Official publication of the Manitoba Conservation Districts Association 2017 Edition
Education is Key to Sustainability
Small Dams Mitigate Drought and Flooding Find us on:
The Truth About Zebra Mussels and Clearer Water
42nd Annual Manitoba Conservation Districts Conference
The Economy of the Environment December 11th, 12th & 13th, 2017 Keystone Centre, Brandon, Manitoba
Two days of Presentations & Speakers: Gord Pyzer
2015 Inductee, Canadian Outdoor Hall of Fame, 2014 Inductee, National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame, 2009 Inductee, Canadian Angler Hall of Fame, Fishing Editor, Outdoor Canada Magazine, etc.
Judith Schwartz
Award winning author of “Cows Save the Planet" and "Other Ways to Restore Soil to Heal the Earth” and “Water in Plain Sight”
and Many More!
PLUS: Conservation District Project updates from around the province from the managers.
To Register Or For Further Information Please Contact Shane Robins: Phone:(204)570-0164 • Email: info@mcda.ca • www.mcda.ca
In This Issue From the Minister of Sustainable Development...................................................... 5 From the Chair of the Manitoba Conservation Districts Association....................... 5 Education is Key to Sustainability ............................................................................... 6
A Walk in the Park .................................................................................................. 8 A Tribute to Conservation District Members Passed .............................................. 9 CCCD Inaugural Water Festival .............................................................................10 EICD Floods Property in Bifrost-Riverton for Wetland Development ....................11
Education is the Key to Sustainability Pg. 6
SARPAL Takes Flight in Southwest Manitoba........................................................13 Droning for Beavers ...............................................................................................14 River Boat Fun vs Streambank Erosion: Is There a Balance? ...............................16 Community Growth ................................................................................................17 Future Looks Bright for Manitoba Family Farm ......................................................18 Fencing the Carrot River ......................................................................................19 The Mantra: Clean, Drain, Dry, Dispose ............................................................... 20 I Spent My Summer Helping to Manage our Waterways .......................................21
Riverboat Fun vs Streambank Erosion: Is There a Balance? Pg. 16
Project Spotlight: Vita Community Child Care Center Rain Garden ..................... 22 Looking Back at the Last 10 Years ....................................................................... 23 The Truth About Zebra Mussels and Clearer Water ..............................................24 Good Things Come in Trees ................................................................................. 25 Local Conservation Districts Working with Landowners to Improve Grassland Bird Habitat ...................................................................................... 26 Small Dams Mitigate Drought and Flooding ......................................................... 27
The Current is published annually as the official publication of Manitoba Conservation Districts Association. It features editorials from many of the 18 Conservation Districts within Manitoba. Edited by Shane Robins, Executive Director Cover Photo Credit: Caley Brown Photography Printing by PrintWest Enquiries can be submitted to info@mcda.ca, 204.570.0164, Manitoba Conservation Districts Association, 930 Victoria Ave. East, Brandon, MB R7A 2A4. www.mcda.ca For permission to reproduce any material in The Current please contact MCDA.
I Spent My Summer Helping to Manage our Waterways Pg. 21
Design and layout by Reaxion Graphics, www.reaxiongraphics.com
In Partnership with
Unless indicated otherwise, or as part of an advertorial, all photos have been provided courtesy of the Conservation Districts.
