Wetlands (MapServer)

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Service Description: Wetlands Inventory - ABMI layer is last updated Mar 31, 2021 and sourced from this website: https://abmi.ca/data-portal/40.htmlThe ABMI province-wide wetland inventory maps wetland classes according to the Alberta Wetland Classification System - fen, bog, swamp, marsh - across Alberta. The open water class includes both shallow and deep open water features. The product was generated using a combination of satellite and terrain data, and machine learning. The province was mapped separately in three project areas representing ecoregions of Alberta with distinct wetlands. These three regions are: (i) the forested region, which is characterized by large peatland complexes; (ii) the prairie region with wetlands usually occurring in small depressional potholes, and (iii) the mountain region where wetlands are constrained to narrow valleys. For more detail, please see the available technical documentation.MuniSight Wetland Layer Data Additions Relative Wetland Value: The value assigned to wetlands in the Wheatland County Wetland Inventory provide an indication of how potentially important the wetland could be to the surrounding ecosystem. Ecological importance is measured by relative wetland value on a scale of 0 to 5. A score of 5 indicates the highest possible value a wetland can contribute to the surrounding ecosystem. A color key for the scale of 0-5 is provided. Relative Value analysis was performed at the section level. Disclaimer: Since wetland value depends on unique local factors that aren’t available through section-level analysis, we cannot confidently say that a given wetland has a low value, just that is has a higher likelihood of having a low value. It is recommended that when any project with the potential to impact a wetland is proposed, an on-the-ground assessment is completed to verify boundaries and classification, and determine value using provincial government methodologies as described in provincial policy (Aquality Environmental Consulting Ltd.). Watercourse 30m Buffers: This dataset outlines the watercourses in the County, with a hypothetical buffer strip of 30m width applied. The dataset is derived from Natural Resources Canada’s CanVec+ Waterbodies and Single-Line Watercourse Layer. Aquatic Environmentally Significant Areas: “The Environmentally Significant Areas (ESA, <a href='http://www.tpr.alberta.ca/'>www.tpr.alberta.ca</a>) and Aquatic Environmentally Significant Areas (AESA) projects aid in land-use planning in Alberta in two key ways. First, the projects identify, at a landscape level, specific geographic areas with particular combinations of biological diversity, rare or unique characteristics, important wildlife and fish habitat, or features that are important to the long-term maintenance of biological diversity. AESAs also include areas that contribute to the quality of water resources. These areas reflect significance by applying the best data available to specific ecological criteria.” (Water for Life, Aquatic Environmentally Significant Areas in Alberta, 2011) Environmentally Significant Areas: “Environmentally Significant Areas (ESAs) are generally defined as areas that are important to the long-term maintenance of biological diversity, physical landscape features and/or other natural processes, both locally and within a larger spatial context (Jennings & Reganold 1991).” (Environmentally Significant Areas in Alberta: 2014 Update, 2014) Colonial Nesting Bird Habitats: This dataset comes from a Government of Alberta layer comprised of Great Blue Heron and American White Pelican species nesting colony locations. (Wildlife Sensitivity Maps, Key Wildlife Layers, <a href='http://aep.alberta.ca/forms-maps-services/maps/wildlife-sensitivity-maps/default.aspx'>http://aep.alberta.ca/forms-maps-services/maps/wildlife-sensitivity-maps/default.aspx</a>) “Colonial nesting species, including Western Grebe, Eared Grebe, California Gull, Common Tern, Double-Crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, and American White Pelican, nest in large groups on lake islands and sand bars, or within patches of emergent aquatic vegetation… Several colonial nesting species have been listed as “sensitive” in Alberta… These species may experience population declines as a result of unmitigated impacts, and therefore warrant special management attention.” (Survey of Colonial Nesting Birds and Lakeshore Habitats in Northeast Alberta, 2004) Piping Plover Waterbodies: This dataset comes from a Government of Alberta layer indicating Piping Plover habitats in the Province. (Wildlife Sensitivity Maps, Key Wildlife Layers, <a href='http://aep.alberta.ca/forms-maps-services/maps/wildlife-sensitivity-maps/default.aspx'>http://aep.alberta.ca/forms-maps-services/maps/wildlife-sensitivity-maps/default.aspx</a>) The Piping Plover is protected under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA). For more information, visit <a href='http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/species/speciesDetails_e.cfm?sid=687'>http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/species/speciesDetails_e.cfm?sid=687</a>. Preservation Sites: “To ascertain potential impacts to wetlands, the final distribution of contemporary wetland boundaries was overlaid on historical and current land cover distributions, and wetlands were subsequently categorized as impacted or unimpacted depending upon the nature of the underlying land cover. Impacts to wetlands over the assessment period (1966 to 2007/2010) were then determined based on changes to the impacted status of the surrounding land cover classification…. In regions where densities are high but impacts are relatively lower, education and outreach activities are paramount in order to preserve extant wetlands and prevent further impacts or losses.” (Wheatland County Wetland Inventory) Restoration Sites: “To ascertain potential impacts to wetlands, the final distribution of contemporary wetland boundaries was overlaid on historical and current land cover distributions, and wetlands were subsequently categorized as impacted or unimpacted depending upon the nature of the underlying land cover. Impacts to wetlands over the assessment period (1966 to 2007/2010) were then determined based on changes to the impacted status of the surrounding land cover classification…. In areas where impacts are highest, management activities should continue to be directed to protecting wetlands, but greater efforts should be applied to wetland restoration or construction, in order to replace wetland habitats and functions that have been impaired historically by human disturbance.” (Wheatland County Wetland Inventory) Wetland Density: The areas highlighted in purple are those with a higher than average wetland density compared to the entire County. Based on the wetland inventory, the highlighted sections have more than 6% total wetland cover. (Aquality Environmental Consulting Ltd.) Ducks Unlimited Projects: This layer was obtained via a data sharing agreement with Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) in 2015. It is not associated with the Wheatland County Wetland Inventory. Wetlands and land areas are outlined in green when they are part of a DUC contract or project that has occurred within Wheatland County. 

