Rosebud River Valley residents formally protect 4,000 acres of land

By Deirdre Mitchell-MacLean Times Contributor

Residents in the Rosebud River valley have been working to conserve the land in and around their area.
On Dec. 15, Wendy Clark and Rick Skibsted attended the public hearing at Wheatland County to speak in favour of bylaw 2019-22, with some amendments, to create an Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP) with Kneehill County.
The issues raised by Clark were in reference to a development plan for Badlands Motorsports Resort that was approved by Kneehill County previously. Clark says she believes the IDP, had it been in place prior to the development proposal, would have assisted the process.
“We struggle with foreign-funded environmental forces against projects necessary on a national scale but here, locally, to be credible, we must demonstrate we know how to protect our own lands,” Clark said.
As of the second week of December 2019, Richard and Wendy Clark and Linda and Rick Skibsted had entered into a conservation easement with Western Sky Land Trust to conserve over 4,000 acres in the Rosebud River valley.
“I have always thought the Rosebud River valley was in need of environmental protection and for many years, I have sought this protection for my land,” Rick Skibsted told council.
“Six years ago, along with the silent majority in this IDP area, we started down that road.”
Western Sky Land Trust, a conservation land trust not-for-profit, was established in 2005 “at the request of Calgary region landowners.”
Conservation easements are not sales of land but the easement agreement between the landowner and the land trust places restrictions on land use that remain after the owners sell the land.
“We work closely with landowners to ensure we create a suitable (conservation easement) that reflects their vision of conservation,” said Max Fritz, executive director of Western Sky.
“We spend a good deal of time listening to our landowners and our work reflects that learning process.”
Wendy Clark and other concerned residents have been involved in a push to conserve land in the area after a proposal for a local racetrack was tabled. The development land area overlaps within Kneehill and Wheatland counties.
Clark spoke not just to the conservation of their lands but also requested amendments to the IDP before Wheatland passes bylaw 2019-22 that will bring it into effect. Council delayed first reading until January after Kneehill County holds their public hearing on the IDP.
The proposed development for the Badlands Motorsports Resort is still moving towards construction.
“Environment and Parks has received applications related to this project under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act for a wastewater management system, and under the Water Act for modifications to wetlands and construction and maintenance of a stormwater management system,” Josh Zarobiak, assistant director of communications and public engagement with Environment and Parks said in an email.
“Decisions on both items are expected in early January.”