So I thank thank council for um taking into

[1:41:39] consideration the uh the recommendations that that we brought forward and uh uh

[1:41:45] and and the approvals that that council has done uh funding in preparation for

[1:41:50] the 2025 ASB or sorry the tripleAF inservice training that Amanda and I

[1:41:56] attended last week and same thing for the conference.

[1:42:01] That's my report. Thanks Terry. Any questions for Terry?

[1:42:08] All righty. No questions for him. We'll go to

[1:42:12] assistant agriculture field.

[1:42:17] » So notably we wrapped up our program in the fall. So

[1:42:24] canola is a regulated pest

[1:42:28] for it. It causes all the movements from the canola and that's going to prevent

[1:42:32] update of nutrients and water the plant. So it's going to increase your yields in

[1:42:36] canola. We found we surveyed 100 fields randomly um for 20 in each division. So

[1:42:42] it spread out throughout the county and we found nine new fields that were then

[1:42:47] confirmed. Uh they had pretty minor volume severe. Some we suspect might

[1:42:51] have even been volunteer plants. Um so those land owners once confirmed are

[1:42:56] then sent to our club information packages and they contain our club

[1:43:00] policy the survey form the lab confirmation

[1:43:04] management agreement to be filled out and returned the club management fund

[1:43:09] and a canola faculty with some really good information but management

[1:43:14] agreement just outline some tools that they can use a minimum of two years no

[1:43:18] canola we recommend three still um also using the growth of resisted variety,

[1:43:25] some small patch management tools they can get more grass off their crop where

[1:43:29] it was found some lining things like that.

[1:43:32] You'll see the map in our post section later on to approve that's going to be6

[1:43:39] restrictions that'll be posted website and that's given to land owners upon

[1:43:42] request there as well as industry that might want it and it's kind of reach

[1:43:48] um the three producers on farming completing their environmental farm

[1:43:52] plan. So this brings us for a total of 16 EFPS in 25. That's a huge jump from

[1:43:58] previous years normally maybe two four and that due to some vest changes and

[1:44:03] now it's a requirement for some producers.

[1:44:07] Unfortunately we did have to cancel our in the no workshop. It's too bad that

[1:44:12] was going to be fully funded from the G war a foundation but we didn't get

[1:44:16] registering despite our best efforts sharing. We approached local aggra

[1:44:21] businesses and on the posters in the towns and the villages on social media.

[1:44:25] So that was too bad but I am planning extension workshops.

[1:44:30] So if there is anything you guys would like to see or you hear would like to

[1:44:34] see let me know and like Terry said we're busy planning and hosting

[1:44:41] training we attended last week as well as we'll be hosting the conference you

[1:44:44] guys will be attending in January. All right. Any questions

[1:44:52] on the shift in the report? >> No. Did on?

[1:44:58] » Okay. And then 8.3 uh was not able to to leave

[1:45:04] unless we give a report. So >> yeah, that's that's just the

[1:45:08] orientation. uh instead of going through it uh you you were exposed to it in in

[1:45:14] very good regional conference and you're going to be um uh exposed to it more in

[1:45:19] detail in in January. So

[1:45:25] I don't I don't want to bore you guys but at the same time you're you're going

[1:45:28] to hear three times. So, um, if you're okay with it, I would just accept it and

[1:45:34] feel free to to at your leisure go through it, but you're going to be more

[1:45:38] expensive. Any questions for Terry on that? No.

[1:45:42] Pretty. They'll be at the conference. All right. If we can get a motion,

[1:45:46] please for 83. Uh >> uh will the Lamont County Agricultural

[1:45:53] Service Board for accept that agricultural field assistant

[1:45:57] agricultural fieldman Alberta agriculture leaison reports his

[1:46:03] information. >> Okay. And all in favor? Okay. Carried.

[1:46:08] Then uh now the next part of the meeting we got to go in close session. If

[1:46:12] somebody can uh make the motion here, the recommendation to go into close

[1:46:17] session, please. Move that county Agricultural Service

[1:46:22] Board move the December 10th, 2025 agricultural services board meeting into

[1:46:28] a meeting at 10:46 a.m. to discuss the following paintings.

[1:48:59] on the camera at 10:49. And there's one motion to make once we

[1:49:05] get back up and running.

[1:49:22] one to approve the map, please. >> I motion that Lamont County Agricultural

[1:49:27] Service Board approve the 2025 club map as presented.

[1:49:33] Thank you. Uh none. All in favor? Perfect.

[1:49:39] And with that, I guess we'll adjourn the meeting at 10:49.

Lamont County Agricultural Services Board Meeting - December 10, 2025

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