WWW.MCDA.CA
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How to Contact Us
4
Conservation District
Manager
Office Location
Office Number
Alonsa
Shawn Gurke
Alonsa
(204) 767-2101
Assiniboine Hills
Neil Zalluski
Baldur
(204) 535-2139
Cooks Creek
Colin Gluting
Bird’s Hill/Oakbank
(204) 777-2223
East Interlake
Armand Belanger
Gimli
(204) 642-7578
Intermountain
Jeff Thiele
Ethelbert
(204) 742-3764
Kelsey
Shawn Sexsmith
The Pas
(204) 623-3353
La Salle Redboine
Justin Reid
Holland
(204) 526-2578
Lake of the Prairies
Adam Kerkowich
Inglis
(204) 564-2388
Little Saskatchewan River
Colleen Cuvelier
Oak River
(204) 566-2270
Pembina Valley
Cliff Greenfield
Manitou
(204) 242-3267
Seine-Rat River
Jodi Goerzen
Steinbach
(204) 326-1030
Swan Lake Watershed
Stephanie Reid
Swan River
(204) 734-9550
Turtle Mountain
Yasemin Keeler
Deloraine
(204) 747-2530
Turtle River Watershed
Jody Tucker
Ste. Rose du Lac
(204) 447-2139
Upper Assiniboine River
Ryan Canart
Miniota
(204) 567-3554
West Interlake Watershed
Linda Miller
Lundar
(204) 762-5850
West Souris River
Dean Brooker
Reston
(204) 877-3020
Whitemud Watershed
Chris Reynolds
Neepawa
(204) 476-5019
The Current 2017
From the Minister of Sustainable Development
I
t is my privilege to congratulate the Manitoba Conservation Districts Association on its 42nd annual conference that has been, along with the publication of The Current, a key feature of over four decades of conservation districts achieving ecological benefits in watersheds on behalf of all Manitobans. The Manitoba government is proud to support the Conservation Districts Program in its work toward healthy and sustainable watersheds and a strong rural economy. Manitoba's new watershed-based policy framework acknowledges that watershed-based approaches are most effective in managing surface water and the activities that impact surface water. Because of their long history in watershed management, conservation districts are poised to play a key role in the implementation of this new framework. The 42nd Annual Manitoba Conservation Districts Association Conference theme, The Economy of the Environment, links strongly to the Manitoba government's mandate to create homegrown approaches to ecological goods and services programming.
Ecological goods and services (EG&S) are the environmental benefits derived from healthy ecosystems. These benefits include market goods such as food, the benefits from ecosystem processes such as water purification and nonmaterial benefits such as recreation. Traditionally, these ecosystem services are not quantified or recognized for their benefits. The Manitoba government is committed to providing a made-inManitoba approach to recognizing EG&S and has recently consulted on a new proposed program called GROW (Growing Outcomes in Watersheds) and I look forward to reflecting what we heard in programs going forward. I would like to thank all 18 of Manitoba's conservation districts and the Manitoba Conservation Districts Association for the many benefits that you provide to our communities, landscapes and watersheds. Best wishes for another successful conference. Honourable Rochelle Squires, Minister of Sustainable Development
From the Chair of the Manitoba Conservation Districts Association
W
hat a year this is turning out to be! So many opportunities, so many changes possible. We have seen a change in Ministers for the Sustainable Development portfolio. We said good-bye to Cathy Cox and have welcomed Minister Rochelle Squires to our conservation family. There is a number of discussion papers out and about. The most recent ones are; Growing Outcomes in Watersheds {GROW, Modernizing Manitoba’s Conservation Districts Program and Watershed-based Drainage and Water Resource Management. We had asked the government for the opportunity to provide more input into our programs and they have given us that opportunity. Please use it. The GROW program is a homegrown ecological goods and services program for Manitoba; for all of Manitoba. It is based on the ALUS model. This successful model has been tested in MB and more cd’s are looking forward to implementing it throughout MB. Other discussed items at the MCDA table have been LIDAR, flood mitigation, water storage, Aquanty, drainage and tile drainage, etc. Having the working
expanded executive within the MCDA board has been a real benefit especially for tight timelines in being able to be responsive when asked. I had the pleasure of meeting with Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna. Minister McKenna understood that the cd’s were a grassroots organization and that with local expertise knowledge of the landscape. We also discussed the $70 million funding opportunity of working towards cleaning Lake Winnipeg which includes upstream work. It has been a real pleasure meeting with the many MLA’s and MP’s over the last year. Many doors are opening right now with many more to be yet to be opened. We all need to be prepared for change whether we agree entirely or not. My hope is that we continue to work together and share our ideas, for the betterment of all Manitoba. Sincerely, Arnold Coutts Chair of the Manitoba Conservation Districts Association WWW.MCDA.CA
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Assiniboine Hills Conservation District
Education is Key to Sustainability Neil Zalluski, District Manager
T
