A Lacombe County farm was issued a Water Act enforcement order by the province for unauthorized alterations to a watercourse on the company’s property east of Blackfalds.
On May 31, Criagievar Farms Ltd. and Glenn Sharp, sole shareholder and director of the company, was ordered to restore the natural functioning of the watercourse.
An unnamed tributary of Haynes Creek that previously ran through the southeast quadrant of the farm land was altered to redirect water flow along the western and southern portion of the property line of the land.
Carrie Sancartier, communications officer with Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, said a 350-metre section had been altered to move water off landscape to farm it.
“Portions of the land in the southeast quadrant had been excavated to form a series of smaller drainage ditches. Five potholes had been altered by excavation or fill activity,” Sancartier said.
Unauthorized ditches resulted in drainage onto neighbouring lands.
Remedial work must be done by Sept. 15.
szielinski@www.reddeeradvocate.com