The government of Alberta has set an objective of "no net loss of recreational fishing opportunities as a result of the Oldman River Dam project". In May of 1988, a further commitment was made by the government to fund the fisheries mitigation plan to its completion, over an anticipated 10 year program.
Alberta Environment has developed a fisheries mitigation plan through ongoing consultation with Fish and Wildlife Division of Alberta Forestry, Lands and Wildlife, a Local Advisory Committee, and a Pincher Creek Municipal District Fish and Wildlife Subcommittee.
The primary assumption of the upstream mitigation strategy is that the "no net loss" objective means chiefly the replacement, above reservoir full supply level, of the high quality riverine habitat which will be lost to flooding. This is accomplished by upgrading habitat of a lower quality to a higher quality through the installation of instream features such as boulder gardens, flow deflectors, rock weirs and pools, and overhanging cover.