he vision of the Assiniboine Hills Conservation District (AHCD) is to envision a future where communities, agriculture and the environment are healthy, sustainable and in balance with one another. AHCD has long felt that through education environmental sustainability has the best chance of being achieved. AHCD hosted or partnered in six educational events in 2016. The events are mostly geared towards students from grades 2 and up, with one of the events open to all ages. Events are held in all different types of settings including classrooms, malls and the great outdoors. In total, 1,000 people will pass through and receive all kinds of interesting information on how to reduce your environmental footprint and help sustain our natural environment for future generations to enjoy. Education is important to help raise the connection between everyday life and the impact it plays on our environment in terms of soil and water health. With the ever increasing development of residential areas and clearing of land for food based production. Reducing our environmental footprint is going to be key to preserving our natural landscape. We work to promote how to reduce that footprint in various ways including reducing risks to waterways to help prevent blue green algae from blooming in lakes. We also promote reduced peak runoff events to help with minimizing damages caused by major flood events. We even cover topics like how to keep your ground, surface water healthy to ensure safe drinking water if you draw from a ground source close to your house for domestic and livestock use. One of the stations set up at our events help to show the importance to reducing the amount of contaminants that leach or run off your properties. For example applying excess fertilizer to your lawns at the wrong time can result in most of the fertilizer running off the lawn and into the storm sewer system. Eventually into our waterways causing nutrient loading in our rivers and lakes. Not only is that harmful for the environment it is also costly to the landowner in wasted nutrients. Similar to fertilizer oil is also talked about in the same way coming from cars, lawn mowers, etc. Not only from over filling and accidentally spilling gas when filling tanks, the gas can leach into the waterways causing contamination. These are just two of the scenarios discussed at stations during our educational events that helps hammer home what we do in our daily lives has a direct impact on the environment. 6
The Current 2017
The underlying goal of these events are to bring the connection of everyday life in how everything we do has a positive or negative affect on our environment. Helping the public make better choices when completing tasks and if those choices also help save some money they are easier to implement. We look forward to expanding our educational events throughout our area.
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Alonsa Conservation District
A Walk in the Park
Elizabeth Sherman, Student of Alonsa High School
T
he Alonsa Conservation District has been hard at it, working on bringing the Alonsa community together in as many ways as possible. It started with turning the Alonsa School playground into gardens with raised garden beds that the students plant in during the spring and summer, before summer vacation, and then harvest and eat the foods that they had grown come fall. The gardens provide the school canteen with lots of healthy snacks that the students love. From there, the idea of a park on the site of the conservation office grew. So far, we’ve built 14 garden beds and a green house. Soon we hope to plant fruit and shelter trees along the area where water runs naturally. We know this because of a watershed analyse that was done by the C.D. manager. Trees will also be planted along the border of the lot. This plan is mainly externally funded by a project called “A Walk in the Park to a New Horizon”. We also plan on having public bathrooms, picnic tables, and a fire pit. At a later date the park will be used to host a couple of different games such as horse shoe pits and bocce ball. Once these games are in place seniors are hoping to send invitations to students to meet at the park and have game nights. The whole office lot will become the budding place of future friendships among all the members of the community, and of all ages. A huge culture garden bed event has already begun, where we’ve asked our local seniors what they’d like to plant in the community garden beds. The community seniors will also help with the planning of the park. During the school’s semesters, students will come over to the green house and garden beds to learn about planting and gardening from the seniors. Throughout this whole process, relationships will be made amongst the seniors and the students, making 8
The Current 2017
everyone feel involved and proud. The students will learn and experience a lot more than they might have if they were to just stay in their class rooms. A focused and passionate vision is being laid out in which we as a community are going to ensure that the park is suited for everyone and useable in different weather conditions. In doing so there will be something fun and engagement for all ages. Trees have been chosen that will withstand our harsh winters. All of the fruits and vegetables produced on the land will be offered free for the community; for anyone who so desires it.
I, as a young community member, look forward to helping as much as I can with this park, I think it is a great idea. The park will provide a safe and friendly environment that everyone will enjoy spending their time at. I thank all those who are helping build the future of our community.
