M.D. approves concept plans for gravel pits

By Rob Vogt
The council of the Municipal District of Willow Creek has approved the concept plans for two gravel pits northwest of Fort Macleod and has taken the first step in re-zoning associated lands from rural general to natural resource extraction.
The decision was made at council’s Dec. 17 meeting after a presentation by Ryan Dyck, the M.D.’s planner from the Oldman River Regional Services Commission.
He explained a concept plan has been submitted in support of the development of a 71.2-acre, or 28.8 hectare, portion of an existing 94.7-acre, or 38.3-hectare, parcel to accommodate the future development of a Class 1 gravel pit, known as the Emmott Pit, located at NE-8-9-26-4.
The applicant submitted a concept plan in September 2025 prepared by Twerdoff and Associates Incorporated.
It is a proposed Class I pit for sand and gravel extraction for local construction needs in the Fort Macleod area.
The project has received its code of practice registration with a maximum pit size of 69.2 acres, or 28 hectares, and stockpiles not to exceed 10 metres in height.
The soil classification indicates severe limitations that restrict the range of crops that could be grown.
The anticipated life of the pit is 15 years over four phases.
Dyck noted there is a dwelling and farm buildings located on the subject parcel, but they are vacant.
Existing inhabited dwellings are located approximately 650 metres northwest, and 1,300 metres north and northwest, of the proposed pit location.
Access to the pit will be directly from Highway 785 and the highway is the proposed haul route.
There is an expected average of 20 to 25 trucks per day
The pit hours of operation are Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. The crushing hours are 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
There will also be a buffer of 30 metres from the highway to mining and stockpiles.
Dyck also explained a concept plan was submitted August 2025 by Twerdoff and Associates Incorporated for the expansion of an existing gravel pit known as “The Fort Macleod West Pit.”
The pit is located in the south half of 18-9-26-4, which is two separate parcels containing a total of 292.8 acres, or 118.5 hectares.
The pit has an existing development permit requiring a 250-metre buffer from adjacent residences, that was established as a condition of approval when the pit was first opened.
The applicant has submitted letters of non-objection to mining within the 250-metre buffer from each of the adjacent landowners as part of this plan.
It is a proposed Class 1 pit for sand and gravel extraction for local construction needs in the Fort Macleod area.
The project received code of practice registration in 2013.
The current operations are 116 acres, or 47 hectares, in size, and 87.7 acres, or 35.5 hectares, have been reclaimed.
Their total proposed pit area is 255 acres, or 103.3 hectares and soil stockpiles are not to exceed four metres in height.
The soil classification in southern areas of the pit, which is the majority of the pit, indicate severe limitations to productivity. The soil classification in the northern areas of the pit also indicate severe limitations to productivity.
The estimated pit life is approximately 15 years over two phases.
There are three residences within the 250-metre buffer prescribed by the original development permit.
All three parties have signed letters of non-objection to mining within the 250-metre buffer.
Operations include excavating, crushing and screening, aggregate washing, loading and hauling. No pit water will be released
Access to the pit is proposed through the farmyard to an existing approach to Highway 785, with an expected average of 70 trucks per day.
The hours of operation are weekdays and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and closed Sundays.
A fuel storage “envirotank” is proposed to be on site and will comply with the guidelines for secondary containment for above ground storage tanks.
Excavations are proposed to occur in two additional phases. Phase 2 will be opened when the existing phase is depleted and Phase 3 opened when Phase 2 is depleted. Progressive reclamation will occur as each phase is depleted.
There is a 23-metre buffer proposed for the two adjacent undeveloped road allowances and a 30-metre buffer to Highway 785.
Council approved both concept plans.
They also approved first reading of three bylaws re-zoning the associated lands from rural general to natural resource extraction land use.
One bylaw is for the Emmott Pit, while two separate re-zoning bylaws are required for the Fort Macleod West Pit, because it is on two separate parcels on different quarter sections.
The public hearing to gather feedback on the proposed re-zoning was set for Jan. 14 starting at 1 p.m.