PUBLIC WORKS BRANCH Agricultural Services Agricultural Services hosted Agriculture Appreciation Day, with approximately 210 people in attendance. The department continued its efforts to prevent the spread of clubroot disease in the County. In 2019, 56 canola fields were inspected for clubroot, one of which tested positive. Staff drafted a new clubroot management agreement—public consultation on the agreement has started. They also held three clubroot workshops throughout the year. Along similar lines, the department completed 74 weed inspections on public and private lands, and issued two weed notices. Staff mowed 1,595 km of roadside vegetation to improve driver safety. Agricultural Service Board equipment was rented to 87 ratepayers for a combined total of 120 days.
Environmental Services Under the Community Organics Recycling and Enhancement (CORE) backyard composting program, approximately 1,676 kg of organic waste was diverted from the landfills in 2019. Environment Week in June 2019 attracted 720 participants for the week’s activities. Waste Reduction Week in October attracted 90 participants for a vermicomposting workshop, along with the annual Household Hazardous Waste Round-Up and Shred-It event. Staff held six Mad About Science camps over the summer months, teaching 73 children about the environment and science with experiments, games, and activities. The department conducted lake, beach, and inflow/ outflow sampling to measure lake health in the County. Staff also successfully completed reports on lake health. Environmental Services updated the County’s Corporate Green Plan, which governs how internal County departments will reduce their carbon footprints. Staff began updating the Watershed Management Plan which, when adopted, will introduce environmentallyfriendly practices that promote the health of the County’s watersheds.
14
Lac La Biche County | 2019 in Review
