Rocky View County is hosting a series of Riparian Policy Open Houses throughout the county from Oct. 2 to 9 to introduce a proposed riparian area setback policy to residents.
Riparian areas (also know as green zones) are located adjacent to streams, rivers, lakes and wetlands.
According to Rocky View County Development Services Senior Planner Richard Barss, who will present information at the sessions, riparian areas exist everywhere in the county where there is a creek, stream or river, and areas where the vegetation and soils are strongly influenced by water.
Rocky View County (RVC) is developing and planning to implement new development setback measures by proposing to amend a Land Use Bylaw to protect county waterways and the lands and properties that border them, said Barss.
“The purpose of the open houses is to introduce county residents to the basis of the proposed Land Use Bylaw amendments and to answer their questions,” said Barss. “We are also educating county residents about how to protect our waterways through these information sessions.”
“Public feedback will be collected and taken into consideration when the County is finalizing the new development setback measures.”
Barss said his presentation will discuss how the County determines the distance development should be set from waterways, why the new development setback measures were introduced, and how these setback measures will affect landowners.
“The new measures will affect landowners that have properties adjacent to flowing water bodies,” said Barss. For landowners whose properties are situated adjacent to flowing water bodies, new buildings and other physical infrastructure, such as septic fields and out-buildings, will have to be setback from moving water bodies.
“What we’re proposing is that these structures should be set back a certain distance from the edge of waterways.”
The proposed development setback measures will apply to county creeks, streams, and rivers and will be based on soil types, technical assessments, and on provincial guidelines (Stepping Back from the Water), regional watershed management plans, and previously adopted county policy, according to Barss.
“Within the county there are several major river corridors, streams and various tributaries,” said Barss. “Larger rivers and creeks include the Bow River, Elbow River, Bragg Creek, Nose Creek, Jumping Pound Creek, Horse Creek, Crossfield Creek and Rosebud Creek.”
The County has mapped all of these riparian areas using the Geographic Information System data, according to Barss.
Barss said the purpose of the new development setback measures are to protect and preserve the riparian areas along flowing water in the county for the economic, health, and environmental benefits of county citizens.
“Implementation of these new measures will bring economic, health and environmental benefits to the county’s landowners and residents, such as protecting properties adjacent to water bodies by reducing erosion and flooding, maintaining or improving water quality and quantity, providing wildlife habitat, as well as providing recreational and education opportunities.”
Barss said the County adopted a Riparian Land Conservation and Management Policy in March 2010.
Following the public open houses, the proposed setbacks will be finalized and brought to council for consideration with adoption of changes to the Land Use Bylaw in winter 2014, according to Barss.
“The county has adapted a policy in this area and we are looking at how to implement it,” said Barss.
The upcoming Riparian Policy Open Houses will be held:
Oct. 8 - Langdon Field House, 344 Centre Street, Langdon
Oct. 9 - Bragg Creek Community Centre, 23 White Avenue, Bragg Creek
Three additional open houses were hold at Weedon Hall near Cochrane, Irricana Lions Community Hall and the Rocky View County Administration building on Oct. 2, 3 and 7.
All sessions times are: 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Presentation at 6:30 p.m.
