Taking Notice to Take Action
World Wetland Day, February 2, 2026, offers an opportunity to start or restart conversations about wetland stewardship as a key land management strategy to support water security in this region.
What is a Wetland?
A wetland is an area of land that has been saturated with water for a long enough period of time to form characteristic water-altered soils and support the growth of water-tolerant vegetation.
Wetlands (2021) Land cover by wetland type
There are 5 major types of wetlands outlined in the Canadian Wetland Classification System – bog, fen, march, swamp, and shallow wetlands. Alberta’s Wetland Policy applies to all types of wetlands from permanent to seasonal including restored natural wetlands and wetlands that have been constructed for the purpose of wetland replacement.
Wetlands cover between 12 to 22 percent of the land surface in each of the subwatersheds in the Battle River and Sounding Creek watersheds. The ecosystem functions performed by wetlands include water filtration and storage, flood mitigation, and groundwater replenishment. In addition, many water-loving or water-dependent wildlife species depend on wetlands, including migratory waterfowl.
Alberta’s Wetland Policy notes wetlands in Alberta have been subjected to loss and degradation from human activities on the landscape. In this region, it is estimated two-thirds of historic wetlands have already been lost. This loss is ongoing and affects not just wildlife, but water quality, groundwater recharge, drought resilience, and agricultural productivity.
Healthy wetlands depend on collaboration among municipalities, landowners, Indigenous rights-holders, community groups, industry, and governments. By recognizing the value of both permanent and seasonal wetlands, and by working together at the local level, we can protect the services wetlands provide today and into the future.
Learn more about wetland management recommendations for the Battle River and Sounding Creek watersheds https://www.battleriverwatershed.ca/watershed-management/wetlands/