After a long consultative process, the Alberta Government has released a draft of the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan for feedback. Hiking areas in the foothills and mountains will be affected by this plan as the government attempts to balance environmental protection and pressures exerted on the government by industry and interest groups, such as the OHV Association. To review the draft plan, go to www.landuse.albera.ca and follow the links.

There are different ways that you can comment on the draft plan. For most of the month of November, Environment and Sustainable Resource Development will be holding public information sessions and workshops in 18 locations in southern Alberta as well as in Edmonton, Red Deer and Drumheller. For further information about the sessions and the workshops, visit landuse.alberta.ca/Newsroom/Pages/PublicConsultations.aspx.

You can also provide feedback via a “workbook” that can be accessed at: landuse.alberta.ca/LandUse Documents/SSRP Phase 3 Discussion Guide Draft SSRP Workbook 2013_2013-10-10.pdf

Comments and feedback must be in to ESRD by 15 January 2014. The government intends to have the regional plan come into force 1 April 2014. This leaves very little time for the government to react to public comment.