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A Tribute to Conservation District Members Passed This page is dedicated to the many passionate members from our Conservation Districts who have passed away. We honour these individuals for their vision, leadership and as integral contributors to the very foundation of the Conservation Districts.
Members Passed 2017
LSRCD Anthony Kowalchuk
WSRCD Rick Plaisier
IMCD Wes Bernat
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Cooks Creek Conservation District
CCCD Inaugural Water Festival Colin Gluting, District Manager
O
n June 23, the Cooks Creek Conservation District held its first Water Festival at the Dugald Community Club. Grade 4 students from the Sunrise School Division took part in a fun day of hands on learning. While we had hoped to spend the day outside soaking up the sun, what would a water festival be without some rain? The idea of packing 200 students into an indoor hall on a Friday seemed a bit risky, but the volunteers running the stations were too engaging to let the minds of the students wander. The District extends a big thank you to MCDA, WIWCD , SRRCD, EICD, RBC Royal Bank, Red River Basin Commission, Dugald Convenience, Pembina Co-op, Prairie Originals, Oakbank Credit Union, Jim Anton at Sun Life Financial, Rick Wilson, and Heather
Erickson for their support. Also a special thanks to Leslie Wakeman and the teachers from the Sunrise School Division for working with us. We could not have done it without you. The District is excited to do it all again next year, and has already begun planning.
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The Current 2017
East Interlake Conservation District
EICD Floods Property in Bifrost-Riverton for Wetland Development
By Patricia Barrett - originally published in The Express Weekly News Thursday, June 22/17
T
he East Interlake Conservation District flooded a portion of farmland near Highway 8 and Road 125N in the RM of Bifrost-Riverton to create a wetland.
“This area was a little difficult to farm at times” said EICD Manager, Armand Bélanger. “We’re looking for areas like that, areas that are a little difficult to farm where we can do a bit of enhancement and turn it into a great conservation project. The EICD sees the benefit of that.”
government is considering implementing in Manitoba, whereby landowners will be financially compensated for creating wetlands or other natural areas on their properties.
The conservation district entered into a partnership with two neighboring landowners.
The Conservation District has been delivering an ALUS-type program for a number of years, said Bélanger. The EICD has been partnering with Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation, a nonprofit Crown corporation established in 1986 that works with landowners to maintain and enhance fish and wildlife habitat.
“If landowners agree to a conservation-type project on their property for the short or long term, then we sign an easement, an agreement between the EICD and the landowner,” he said. “And sometimes there’s an incentive payment to go along with it.” Creating wetlands on farms has a number of benefits, he said. They include carbon sequestration, recharging the aquifer, habitat enhancement, and erosion and phosphorous reduction.
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“It will also be a benefit to the landowners downstream,” said Bélanger. “Instead of that water flushing off in the spring time, it’s held back.”
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The EICD has been analyzing highly accurate elevation data know as LiDAR to help find additional project locations. “Because the Interlake is so flat, it has been hard to deliver programs like this in the past” he said. “But now with LiDAR we have pinpointed nearly 50 additional sites that are very similar to the one in Bifrost-Riverton. Our next step will be to partner with as many of these landowners as we can. Collectively, if these projects get completed, it will make a significant difference in water quality and management.” The EICD’s incentive program is similar to a program called ALUS (alternative land use service), which the provincial
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SARPAL Takes Flight in Southwest Manitoba Submitted by Manitoba Beef Producers
B
eing a species at risk in southwest Manitoba is a lot less risky these days thanks to an exciting announcement earlier this year.
In March it was revealed that four groups had received project funding under Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Species at Risk Partnerships on Agricultural Lands (SARPAL) initiative. All four projects will help to protect bird species at risk in one of the province’s most important ecosystems. Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) received $750,000 in funding to provide incentives to producers who develop beneficial management practices that protect the important bird habitats in the southwest. The Turtle Mountain Conservation District and Manitoba Sustainable Development are partnering on a burrowing owl project that focuses on the installation of artificial nests to research and raise awareness of burrowing owls. The West Souris River Conservation District’s grassland birds project will center on mapping, surveying and implementing bird-specific Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs) for targeted species in southwestern Manitoba, including the Ferruginous hawk, Chestnut-collared longspur, Sprague’s pipit and Baird Sparrow. Manitoba Agriculture is also working to add a species at risk component to its existing Environmental Farm Plan Program process/booklet. MBP General Manager Brian Lemon said the association is excited to be involved in the project. He added the program is unique in that it focuses on the symbiotic relationship between raising cattle on natural grasslands and species at risk.