Map Name: Wetlands

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Wetland Inventory - ABMI (0)
Historical Wetland Inventory (11)
Wetland Inventory -Bow River Basin (12)
Relative Wetland Value (1)
Wetland Density (2)
Watercourse 30m Buffers (3)
Aquatic Environmentally Significant Areas (4)
Colonial Nesting Bird Habitats (5)
Environmental Reserve Easement (6)
Environmentally Significant Area (7)
Piping Plover Waterbodies (8)
Preservation Sites (9)
Restoration Sites (10)

Description: Wetlands Inventory - ABMI layer is last updated Mar 31, 2021 and sourced from this website: https://abmi.ca/data-portal/40.htmlThe ABMI province-wide wetland inventory maps wetland classes according to the Alberta Wetland Classification System - fen, bog, swamp, marsh - across Alberta. The open water class includes both shallow and deep open water features. The product was generated using a combination of satellite and terrain data, and machine learning. The province was mapped separately in three project areas representing ecoregions of Alberta with distinct wetlands. These three regions are: (i) the forested region, which is characterized by large peatland complexes; (ii) the prairie region with wetlands usually occurring in small depressional potholes, and (iii) the mountain region where wetlands are constrained to narrow valleys. For more detail, please see the available technical documentation.MuniSight Wetland Layer Data Additions Relative Wetland Value: The value assigned to wetlands in the Wheatland County Wetland Inventory provide an indication of how potentially important the wetland could be to the surrounding ecosystem. Ecological importance is measured by relative wetland value on a scale of 0 to 5. A score of 5 indicates the highest possible value a wetland can contribute to the surrounding ecosystem. A color key for the scale of 0-5 is provided. Relative Value analysis was performed at the section level. Disclaimer: Since wetland value depends on unique local factors that aren’t available through section-level analysis, we cannot confidently say that a given wetland has a low value, just that is has a higher likelihood of having a low value. It is recommended that when any project with the potential to impact a wetland is proposed, an on-the-ground assessment is completed to verify boundaries and classification, and determine value using provincial government methodologies as described in provincial policy (Aquality Environmental Consulting Ltd.). Watercourse 30m Buffers: This dataset outlines the watercourses in the County, with a hypothetical buffer strip of 30m width applied. The dataset is derived from Natural Resources Canada’s CanVec+ Waterbodies and Single-Line Watercourse Layer. Aquatic Environmentally Significant Areas: “The Environmentally Significant Areas (ESA, www.tpr.alberta.ca) and Aquatic Environmentally Significant Areas (AESA) projects aid in land-use planning in Alberta in two key ways. First, the projects identify, at a landscape level, specific geographic areas with particular combinations of biological diversity, rare or unique characteristics, important wildlife and fish habitat, or features that are important to the long-term maintenance of biological diversity. AESAs also include areas that contribute to the quality of water resources. These areas reflect significance by applying the best data available to specific ecological criteria.” (Water for Life, Aquatic Environmentally Significant Areas in Alberta, 2011) Environmentally Significant Areas: “Environmentally Significant Areas (ESAs) are generally defined as areas that are important to the long-term maintenance of biological diversity, physical landscape features and/or other natural processes, both