The Heritage Hills Wetlands project was the first attempt by a Developer and Strathcona County to conserve a naturally occurring wetland in the process of developing a new urban subdivision within Sherwood Park, Alberta. The original plan included a proposal to bisect the naturally occurring wetlands with a road and modifying the existing wetlands for stormwater management requirements. Environmental concerns and public demand for the conservation of the natural landscape changed the course of development. The objective subsequently focused on maintaining the unique natural features and ecological function of the wetlands which would otherwise be lost through traditional development practices. In this regard the transportation network plans were changed with roads being diverted around the wetlands to avoid the fragmentation and loss of habitat posed by the road and to minimize their potential as a pollution source to the wetlands. The wetlands project was substantially completed in 2003 with immediate success. For the covering abstract of this conference see ITRD number E211395.
Samenvatting