Speaking at the same media conference, Dr. Christian Artuso of Bird Studies Canada and the Nature Manitoba Board noted that Manitoba sits at the northern edge of the Great Plains which extended from Canada to Mexico. Calling it a dynamic ecosystem, Artuso said grazing has been critical to the ecosystem’s maintenance for thousands of years. “That sea of grass extending from here south, there are a lot of species that evolved in that,” he said. “These species that rely on grass such as the Ferruginous hawk, Chestnut-collared longspur, Sprague’s pipit and Baird Sparrow, the prairie population of our burrowing owls; all of these species are in real trouble. These species that rely on grass, and therefore grazing, they are tanking. Some of them have lost 90 per cent of their population over the past half a century and that puts them in a perilous position.” Artuso said if the current rate of population decline continues it is likely that some of the bird species found in the southwest face extinction. However he added there is a solution to preventing “the dreaded E word” - grazing. “The birds need the grass to be healthy just like cattle producers needs the grass to be healthy,” he said. “If you’re a gardener you understand that if you prune your tree, the tree comes back strong. Grazing is that same process. When you graze grass it responds positively and when you graze it well it responds very positively. And the birds respond positively as well.” Thus far the response to SARPAL has been very positive and it’s expected that a number of partnerships for the various projects will be made in the very near future.
“(The project) looks for ways to keep beef cattle on the land while at the same time enhancing the habitat for species at risk including a number of grassland birds,” Lemon said during a media conference March 2 at the Bruce D. Campbell Farm and Food Discovery Centre south of Winnipeg. “SARPAL project funding will allow our producers to voluntarily implement land management grazing strategies and practices that will enhance these grassland habitats allowing these important birds species their nesting areas and allowing them to flourish.” MCDA.ca 13
Intermountain Conservation District
Droning for Beavers Lee Onyschak, Survey & GIS Technician
W
atershed management can present some rather unique challenges. The flow and volume of water is not only affected by climate and geography, but also wildlife. Beaver dams can have a disproportionate effect on water storage and movement. Not only do they back water up, there is also the possibility of multiple dam failures during heavy precipitation events, presenting a downstream safety hazard due to washouts. While need to locate and monitor these dams is necessary, accessing them can be quite challenging. The dams are quite often located in areas covered with dense bush or marsh. Because of this, Conservation Districts (CDs) are now employing new technologies to get a better handle on the situation. Drones are available now for general use. They allow the user to get a birds’ eye view and go into areas where walking, let alone using an ATV, is difficult if not impossible. Intermountain CD has used its drone to inspect waterways in areas where even an Argo would have become stuck. This gives CDs the ability to cover a lot of ground in a short period of time, while delivering a superior vantage point over ground based inspection. The operator can drive near the investigation site, and be up in the air and over the target in a few minutes, though operators need to be aware of the current Transport Canada regulations to fly a drone. The data collected by the drone can be easily mapped out on GIS and often exceeds requirements. The quality pictures and video provide high detail, while the onboard GPS provides relatively accurate locations. Drones can be as accurate as a handheld unit, or can be tied into a Real Time Kinematic (RTK) setup for more accurate results, often to within a centimeter. With the right software, drones can also be used to collect 3D data. With overlapping coverage from multiple angles, photos can be spliced together and a 3D landscape can be rendered. This can allow for quick and accurate estimates of dam structures and their holding capacity. The main advantage over a traditional survey is that data is collected at a much higher density. Instead of manually measuring an elevation at a single point for an area, multiple points are measured at the same time and at much closer spacing. This reduces the need for interpolation, thereby reducing error. It’s easy to see why many CD’s are taking to the air. The ability to investigate from the air turns an all day trek into an hour of flight. More area is covered more easily. Drones keep getting less expensive and of higher quality. There is even a safety benefit when the type of terrain that must be covered is taken into account. With all of the challenges facing CDs today, it’s a good idea to take every advantage there is. 14
The Current 2017
Overhead shot of beaver dam. Water flows from bottom to top.
