Hanson Ranch Wetland Improvements

Currently the Hanson Ranch Wetland storm pond facility cannot be operated as it was originally designed and isn’t compliant with the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act approval. The facility is also not compliant with the Water Act because the original design incorporated West Nose Creek within the facility. In addition, the earth berm separating the storm pond facility from West Nose Creek is now considered a dam under the Alberta Dam and Canal Safety Directive and will require approval under the Water Act.

The improvements are needed to meet current municipal, provincial, and federal guidelines and regulations, and to improve the overall function of this constructed wetland so that it can meet stormwater storage demands and release water to West Nose Creek in a controlled way.  Completing this work will help to improve water quality and reduce erosion in West Nose Creek and will reduce maintenance needs, thereby lowering costs and minimizing community impacts.

There will be impacts to the nearby natural area/pathway/sidewalk during construction, but once construction and maintenance work are complete, the area will be returned to the same uses (i.e. constructed wetland within the natural area and pathway/sidewalks replaced to similar or better condition than prior to construction.) The existing pathway adjacent to the storm pond will be improved as part of the project.

We are not able to grandfather the facility to bypass needing to meet current regulations. This facility is not compliant with original approvals or existing regulations; therefore, grandfathering is not an option.

The project requires a Biophysical Impact Assessment (BIA) which is reviewed and approved under the City of Calgary’s framework. The BIA will identify affected wildlife species and habitat and will recommend efforts to help mitigate impacts. The BIA must be approved before construction can start. More information will be shared before construction.

 One of the objectives of the Hanson Ranch Wetland Improvements is to restore and enhance wildlife habitat and native vegetation for the long-term benefit of the area.

Some examples of mitigations and best management practices we will implement include, but are not limited to:

• Remove the existing redundant paved pathway at the N.W. end of the project where there is the existing regional pathway. This redundant pathway will be replaced with native vegetation consisting of grasses, wildflowers, and shrubs.  
• Build an improved connection from the maintenance access/paved pathway along the north side of the Hanson Ranch wetland’s north cell. 
• Design water level control devices using today’s best practices, to reduce the risk of wildlife/human conflict. 
• Minimize the extent of disturbance of established vegetation where possible. 
• Install temporary fencing to minimize wildlife and human encounters during construction and maintenance.  
• Collect and relocate sensitive species during construction. 
• Incorporate design features to improve wildlife habitat within the constructed wetland such as: 
  • Islands. 
  • Cobble piles and boulder banks.  
  • Snags / coarse woody debris. 
  • Increased diversity of native vegetation. 

Beavers are good for our environment, but also pose some challenges. One of the main functions, and regulatory requirements, of this type of infrastructure is to be able to manage high water levels during storm events and unfortunately, beavers can negatively impact this important function. Our goal is to design the facility so that beavers can't impact it the way they have in the past.

The City’s practice is to try and strike a balance between health of the surrounding areas and the wellbeing of the beavers. To learn more about beavers, the challenges they present, and our approach to beaver management, please visit our Beavers webpage.

A Habitat Restoration Plan is part of the design process and is required to be developed in collaboration with biologists. We are also required to comply with all provincial and federal legislation and regulations. For more information on habitat restoration, visit Habitat Restoration.

The project is currently in the detailed design phase.  Construction timelines will be shared with the community during the third phase of our engagement process which takes place prior to construction. Once started it will take about two years to construct. Maintenance and restoration by the contractor will take another four to five years. 

The water quality improvements will help reduce nutrient loads, which are typically a cause of odors. Visit Storm Ponds in Calgary FAQs for more information.

Typically, details are provided prior to construction. We will host an information session as part of phase 3 of the engagement process before construction begins.

Due to the nature of this project, we must first work on a design for the constructed wetland that complies with the current regulatory requirements, standards, and guidelines. As part of the second phase of the engagement process we are collecting feedback on public realm improvements (i.e. social spaces, amenities, and materials) from the community between Oct. 21 and Nov. 4, 2024.  

The need to review the condition and operation of the Hanson Ranch Wetland was originally identified in 2016.  Planning and design work (engaging with federal, provincial, and municipal regulatory agencies and other regulatory groups) began in 2016; although, design completion and construction were paused. Since then, we have completed a condition assessment, looked at conceptual options, and completed preliminary geotechnical investigations. We’ve also started conversations with federal and provincial regulators.

The project did not receive funding to proceed to the design phase until Q4 of 2018.

Once a contractor is engaged, they will develop traffic management plan(s) which will aim to minimize disruption to the public while balancing the need for efficient project execution.  Information related to impacts will be shared with the community prior to construction during the third phase of our engagement process and will continue during construction.

The snow on the pathway adjacent to the constructed wetland cannot be cleared at this time due to the current conditions and infrastructure in place. Once the improvements are made, we will re-evaluate for clearing in the future. In the meantime, the regional pathway along Hidden Creek Drive NW is currently snow cleared and connects to all nearby pathways. For additional information on Pathways Snow Clearing, and to view a map for the areas cleared, click here to learn more.

Yes, the sidewalks immediately adjacent to the Hanson Ranch Wetland that are in poor condition or that are impacted during construction will be restored to better condition as part of the project. 

With the new design, we plan to continue to occupy a similar footprint of the storm pond and blend into the natural environment; therefore, there may be more vegetation in some areas. The additional vegetation is part of a well-designed constructed wetland and helps improve water quality.

It’s not safe to skate, walk or play on storm ponds Here’s why:

1. The water in these ponds contains sediment and contaminants (e.g. road salt, vehicle fluids, bacteria, fertilizers, pesticides) that are collected as water travels through the community on their way to the storm pond, which can weaken the ice.
2. Water levels are constantly changing as water moves between inlet and outlet pipes creating unstable air gaps between the ice and water.

For more information, please visit our webpage related to storm pond safety

As per the Stormwater Bylaw 37M2005, fishing is prohibited within Calgary storm ponds. It is also illegal to stock or release fish into a storm pond. Some fish species that have been artificially placed in storm ponds by the public are considered invasive and can have harmful impacts on native fish populations.

Pests like noxious weeds are common throughout Alberta. We’re working to reduce weed establishment before construction. Weed management will continue throughout construction and during the maintenance period after construction, while new vegetation is establishing. If you have specific concerns about noxious weeds on City property, call 311.