CLAYDON, Sask. – Residents in the southwestern corner of Saskatchewan have a lot of questions about a new 13,000-acre nature and heritage preserve.
But they got few answers at an Aug. 15 meeting when about 100 people gathered to talk about the Old Man On His Back Shortgrass Prairie and Heritage Preserve. Only one provincial government employee attended the meeting to discuss the deal, which involved several organizations, government departments and SaskPower.
Many at the meeting said they are worried the leased land, which has become part of the preserve, would not be available for young ranchers to establish themselves. And they wondered why the preserve is needed when Grasslands National Park is about 90 kilometres to the east.
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SaskPower, which contributed $350,000 to the project, also took some heat.
“Everyone who pays a power bill should feel insulted,” said Roy Erickson, reeve of the rural municipality of Frontier, in an interview.
Erickson said if the program that paid for burying power lines in rural areas had to be pared down because of cost, where did SaskPower get money to contribute to this project.
“Three hundred and fifty thousand dollars would’ve gotten rid of a few poles,” he said.
Larry Christie, supervisor of public affairs for SaskPower, said in an interview the corporation’s contribution will be made over two years to help purchase the land and establish a long-term stewardship fund.
“We have a responsibility towards the environment to offset the impact we have when we generate electricity,” Christie said.
Funds provided
In total, the project cost $950,000, including $600,000 for land and lease purchase. The rest has been set aside for maintenance and development.
In addition to SaskPower’s funding, the project received $250,000 from the Saskatchewan Fish and Wildlife Development Fund, $150,000 from Environment Canada’s Canadian Wildlife Service, $40,000 from Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation and support from Nature Conservancy, Eden Conservation Trust and individual supporters. As well, the donated land was valued at $100,000.
The land came partly through donation and partly by sale. Local ranchers Peter and Sharon Butala donated 1,038 acres, sold another 1,436 acres and turned over nearly 11,000 acres in leased crown land to Nature Conservancy Canada.
At the meeting, several people expressed anger over what they saw as poor government decision-making and saw the preserve as an unnecessary expense when the government is cutting to the bone in other areas.
“They’re closing our hospitals, our road conditions are unfit to travel on and yet they tell us there is no money,” said Nick Chavtur, whose property borders part of the preserve.
“We have the young population that are in need of land. I don’t blame (Butala) for selling. But I have been here all my life and I cannot get a lease and here he can sell it to a company without the public knowing.”
Grazing fee required
Lorne Veitch, of the provincial lands branch in Swift Current, said the long-term lease on the 11,000 acres, which is in effect until 2028, stipulates the land must be grazed at a grazing fee.
The Butalas will remain on the land for at least five years, at which time they may apply to stay longer, said John Grant, projects co-ordinator for Nature Conservancy.
Grant said a local steering committee will have input into the future management of the land. The first meeting of that group is to be held before October.
Nature Conservancy has an arrangement with the province to sub-lease the land, Veitch said.
Pat Hayes, a Val Marie-area rancher, said leases like this prevent younger people from ranching.
“I sit on the edge of Grasslands National Park and what I have a problem with … is giving groups like this more leases dictates what our kids can get. I would like to see no more such leases handed out. This stuff is not going to go up on the market.”