Map showing locations of beaver dams at the south end of Loon Lake, just north of Ethelbert. Data was gathered using a drone equipped with a GPS.
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La Salle Redboine Conservation District
River Boat Fun vs Streambank Erosion: Is There a Balance? Written by Justin Reid, District Manager
S
horeline erosion is a big problem in lakes, rivers and streams throughout Manitoba. A lot of attention is paid to large scale spring flooding events and the erosion that they cause, but a different kind of erosion is starting to quietly cause many problems. Erosion caused by wave action from the wake of watercraft is quickly becoming a problem on the shorelines of many waterbodies. This is becoming quite evident on the La Salle River in particular. Floating down the river, it does not take long to see the effects of wave action on the riverbanks. Much of the riverbank is showing bare earth at the water level where the waves have been washing away the soil, and there are many instances of the banks beginning to collapse. La Salle Redboine CD is working with landowners to help combat the wave action erosion on the La Salle River. The first erosion control project was completed this year on the river in the community of La Salle. It was a pilot project involving a modified tree revetment strategy where the CD collected floating deadfall that had been building up against the highway bridge in the town and anchored it to the shoreline to act as a wave break. The anchored trees act as armour on the bank and are more natural looking than rock or a man-made retaining wall. Using the deadfall from the river also adds the additional benefit of clearing the debris that collects at bridge sites. The debris blocks watercraft traffic from moving up and down the river, and
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The Current 2017
can also cause flooding issues in the spring. The other phase to this project is using an education campaign to help stop the cause of the erosion. LSRBCD has partnered with the RM of Macdonald to install “No Wake Zone” signs at community boat launches and at bridges in the communities along the river. These signs will help educate watercraft operators of the importance of travelling at slower speeds down the river, especially in the areas that are most prone to wave action erosion. The CD is also in the process of designing educational pamphlets explaining the various causes of shoreline erosion and what landowners can do to help prevent it. The La Salle Redboine CD is hoping that with these pilot initiatives, landowners and watercraft operators will work together with the CD to combat the wave action erosion and help stop further bank collapse along the La Salle River.
Lake of the Prairies Conservation District
Community Growth By Adam Kerkowich, District Manager
L
ike the other seventeen Conservation Districts throughout Manitoba, Lake of the Prairies has always been involved in water and soil health issues. Projects such as alternate watering systems, erosion control initiatives, forage seed planting, abandoned well sealing, and water testing are all common in the CD community. Programs like these are great at maintaining or improving water and soil health. They benefit the producers on the land, as well as everyone downstream.
Conservation Districts provide much more to their respective regions then the programming you find listed on websites or newspaper advertisements. Everything we purchase comes from local stores, (office supplies, tools and equipment, materials, fuel, etc). All purchases are done within our respective districts. Various meetings, tours, and workshops all bring numerous people from all over, which helps to boost tourism.
in each year by Districts. This past year LPCD brought in over $140,000 through five different grants. The largest grant was for $80,000; it’s being put towards new aeration systems for trout lakes in the Parkland Region. These systems are low maintenance and cost effective. Towns and municipalities can utilize CD’s for projects like this, due to our charitable status. Many different grants are available to charitable organizations only. This is just another example of how a conservation district can be beneficial. Many recreational projects are aided by external funding thanks to your local CD. If you have a project idea, environmental or recreational, I would encourage you to contact your local conservation district. If they can be of any assistance, they will help.
