Gravel extraction at the Abma Pit began in May 1979. In the early 2000s, ownership of the gravel pit was transferred from a private individual to Lacombe County. As part of the purchase agreement, Lacombe County agreed that upon reclamation of the pit, the site would be utilized for recreational purposes. Additionally, the responsibility for reclamation of the pit remained with the private individual, who by agreement, Abma Gravel Pit Conceptual Reclamation Design transferred the reclamation responsibility to a private contractor who is currently operating the gravel pit. To ensure that the gravel pit is reclaimed to a state which can support future recreational use, Lacombe County is seeking consulting services to develop a conceptual reclamation design for the pit which can be used to guide site reclamation activities. As previously discussed, the Abma Pit is to be reclaimed in a manner that will support recreational use. Additionally, reclamation is to be completed by the private operator currently extracting gravel from the pit. As Lacombe County will ultimately be responsible for the management of the site following reclamation. Lacombe County strives to work collaboratively with the current operator to develop a plan that is both economically feasible for the operator and positions Lacombe County to further develop the site for recreational purposes in the future. The successful proponent will be responsible for developing a reclamation conceptual design which is agreeable to both Lacombe County and the pit operator using the available materials on-site. In addition, Lacombe County understands that the term recreational use can be broadly defined. The successful proponent will be required to conduct a public engagement initiative to obtain feedback from the community regarding recreational opportunities on the site. The intent is for community feedback to be utilized to help steer the concept plan, while also providing insight into future recreational amenities on the site. Lacombe County envisions the reclaimed pit supporting passive recreation opportunities with natural ecosystem features that support biodiversity. For additional insight, Lacombe County’s Recreation Master Plan may be found at the following web address: https://www.lacombecounty.com/en/living-here/parks-and-recreation.aspx
