Plan to sell grassland stirs opposition

The province is revisiting a controversial plan to turn almost 6,500 hectares of native grassland in southern Alberta into irrigated farmland.

Last year the government scrapped a proposal to sell the same land in Cypress County, southwest of Medicine Hat, for potato production after fish and game advocates and ranchers objected.

The revised plan fully accommodates environmental concerns and will put profits from the sale into a fund, said Sustainable Resource Development Minister Mel Knight.

"And we use that money to purchase lands with a very high conservation value, environmental value and of course ecological value," he said.

The Alberta Wilderness Association said there is a diminishing supply of native grassland, so the land in Cypress County needs to be preserved.  

"It's actually very concerning that they're thinking of selling this. And they're actually promoting this as suitable for irrigated agriculture," said association spokeswoman Carolyn Campbell.

"That would destroy that area as suitable habitat for a number of endangered species."

But the government said the intensive agriculture will generate employment and help diversify the province's economy.