Most conservation districts also have experience with grant proposal writing. Hundreds of thousands of dollars are brought
MCDA.ca 17
Future Looks Bright for Manitoba Family Farm By Bob Grant
“I
’ve had the farming bug since I started walking,” Wade Unrau says while taking a short break during the demanding calving season earlier this year. It’s hard work calving out 550 head, but this busy 20-year-old couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
The Unrau family launched their farming legacy in the Boissevain area nearly 50 years ago, with Wade’s grandfather renting land from an oil patch developer. Wade’s parents bought the land in 1992, bringing Wade into the world, and the farming picture, four years later. Even at a young age, Wade’s parents saw the potential in their son as he grew up. Over time, Wade became a valued member of the team, working alongside his dad and the hired men. Now a full partner in the operation, Wade is really coming into his own as a producer. “We crop around 3,500 acres and hope to expand. And with calving 550 head of Simmental and Angus cattle, there’s never any shortage of things to do,” says Wade. Still in partnership with his dad, Wade is beginning to carve a niche out for himself, first buying a home quarter just down the road from his family, and more recently, by acquiring three quarter sections from Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) within a few minutes of the new homestead. Wade is one of three young Manitoba farmers who have accessed land from DUC in this way over the past year. Ian Witherspoon, a conservation programs specialist with DUC explains that Wade purchased two separate parcels of land through DUC’s Revolving Land Conservation Program (RLCP). “The RLCP is a program where DUC purchases land on the open market, either by tender or negotiation. We use appraisals to discover fair market value of the land, which are based on current market trends. Then, with funding support from the Lake Winnipeg Basin Stewardship Fund, we restore any drained wetlands on the property.” Witherspoon continues by saying, “The land is then resold with the condition that the new landowner signs a conservation agreement that protects all the wetlands from drainage or infilling. This program provides a good opportunity for young farmers like Wade, and others in the beef industry, to acquire agricultural land at an affordable price.” The program is a win-win for conservation interests and landowners as the ecological values of the land are protected and the landowner accesses farmland close to home. With 18
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land values on the rise, DUC land that goes through the RLCP process can help young beef producers access land that is wellsuited for cattle production – often at a reduced cost. “If it wasn’t for Ducks Unlimited Canada, there is no way I could afford that land,” Wade says. “The process was straightforward and simple. I’m really happy with the way things worked out.” Wade has no reservations about signing the conservation agreement attached to the properties. “I’ll just farm with the land to make it work for me. The agreement really doesn’t have an impact on my farming operation.”
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Lake of the Prairies Conservation District
Fencing the Carrot River By Shawn Sexsmith, District Manager
K
elsey Conservation District install 14 kilometers of fencing along the shores of the Carrot River west of The Pas in 2017. This will be the largest fencing project that has been undertaken to date by the district. In conjunction with past fencing projects along the Carrot River this project will result in nearly the entire length of the Carrot River having restrictive livestock fencing installed.
spend a significant amount of time in close proximity to the river because of the shade provided by trees and the easy access to the river as a watering source.
Fencing the Carrot River is of significant importance as the town of The Pas draws its drinking water directly downstream of where the Carrot empties into the Saskatchewan River. This 14 kilometers of 3 strand barbed wire fence will cross 28 titles of land, consist of 3,000 posts and a total of 42 kilometers of barbed wire. The funding for this project was made available through Growing Forward 2.
In order to provide water to the herd of cattle that will no longer have access to the river as a water source, three alternate watering stations will be installed. This will result in the herd of cattle spending significantly less time near the river, further reducing the amount of nutrients that would normally be entering into the river. These will consist of solar and where available hydro. Water will be pumped from the Carrot River into watering troughs located throughout the pasture. The pastures will be better utilized as the water will be distributed throughout the pasture. This will reduce overgrazing and nutrient loading of the riparian zone.
As a result of continued livestock access to the riparian area of the Carrot River the shoreline has become severely degraded. In some areas the erosion is extensive as a result of the hoof action of the cattle that have "punched out" the river bank. These areas are depleted of all vegetation, resulting in riverbank slumping and erosion from the current. Excluding the cattle from the river with the installation of a fence will allow the riparian area to become naturally re-vegetated. The cattle have a tendency to
One of the key programs of Kelsey Conservation District has been to provide incentives to local cattle producers to exclude or restrict livestock to the areas local rivers. There are four significant rivers within a relatively small geographical area. The Carrot River is one as is the Birch, the Pasquia and the Saskatchewan Rivers. Over the past 15 years there has been considerable progress made at installing fencing and alternate watering stations along these waterways for livestock.
