Urban Forest Management Plan
The Town of Canmore identified an Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP) as one of its activities in the 2010 Business Plan. In 2010 Tesera Systems Inc was contracted to conduct the UFMP and present a strategic directing on how the Town's urban forest is managed. On October 18, 2011 Council accepted the UFMP to serve as a guiding document for managing the Town of Canmore's urban forests.
Highlights of the UFMP plan include:
1. VALUE: The Town's urban forest is an asset and it has a value estimated at $250,000.000.
2. BENEFIT: An UFMP will have net benefit for quality of life, tourism, sustainability and public safety.
3. INVESTMENT: Urban forests require sufficient funds to be maintained. This value is estimated at $7,550,000 over 20 years and included high, medium and low priority recommendations. Administration recommended that $115,550 be included in the 2012 budget to focus on selected high priority recommendations.
4. REGIONAL COOPERATION: There are synergies in inter-jurisdictional collaboration.
5. LINK TO EXISTING POLICIES & DOCUMENTS: Urban forests have a link to several Town documents such as Fire Smart ,Parks Bylaw, Street Bylaw, Municipal Development Plan, Street Bylaw, Landscape Standards, etc.
6. RECOMMENDATIONS: The UFMP includes 33 recommendations broken out by priority of high, medium and low and cost estimates over a 20 year period. At this time, Administration will be focusing on high priority recommendations only . (link to UFMP_recommendations).
To download and view the full Urban Forest Management Plan Final Report- November 30, 2011 (23 mb) |
Invasive Plant Control Program
| The Town of Canmore is host to invasive noxious weed species. Plants are categorized in the Alberta Weed Act as “Noxious” or “Prohibited Noxious”. Under the provincial legislation all land owners have the responsibility to control noxious weeds on their lands. A noxious plant is aggressive with their growth, difficult to manage and invasive in nature. It competes with our native plants, infests streams and water ways, they are costly to control and increase the use of chemical use in the town. |
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IDENTIFY- PREVENT- CONTROL-Private Property- What you need to know and do.The Alberta Weed Control Act includes the following plants found in our Municipality.
Use this information Noxious Weed Awareness to help identify noxious weed species.
Click on each to obtain invasive plant fact sheets.
Fact Sheets on additional invasive plants also found in Canmore
To reduce the amount of Chemicals we use in our environment you can assist by:
• Inspect your private property regularly. As regulated by the Act, remove noxious weeds from your property (remove entire plants including the roots).
• Dispose of the weeds by double bagging and place the bag in our regular waste container
(DO NOT COMPOST).
• Let a neighbor know if you identify a noxious species on their land.
• When selecting plants for your yard, purchase native plants to this area.
Keep your lawn healthy. A healthy lawn can overpower most weeds.
• Be cautious when planting non- native seed mixes- noxious weed seeds have been identified
in seed mixes.
• Get involved in our Weed Pull For Cash Program for non-profit groups.
• Know what are Invasive Ornamentals and do not use.
• Need help identifying plants!
IDENTIFY- PREVENT- CONTROL-Municipal lands-What the Town does to control Noxious and Prohibited Noxious Weeds.
A Town Weed Inspector would be happy to stop by for an individual consultation to answer any questions you have For further information contact:
Town of Canmore
Parks Department
Phone: 403-678-1599
For more information about Noxious or Prohibited Noxious Weeds visit the following links:
Town Program pdf files
Town of Canmore Door Hanger
Town of Canmore Noxious Weed Awareness
Weed Pull For Cash Program
Weed Wise Gardening in Alberta
Web Sites
Invasive Ornamentals
Alberta Invasive Native Plant Council www.invasiveplants.ab.ca
Alberta Invasive Plant Identification Guide (pdf) http://www.wheatlandcounty.ca/files/2011%20AB%20Invasive%20Plant%20ID%20Guide%20-%20Web.pdf
Bow Corridor Invasive Plants Bow Corridor Invasive Plants | Rocky View County
Biosphere Institute Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley | Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley |
 The Parks Department is responsible for the overall health of the urban forests within the Town boundaries, and their impact on the safety of the residents. Hazardous trees are identified by Parks inspections and residential complaints. Residential complaints are then investigated to determine priority, followed by the removal that is handled by Parks employees or a contracted professional depending on the situation. Wood remaining from the removal of a hazardous tree may be claimed by the Town for use at the campground or may be left for the neighbourhood residents to use. If you have identified a hazardous tree situation and feel that it should be investigated or if tree removal activities are occurring in your area, and you are interested in the wood, contact the Parks Department, at 403-678-1599 to make the appropriate arrangements.
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