locally and within a larger spatial context (Jennings & Reganold 1991).” (Environmentally Significant Areas in Alberta: 2014 Update, 2014) Colonial Nesting Bird Habitats: This dataset comes from a Government of Alberta layer comprised of Great Blue Heron and American White Pelican species nesting colony locations. (Wildlife Sensitivity Maps, Key Wildlife Layers, http://aep.alberta.ca/forms-maps-services/maps/wildlife-sensitivity-maps/default.aspx) “Colonial nesting species, including Western Grebe, Eared Grebe, California Gull, Common Tern, Double-Crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, and American White Pelican, nest in large groups on lake islands and sand bars, or within patches of emergent aquatic vegetation… Several colonial nesting species have been listed as “sensitive” in Alberta… These species may experience population declines as a result of unmitigated impacts, and therefore warrant special management attention.” (Survey of Colonial Nesting Birds and Lakeshore Habitats in Northeast Alberta, 2004) Piping Plover Waterbodies: This dataset comes from a Government of Alberta layer indicating Piping Plover habitats in the Province. (Wildlife Sensitivity Maps, Key Wildlife Layers, http://aep.alberta.ca/forms-maps-services/maps/wildlife-sensitivity-maps/default.aspx) The Piping Plover is protected under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA). For more information, visit http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/species/speciesDetails_e.cfm?sid=687. Preservation Sites: “To ascertain potential impacts to wetlands, the final distribution of contemporary wetland boundaries was overlaid on historical and current land cover distributions, and wetlands were subsequently categorized as impacted or unimpacted depending upon the nature of the underlying land cover. Impacts to wetlands over the assessment period (1966 to 2007/2010) were then determined based on changes to the impacted status of the surrounding land cover classification…. In regions where densities are high but impacts are relatively lower, education and outreach activities are paramount in order to preserve extant wetlands and prevent further impacts or losses.” (Wheatland County Wetland Inventory) Restoration Sites: “To ascertain potential impacts to wetlands, the final distribution of contemporary wetland boundaries was overlaid on historical and current land cover distributions, and wetlands were subsequently categorized as impacted or unimpacted depending upon the nature of the underlying land cover. Impacts to wetlands over the assessment period (1966 to 2007/2010) were then determined based on changes to the impacted status of the surrounding land cover classification…. In areas where impacts are highest, management activities should continue to be directed to protecting wetlands, but greater efforts should be applied to wetland restoration or construction, in order to replace wetland habitats and functions that have been impaired historically by human disturbance.” (Wheatland County Wetland Inventory) Wetland Density: The areas highlighted in purple are those with a higher than average wetland density compared to the entire County. Based on the wetland inventory, the highlighted sections have more than 6% total wetland cover. (Aquality Environmental Consulting Ltd.) Ducks Unlimited Projects: This layer was obtained via a data sharing agreement with Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) in 2015. It is not associated with the Wheatland County Wetland Inventory. Wetlands and land areas are outlined in green when they are part of a DUC contract or project that has occurred within Wheatland County.

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