The improvement district was largely coextensive with the Alberta portion of the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range.

[1] It was created from lands that were separated from the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and Lac La Biche County (the Alberta portion of the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range).

349 was formed as a result of negotiations between the Province of Alberta, the City of Cold Lake, the MD of Bonnyville No.

[5] As partial compensation for losing 11,600 km2 (4,500 sq mi) of land, Lac La Biche County received 1,500 km2 (580 sq mi) of land from the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo south of the Conklin area and north of the air weapons range.

[6] As compensation to Wood Buffalo for the loss of jurisdiction over lands to Lac La Biche County and the new improvement district, the municipality received control over Crown land within its jurisdiction to accommodate future residential, commercial, and industrial growth.