The Bob Creek Ranch is now being protected by the Nature Conservancy of Canada. (Photo: Sean Feagan / NCC)

By David Opinko

Over 1,000 hectares now being conserved in southern Alberta Foothills

Jul 2, 2025 | 9:38 AM

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) has announced that another plot of land in the region will be protected.

It has partnered with the Waldron Grazing Co-Operative to conserve the Bob Creek Ranch.

Located just off Highway 22 north of Lundbreck, the ranch spans more than 1,000 hectares, or over 2,400 acres, and is next to two other protected areas, the Waldron Ranch and King Ranch.

The three sections create a contiguous block of more than 43,000 hectares (more than 100,000 acres) of conserved lands within the headwaters of the South Saskatchewan River watershed.

Larry Simpson, the NCC’s Director of Strategic Philanthropy, says the partnership with the Waldron Grazing Co-Operative is a powerful example of what they can achieve together with their shared vision.

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“The significance of Bob Creek Ranch goes beyond its size — it fills one of the last remaining gaps in a vast network of conserved working lands across this iconic and mostly intact landscape. This is a chance for people to make a difference by helping to conserve an incredible part of Canada that inspires anyone who experiences it,” says Simpson.

The Bob Creek Ranch is considered by the NCC to be a critical corridor for animals such as elk and deer, as well as threatened species like the grizzly bear.

They say it is also one of Canada’s most threatened and least protected ecosystems.

The Waldron Grazing Co-Operative was formed in 1962 by a group of farmers and ranchers to allow people to gain access to their properties, bring livestock, and sustain and grow their operations.

Waldron Board Chair Frank Welsch says, by partnering with the NCC, they ensure the lands remain just as they are: a beautiful range where cattle and nature can thrive.

“Continuing this partnership with the purchase of the historic King Ranch and now with the purchase of the Bob Creek Ranch, more native prairie will be conserved,” says Welsch.

He adds, “Not only is it a benefit to the shareholders who are gaining access to more grazing, it’s a win for the entire population and community of Alberta and Canada to know that this land will stay just as it is today; a home to an abundance of wildlife, both animal and plant species, along with cattle to maintain the grasses it produces. We look forward to many years together with NCC, conserving these great lands.”

The first phase of the conservation project is now complete. The NCC is now seeking funding for the second phase.