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ALUS Program

Projects that produce cleaner water, cleaner air, and greater biodiversity, including pollinator habitats, for the benefit of everyone in surrounding communities.

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About the ALUS Program

ALUS enhances wetlands and riparian buffer areas, plants trees to boost wildlife, establishes new pollinator habitats, and improves water quality, while also assisting with flood and drought resilience. This is done through a cost-share approach to projects (typically 50/50). 

ALUS Big Lakes is a Community Developed and Farmer Delivered cost share program designed to help producers regenerate and protect marginal and environmentally sensitive lands. What does this mean? 

ALUS Big Lakes is guided by a Partnership Advisory Committee (PAC) made up of a mixture of local producers and technical advisors. This committee takes project proposals made by producers and the ALUS Coordinator and evaluates them to ensure they are meeting the stewardship requirements. 

We are looking for producers with properties that include:

  • Watercourses in fields/pastures
  • Steeply sloped crop lands
  • Low wet fields and wetlands
  • Highly erodible fields
  • Small fields that can’t handle farming equipment efficiently

Where we can implement projects such as: 

  • Creating watering systems for livestock
  • Creating fencing around water bodies/improving waterbody buffers
  • Enhancing/expanding riparian areas (wet areas surrounding waterbodies)
  • Restoring, creating, or enhancing wetlands
  • Housing bird nesting structures or other habitat structures
  • Planting flowering plants for pollinator habitat
  • Building multi-row shelterbelts of trees to protect fields from wind and snow
  • Planting native grasses for forage or habitat

ALUS Big Lakes participants receive annual, per-acre payments for the creation of ecosystem services and the management and maintenance of ALUS projects on their land. These projects produce cleaner water, cleaner air, and greater biodiversity, including pollinator habitats, for the benefit of everyone in surrounding communities. How do you get involved? 

Step 1: Expression of interest

Complete the Expression of Interest form or call the ALUS Coordinator to discuss the possibility of using the ALUS Program to achieve the objectives of your farming operation. 

Step 2: Site Visit

The ALUS Coordinator will tour your project site and discuss project opportunities. 

Step 3: Project Proposal

The ALUS Coordinator will create a project proposal and present it to the Partnership Advisory Committee (PAC). The PAC will review and approve, decline, or suggest changes to the proposal. 

Step 4: Environmental Farm Plan

If needed, the ALUS Coordinator will help you complete a short Environmental Farm Plan. (This step is not required for all projects.) 

Step 5: Term Agreement

Once PAC approves the project, you will sign a flexible 5-year term agreement with the option for renewal. You can opt out at any time, and payments will be adjusted accordingly. This contract will contain project details and the payments (project establishment costs and annual payment) that ALUS covers. 

Step 6: Approval

Once the Big Lakes County ALUS PAC approves the project, it is ready for implementation. The producer can begin installation, and the ALUS Coordinator will be available to provide support throughout the project.


For more information, contact the ALUS Big Lakes Program Coordinator at [email protected] or 780-507-9840, or visit ALUS Big Lakes – ALUS for more information.