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Weed control needs better care

The province needs to step up and take care of weed control in its waterways, says a resolution sponsored by Red Deer County’s Agricultural Services Board.A resolution going to the Central Region board meeting next month calls on Alberta Sustainable Resource Development to review its waterways weed control programs and ensure they are adequately funded.

The province needs to step up and take care of weed control in its waterways, says a resolution sponsored by Red Deer County’s Agricultural Services Board.

A resolution going to the Central Region board meeting next month calls on Alberta Sustainable Resource Development to review its waterways weed control programs and ensure they are adequately funded.

While the province is responsible for most waterways, municipalities are absorbing most of the cost of weed control in creeks and rivers.

“Provincial support is minimal, a fraction of the real cost,” says the resolution.

Coun. Philip Massier, chair of the county’s Agricultural Services Board, said a lot of county staff time goes towards tackling weed problems in areas of provincial jurisdiction with little funding help.

Coun. Penny Archibald agreed. “It’s very important that (the resolution) goes forward. (Waterways weed control) shouldn’t be completely our responsible.”