Residents of Drumheller can expect work to begin very soon to remove and maintain trees and vegetation at Centennial Park behind the Badlands Community Facility (BCF).
Landscape architects are working under a tight deadline to complete removal of senescent trees-which are trees reaching the end of their natural life-while also working on a strategy to manage and increase urban vegetation throughout the valley.
“Any tree removals that need to happen, need to happen before mid-April,” said landscape architect Cristal McLean with Ground Cubed Landscape Architecture.
McLean is one of the main consultants on the project and has a good understanding of the unique landscape and vegetation in the Drumheller Valley, having previously worked on other projects including installation of the metal catwalk structure at the Hoodoos.
She notes the reason tree removal is on such a tight deadline is due to the approaching nesting season for migratory and native birds. Although work can continue beyond mid-April, there would be significant delays due to additional assessment requirements by biologists to ensure no nests are within 30 metres of a proposed removal.
Maintenance work was previously carried out in April 2020 at Newcastle Beach to reduce erosion concerns from problematic trees and vegetation along the shoreline. However, tree removal at Centennial Park is not due to erosion but rather public safety concerns.
These dying trees will naturally drop limbs, which in itself can be a safety issue. However, McLean notes many of the trees in this area are poplars and pose additional safety risks.
“(Poplars) grow quickly, but become spongy as they die,” McLean said, adding this puts them at an increased risk of breakage which could cause damage to property or personal injury.
Although residents may have some reservations against removing trees in the area, there is a strategy in place to maintain the carbon balance; for each culled tree, five new large shrubs or trees will be planted in its place. McLean notes some of the vegetation to be removed will be replaced with ornamental rather than native shrubs as an additional means to help flood mitigation and carbon balance efforts.
Replacement will be spread over the next few years, allowing for construction of berms to be completed prior to replanting. Some of these replacements will be sourced from a tree farm maintained by the Drumheller Institution.
“We will use a number

of strategies to reuse materials from felled trees,” McLean said. Some of these strategies include creating organic mulch and transplanting material to be used for the new trees and shrubs, rail and split rail fencing which can be used in a number of areas throughout the valley, and also natural playground equipment.
However, felled trees will not be offered to the public for use as firewood as this would negate any positive carbon balancing.

Following a cautious approach to Step 2 of Alberta’s Path Forward on Monday, March 1, Minister of Health Tyler Shandro announced the province will fully complete Step 2 effective immediately.
The announcement was made on Monday, March 8 and will ease restrictions on wedding ceremonies and funeral services, retail services, banquet and community halls and conference centres, and youth sports and recreation.
“We continue striking a safe balance between easing restrictions and preventing cases from rapidly rising once again,” said Minister Shandro during the press conference.
Up to 10 people will be permitted to attend wedding ceremonies, and up to a maximum of 20 people for funeral services; receptions for both are still prohibited.
Retail stores will also be allowed to increase maximum customer capacity from 15 per cent to 25 per cent occupancy, not including staff.
Banquet and community halls, conference centres, and hotels will also be permitted to reopen, though trade shows are still not permitted.
Further decisions on moving into Step 3 will be made, at the earliest, on Monday, March 22 and will depend upon current hospitalizations and new daily cases.
The Town of Drumheller has seen a significant spike in cases over the last week; the majority of which were reported at the Drumheller Institution, which has been under a declared outbreak since December 21, 2020.
As the institution is located within the municipal boundaries of Drumheller, the number of cases among inmates are included in local case numbers. However, due to an update on the provincial COVID website, there is currently a discrepancy.
There were a total of nine active cases and 211 recovered cases within Drumheller on Wednesday, March 3-this included eight active and 64 recovered cases at the Drumheller Institution.
“Since March 8, members of the Canadian Red Cross have been at Drumheller Institution to assist,” a spokesperson for CSC told the Mail. They went on to say, “As of March 8, there were 65 inmate positive cases and 15 positive staff cases at the Drumheller Institution. Contact tracing is underway to determine how COVID is being transmitted. Additional mass testing is underway for staff and offenders at Drumheller Institution.”
Greentree Elementary School is currently on alert status with a single case. Morrin School, which re-opened on Monday, February 1 following an outbreak which prompted a temporary closure, is also on alert with two cases.

As of Monday, March 8 there are 45 active cases and 211 recovered cases in the Town of Drumheller, according to the provincial website. There are also three active cases in both Kneehill County and Wheatland County; for the second week, Starland County has zero reported cases.