Natural Areas

Podcast: What On Earth with Laura Lynch

• Okotoks is a Bee City

  As a bee-friendly community, Okotoks recognizes the importance of pollinators & does not apply insecticides, fungicides, or the pesticide that has been determined to contribute to increased bee mortality. The Town also has initiatives underway to improve pollinator habitat like replacing traditional turf with a combination of pollinator- friendly plants & ornamental grasses in many areas including Sheep River Blvd, Crystal Green Dr median, Big Rock Tr median & Veterans Way. As a leader in sustainability, the Town seeks to balance community expectations with environmental impacts & is proactive & innovative in our design, maintenance & management of public lands to maintain a sustainable community.

  Learn more about the Town's Bee City commitment

• Why are tree forts removed on public property?

  When the impact of these man-made forts, bike jumps or toboggan hills become a safety issue, or have reached a level of destruction to public property that diminishes the quality of that limited resource, the Town of Okotoks removes these man-made structures.  At times, along with the tree forts, comes litter, boards with nails sticking out, broken glass, excavation holes, and fresh fire pits in dry grass areas. The Town needs to protect our citizens and wildlife from these dangerous objects that do not belong in natural areas.       

• Why does the Town ask residents to report campfires?

  Make-shift fire pits in dry grass areas can spark a grass fire and spread throughout natural areas including the river valley.  This activity is environmentally destructive and not permitted.  

• Damage caused by excavations and tree cutting

  Much of the damage caused by tree cutting and excavation is irreversible and will have long term impacts on slope stability, erosion and riparian functions. Some fort builders aren’t just using deadfall, they are also cutting live trees and using nails. 

• How do I report detrimental activity to our natural areas?

  The Sheep River valley is a wildlife corridor dividing Okotoks from north to south. The length of the system is many kilometres long and cannot continuously be monitored.  The Town of Okotoks appreciates our citizens’ eyes on our parks and pathways and in our natural areas to let us know if they see a camp fire or tree cutting activities on a scale that significantly impacts sensitive landscape features and ecosystems.  

  If you see tree cutting, bike jump building, excavations, camp fires etc. in our river valley or natural areas, please report to Municipal Enforcement 403-938-8913.

Why do we need natural areas in our Town?

• About Public Natural Assets

  There is increasing awareness and recognition that municipal assets extend beyond engineered structures, like roads and water treatment plants, to include natural assets such as trees, soil, and wetlands. Like engineered assets, natural assets provide important services to citizens. 

  Okotoks has an abundance of natural assets. Trees, wetlands and other water bodies, soils, and grasslands contribute vital services that support the health, well-being, and sustainability of our community. 

  For example, wetlands store water, improve water quality, and moderate climate through carbon storage. Trees and other vegetation help keep cities cool in heat waves, and also store carbon, improve air quality, and provide habitat for urban wildlife.

  Did you know? 

  • A 2020 Natural Asset Inventory calculated total ecosystem services provided by land in the Town of Okotoks to be $84 million! 
  • Ecosystem services are also provided by the natural assets in your back yard. If you have trees or plants, you are contributing essential ecosystem services!
• Natural Assets Map

  Want to learn more?

  Check out the map to see just how many of these valuable assets Okotoks has and learn all kinds of interesting details about each one.

  Natural Asset Map