Partners in Habitat Development Program (PHD)

 

The Partners in Habitat Development program (PHD), designed to maintain and enhance wildlife habitat in cooperation with landowners located throughout the Irrigation Districts of southern Alberta, is now operating in five irrigation districts including Western Irrigation District.

Co-founded in 1998 by Pheasants Forever Calgary Chapter and the Eastern Irrigation District, the program uses funding, in-kind resources and technical support to re-establish lost habitat that has been affected by years of modern industry, increased agricultural productivity, irrigation canal refurbishment, oil and gas activity, livestock grazing and urbanization.

The PHD program is a cooperative venture comprised of a diverse cross-section of industry, government, corporate and private sector partners, including nearly 200 private landowners who voluntarily set aside acres of farmland and ranchland for habitat development, as well as water and soil conservation.

Landowner participation is key to the success of PHD and will make certain the long-term continuation of the program for years to come. As a partnership-based initiative, PHD projects are mutually beneficial to both the landowner as well as providing the land with the required habitat elements to increase and sustain southern Alberta’s wildlife populations.

Guided by the expertise of the PHD Wildlife Habitat Technicians, projects and activities are flexible and tailored to the needs of the individual landowners and their farming operations (see sample projects below). Trees and shrubs are provided by the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Association (PFRA) at no cost to the landowner. Fencing materials are also provided by the PHD program in cases where livestock exclusion is necessary. 

Manpower plays a significant role in the implementation and maintenance of PHD sites. Three full-time Habitat Technicians are dedicated to work with southern Alberta irrigation farmers to create habitat development plans and initiate the projects, while local students are hired for the summer months to help plant trees, apply mulch, replace dead trees and assist in watering, weeding, and maintenance of sites for up to three years, all at no cost to the landowner.

The PHD program is operational in the Eastern, Western, Bow River, St. Mary River and Raymond Irrigation Districts. In the WID, PHD projects will cover a large area including the County of Wheatland, and the MD of Rockyview. At the end of 2007, our goal is for the PHD to have expanded into all 13 southern Alberta irrigation districts.

To date, the PHD program has invested over $1 million on habitat projects to help increase southern Alberta's wildlife populations and has positively influenced over 15,000 acres of upland wildlife habitat.

Some of the PHD project options include the following:

• Planting trees, shrubs, and grasses along irrigation right of ways, idled farmland, and irrigation pivot corners. Plantings provide good quality nesting cover for ground nesting birds, wildlife travel lanes and protective cover from predators, winter cover and a reliable food source
• Creating buffer strip vegetation along stream banks to ensure nesting and security cover for ground nesting birds, shelter from predation, clean water for improved health, safe travel corridors for many wildlife species, and possible fawning areas for deer and other ungulates. Enhancing riparian buffer zones also improves overall water quality for its users.
• Developing large formation shelterbelts to enhance wildlife habitat and strategically link essential neighboring habitat elements. For producers, shelterbelts also protect crops, shelter livestock and aid in soil conservation
• Fencing out existing or newly planted habitat areas to promote growth and development, as well as control livestock grazing
• Preserving and enhancing cattail marshes for winter thermal cover
• Establishing winter food plots

The PHD program has recently produced its Five-Year Progress Report 1998-2002 which can be viewed by clicking here. This report gives a detailed look into the program, partnerships and accomplishments achieved since inception and the difference it has made to wildlife preservation and habitat restoration in southern Alberta.

If you would like more information on our program or would like to become involved, call Rick Martin, PHD Senior Project Advisor, at (403) 362-1414.