Description: The layer is designed to support the implementation of the Upper Smoky Sub-Regional Plan. Watercourse management areas in the “slow-go” zone aim to manage new primary roads in riparian areas while maintaining access to resources (Figure 3). Management of impacts to riparian areas is important for achieving the sub-regional plan outcomes within caribou ranges and other sensitive areas. Protection for riparian areas is important to Indigenous Peoples and organizations and is a key element to protecting their ability to exercise Treaty rights and traditional uses Upper Smoky Sub-Regional Plan was publish November 2025.
Description: The layer is designed to support the implementation of the Upper Smoky Sub-Regional Plan. The Upper Smoky Sub-Regional Plan categorizes roads in two different ways (primary and transitional), and assigns this classification to all formal disposition roads and provides specific guidance for each. Primary roads are formal disposition roads that have potential to remain in use, or be newly constructed, and form the foundation of the road network in the Upper Smoky sub-region . Transitional roads are formal disposition roads that will remain available for access until they are no longer required to reach existing development infrastructure and facilities This layer is used to track roads in the "Slow-Go" zone as per the Upper Smoky Sub-Regional Plan. The dataset was derived from AMBI HFI 2024 data and was cross referenced against DIDs along with industry consultation. Upper Smoky Sub-Regional Plan was publish November 2025.
Description: The Public Land Use Zone establishes a Public Land Use Zone under the Public Lands Act, identified in the Upper Smoky Sub-Regional Plan. A disposition or an amendment to permit surface disturbances will not be issued, approved, or renewed in the Public Land Use Zone with the following exceptions: Tourism and commercial recreation dispositions will be permitted. Existing petroleum and natural gas tenure will be honoured. A disposition for the purpose of coal exploration or mine development within the areas identified in Figure 6 will be permitted in alignment with Section 8 of this plan. An annual operating plan authorizing the harvesting of timber may be approved. It outlines the boundaries of the Upper Smoky Plan and has been developed by Lands Planning, Environment and Protected Areas, Government of Alberta. Upper Smoky Sub-Regional Plan was publish November 2025.
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Description: This dataset is designed to support the implementation of the Upper Smoky Sub-Regional Plan. Surface material operations typically have relatively small footprints, and most are located near rivers or creeks. These areas are important as they also support traditional land uses, habitats, and ecological corridors for many fish and wildlife species, aquatic ecosystem stability, and recreational and tourism activities. This plan provides opportunities for ongoing extraction of surface materials while reducing footprint. Two management approaches are being used. New pits and quarries will be located close to the long-term road network and footprint will be restored in an accelerated and enhanced manner in the “slow-go” zone. The riparian areas of the two major rivers (Figure 7) in the sub-region are managed to minimize impacts to these areas. Upper Smoky Sub-Regional Plan was published November 2025.
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Description: The Upper Smoky Sub-regional Plan Inactive Well Site Annual Report includes spatial and non-spatial data as described in the Upper Smoky Sub-regional Plan section 3.1.1. Well sites are attributed to the planning zone they fall within. Planning zones align with those found in the Upper Smoky Sub-regional Plan Figure 1. If a wellsite overlaps two or more planning zones, a centroid point location was utilized to determine which planning zone the well site falls in. A single centroid can only fall within one planning zone.
Description: The layer is designed to support the implementation of the Upper Smoky Sub-Regional Plan. Forest management planning is guided by policy processes and regulatory requirements which are essential to sustainable forest management in Alberta. Forest harvesting must follow forest management plans, forestry policy directives and standard operating procedures. This sub-regional plan provides further guidance and direction for forest management planning and harvest operations. Strategic land-use plans are required to ensure the standards and objectives of sustainable forest management are achieved (CaN/CSa-Z809-2002, CSa 4.0; Alberta Planning Standard V 4.1). Upper Smoky Sub-Regional Plan was publish November 2025.
Description: The Caw Ridge, Sulphur Ridge and Coal/Horn/Torrens Ridge (Conservation Area A) and the upper foothills, alpine and subalpine areas generally south of Sheep Creek and west of the Smoky River and Sulphur River (Conservation Area B) have been identified as areas that should be designated under the Provincial Parks Act in consideration of their conservation value. The area includes alpine and sub-alpine habitat that are key for a number of species at risk and important for traditional land-use. It outlines two areas known as the "nature-first" zone of the Upper Smoky Plan and has been developed by Lands Planning, Environment and Protected Areas, Government of Alberta. Key outcomes for the development of the conservation areas are to enhance conservation opportunities in the sub-region, support traditional land uses, maintain wilderness landscapes and low-impact backcountry activities, and enhance opportunities for nature-based recreation and tourism. The Upper Smoky Sub-Regional Plan was published November 2025. The parks and provincial recreation areas were sourced from the provincial parks and protected areas dataset, clipped within the Upper Smoky boundary.
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Description: The layer is designed to support the implementation of the Upper Smoky Sub-Regional Plan. Alberta’s approach to managing wildfire risks in relation to caribou conservation. This includes reducing the risk and impact of wildfires on caribou populations and their habitats, improving the effectiveness of wildfire suppression efforts, and enabling the long-term recovery of caribou habitats to meet recovery objectives. There are currently eight Wildfire Mitigation Compartments that reside within Upper Smoky Sub-Regional Plan: Narraway North, Narraway South, Two Lakes, Kakwa, Torrens, Nose Lake, Redrock Creek, and Prairie Creek. Each compartment possess key priorities and opportunities outlined in the Upper Smoky Sub-Regional Plan. This approach enables informed trade-off decisions that support the near-term viability of caribou populations. Upper Smoky Sub-Regional Plan was publish November 2025.
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Description: The Public Land Use Zone establishes a Public Land Use Zone under the Public Lands Act, identified in the Upper Smoky Sub-Regional Plan. A disposition or an amendment to permit surface disturbances will not be issued, approved, or renewed in the Public Land Use Zone with the following exceptions: tourism and commercial recreation dispositions will be permitted. Existing petroleum and natural gas tenure will be honoured. A disposition for the purpose of coal exploration or mine development within the areas identified in Figure 6 will be permitted in alignment with Section 8 of this plan. An annual operating plan authorizing the harvesting of timber may be approved. It outlines the boundaries of the Upper Smoky Plan and has been developed by Lands Planning, Environment and Protected Areas, Government of Alberta. Upper Smoky Sub-Regional Plan was published November 2025.
Description: The Upper Smoky Sub-Region is located south of Grand Prairie and encompasses Grande Cache, Kakwa Wildland Park and about half of the Willmore Wilderness Park. The Sub-Region is almost entirely within the provincial green area, which is comprised of public lands managed for timber production, coal development, petroleum and natural gas development, traditional land uses, watershed conservation, fish and wildlife resources, and a myriad of other uses. It outlines the boundaries of the Upper Smoky Plan and has been developed by Lands Planning, Environment and Protected Areas, Government of Alberta. Upper Smoky Sub-Regional Plan was publish November 2025.