Effective Weed Management on Alberta Oil and Gas Well Sites

The Weeds on Wellsites working group continues to make significant strides in addressing the persistent challenge of weed management on oil and gas well sites across Alberta. At a recent meeting, representatives from municipalities, provincial agencies, industry, and advocacy organizations gathered to share updates, discuss research findings, and chart a path forward. Here’s an overview of the group’s recent activities, key findings, and future directions. 

Understanding the Problem: Why Weeds on Wellsites Matter 

Weeds on oil and gas well sites are more than just an eyesore—they pose real challenges for landowners, municipalities, and the agricultural sector. These invasive plants can reduce crop yields, increase management costs, and create friction between landowners and energy companies. The working group, comprised of stakeholders from across the province, has been focused on finding practical, data-driven solutions to this long-standing issue. 

Surveying the Landscape: The RMA Survey 

A major focus of the group’s recent work has been the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) survey, designed to quantify the impact of weeds on well sites. Led by Bezawit Lemma, a Policy and Research Analyst at RMA, the survey targeted 14 municipalities and achieved an impressive 80% response rate. Respondents, primarily agricultural fieldmen and managers, provided valuable insights into the costs and challenges associated with weed management. 

Key findings from the initial survey indicated there are significant costs incurred by the municipalities that are trying to address the concerns through legislation, and significant estimated crop losses.

The most significant barriers identified were legislative limitations and difficulties in holding oil and gas operators—especially insolvent or bankrupt companies—accountable for weed control. This underscores the complexity of the issue and the need for better data collection and reporting mechanisms. 

Legislative Approaches:

The working group has not limited its efforts to data collection but has also been investigating potential legislative approaches that would clarify and streamline authorities and processes. Changes to legislation will require extensive consultations across sectors and so are not likely to have immediate results.

Field Tours: Seeing the Problem Firsthand 

To bridge the gap between policy and practice, the group organized field tours in Red Deer County and other areas. These tours brought together landowners, municipal officials, and provincial representatives to witness the impact of weeds on well sites up close. Hearing directly from affected farmers and ranchers reinforced the urgency of the issue and informed the group’s advocacy efforts. 

Challenges and Next Steps 

Despite progress, significant challenges remain. Municipalities are not collecting data that tracks the costs to landowners or lost value of crops, and most landowners know it is taking time and resources to manage the weeds but seldom are calculating the costs in the detail the government is requesting.  Many municipalities lack the resources to gather detailed information, and legislative barriers continue to limit enforcement options. 

Looking ahead, the group is considering a second phase of research, potentially involving semi-structured interviews with landowners and municipal staff to gather more qualitative data. There is also a strong interest in expanding education and awareness efforts, both for landowners negotiating with oil companies and for municipalities seeking to improve weed management practices. 

Conclusion 

The Weeds on Wellsites working group exemplifies the power of collaboration in tackling complex, cross-sector challenges. By combining research, advocacy, and on-the-ground engagement, the group is laying the groundwork for meaningful change. As new data is collected and awareness increases across sectors, there is hope that Alberta will soon have stronger tools to manage weeds on well sites—benefiting landowners, municipalities, and the broader agricultural community. 

Stay tuned for further updates as the group continues its important work. 

Further Insights:

Mature Assets Strategy 2025 – Gov of Alberta

Frank Cholak’s story