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ALUS SODCAP
South of the Divide Conservation Action Program (SODCAP)
ALUS
Program Summary
This program is a collaboration between ALUS and the South of the Divide Conservation Action Plan (SODCAP), focusing on conservation in the Milk River Watershed. This area, located in southwest Saskatchewan, supports diverse wildlife, including species at risk like the greater sage-grouse and the swift fox. SODCAP works with ranchers and biologists to enhance native prairie habitats, addressing environmental issues such as improving riparian areas, managing invasive weeds, and converting cropland to native grasslands.
Program characteristics
Province
Saskatchewan
Natural Features
Forest / Treed, Grasslands, Native Grasses, Riparian Areas, Species-at-risk Habitat, Wetlands, Wildlife Habitat
Agriculture Type
Cropland, Rangeland / Pasture
Program Scope
Regional/Local
Conservation Approach
Beneficial Practices, Protection, Restoration, Species-At-Risk Protection
Incentive Type
Cost-sharing / Discounts, Payment for Practices / Conservation / Credits, Recognition, Technical Advice
Delivery Agent Type
NGO
Commitment Type
Infrastructure Installation, Land Conservation / Protection, Management Agreement, Restoration / Re-seeding / Conversion
Commitment Term
Short Term (1 to 10 years)
Program web site
Conservation Goals
Priorities include improving riparian areas, controlling invasive weeds and converting cropland to native prairie grasslands, all to improve environmental outcomes and increase biodiversity, including habitat for multiple species at risk.
Eligible Lands
Eligible landscapes include marginal agricultural land, wetlands, and riparian areas in the Milk River watershed region.
Additional Details
Flexible, producer-designed projects: Producers choose project types that fit their land, operation, and goals—common examples include wetland restoration, riparian buffers, pollinator habitat, and livestock management fencing.
Ongoing intake: Applications are generally accepted year-round, though annual funding may be fully allocated early.
Easy start-up process:
1) Contact the ALUS Coordinator to discuss your operation and project ideas.
2) The Coordinator works with you to prepare a proposal.
3) Your proposal is reviewed by the Partnership Advisory Committee (PAC)—a local group of producers and technical experts who guide decision-making.
4) If approved, you sign a short-term conservation agreement and move ahead with project implementation.
Cost-share support: ALUS shares project establishment costs with producers, lowering the financial barrier to get started.
Annual stewardship payments: Producers receive annual payments for managing and maintaining their projects for each year of their agreement.
Flexible agreements: Most agreements are short-term (typically 5 years), can be renewed at the end of the term, and include exit clauses if circumstances change.
Commitment
ALUS participants design projects that work specifically on their farm and meet their own stewardship goals. They sign voluntary conservation agreements, typically five years in length, which outline the management expectations and annual payments expected. At the end of the agreement term, the agreement and annual payments may be renewed.
Incentive
ALUS offers a unique payment-for-ecosystem services model.
The producer cost-shares with the program to get the project established, then ALUS pays the producer an annual payment to manage and maintain their project for the optimal production of ecosystem services.
Payment rates vary based on the project type. For more details, please contact the program coordinator.
Contact Information
For more information, contact Krista Connick Todd at westtech@sodcap.com or 306-671-7656 or Kelly Williamson at easttech@sodcap.com or 306-582-7774
Important to Know
•This program is delivered in partnership with ALUS Canada.
•ALUS Canada supports local organizations in delivering payment-for-ecosystem-services programs in communities across Canada, including in AB, SK and MB.
•Participants receive annual, per-acre payments for creating, restoring, or enhancing natural features such as wetlands, riparian buffers, pollinator habitats, windbreaks, and tree plantings and managing their project to produce a "crop" of ecosystem services that benefit their community.
•The program is entirely voluntary and flexible—there are no legal registrations placed on the land title.
•For more information, visit: https://alus.ca/frequently-asked-questions/