Rainfall, snowmelt, and unplanned discharges can carry sediments, nutrients, salts, organic matter, and other contaminants through the High Plains Industrial Park (HPIP) stormwater drainage system. These short-term events can increase pollutant loading to downstream wetlands at Shuttleworth Conservation Park (SCP).
Olds College Centre for Innovation (OCCI) is leading a three-year NSERC Applied Research and Development (ARD)-funded project in collaboration with Highfield Investment Group (HIG), CIMA+ and Mount Royal University.
By collaborating with industry and producers, this project is assessing and exploring tools such as VESS, CSHT, scorecards, the SASH Framework and soil quality test kits to expand soil health indicators for agricultural and environmental sustainability.
Located within the High Plains Industrial Park (HPIP) near Balzac, Alta., the Shuttleworth Conservation Park (SCP) serves as a large-scale living laboratory for applied stormwater research, developed in collaboration with Highfield Investment Group.
This project evaluates the economic and environmental benefits of using native wetland plants and floating island technology to treat feedlot runoff water. This effectively improves water quality for irrigation or livestock use by removing excess nutrients, heavy metals and other contaminants.