Celebrating Manitoba Conservation Districts
Cliff Graydon
Blaine Pedersen
graydonc@mymts.net
midlandmla@mymts.net
MLA for Emerson
Ron Schuler
MLA for St. Paul
ron@ronschuler.com
MLA for Midland
Rochelle Squires MLA for Riel
Greg Nesbitt
Rick Wowchuk
MLA for Riding Mountain MLA for Swan River
rochelle@rochellesquires.ca gregnesbittmla@mymts.net office@rickwowchuk.ca
Dennis Smook
Cliff Cullen
office@dennissmook.ca
ccullenmla@mts.net
MLA for La Verendrye MLA for Spruce Woods
Brad Michaleski MLA for Dauphin
Doyle Piwniuk
MLA for Arthur-Virdin
dauphinmla@outlook.com doylepiwniuk@mtsmail.ca
WWW.MCDA.CA
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Little Saskatchewan River Conservation District
The Mantra: Clean, Drain, Dry, Dispose Colleen Cuvelier, District Manager
"I
t doesn’t matter if you are boater, fisher, hunter, beachgoer, or water-recreationalist, everyone must take personal responsibility to protect our waters from the spread of aquatic invasive species. We are witnessing an invasion of zebra mussels in Lake Winnipeg’s south basin and the Red River. Many people underestimate that species such as zebra mussels can impact all Manitobans – either directly or indirectly. A zebra mussel invasion can affect fish populations and related fisheries, the recreational use of beaches, waterbased infrastructure, drinking water supplies, hydro facilities and tourism opportunities. Let’s learn from Lake Winnipeg and the Red River. Adopt the simple steps – Clean, Drain, Dry and Dispose every time watercraft or water-related equipment such as fishing gear, recreational equipment, trailers and docks are removed from the water. By taking the simple steps, we can stop the spread of aquatic invasive species.” Candace Parks Aquatic Invasive Species Specialist Manitoba Sustainable Development Efforts by and throughout the Little Saskatchewan River Conservation District have focused on educating the public, stakeholder groups, and municipal governments. November 2015 was the start of the local campaign. The Little Saskatchewan River Conservation District invited staff from Riding Mountain National Park to speak at its annual meeting. In 2016, the District hosted an event for the public where Candace Parks, Aquatic Invasive Species Specialist, Manitoba Sustainable Development presented. The Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve and the Association of Manitoba Municipalities - Midwest District have also coordinated presentations. Attendees are introduced to the zebra mussel, rusty crayfish, and spiny water flea and how these species spread. Better than looking at pictures, the Province has preserved specimens that allow people to get a firsthand look at zebra mussels and the spiny water flea. They learn that impacts from these species are both ecological and economic and that there are many tools in place to prevent the introduction and spread. Among these are federal and provincial legislation, watercraft inspection and decontamination stations, DNA testing, step-by step instructions on how to decontaminate, fact sheets, and a zebra mussel colouring and activity book. Tools, however, are not enough. People need to be engaged to participate in protecting our waters. Other stakeholders that have contributed to the fight against zebra mussels and other aquatic invasive species have been the Municipality of Harrison Park, Friends of Sandy Lake, and the Province of Manitoba. Councillor Doreen Stapleton from the Municipality of Harrison Park had this to say about her municipality’s involvement with the fight against aquatic invasive species. 20
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“I am very proud of our Council’s dedication and action, when on June 6th, we passed a resolution - “to support all interested parties in the Municipality in preventing the spread of zebra mussels into the Municipality, through education, signage, and voluntary inspections.” Hence, signs are being placed at ALL lakes and waterways in our Municipality, and the August 3rd forum in Sandy Lake was arranged for everyone to attend. We have been fortunate in receiving the support of our MLA for Riding Mountain, Greg Nesbitt. It is through his dedication and duty we were able to acquire the knowledgeable speaker from the Department of Sustainable Development, Candace Parks. As the control of zebra mussels is a provincial jurisdiction, we appreciate the concern for his constituents in this matter. Along with neighboring MLAs, who are equally engaged in this issue, he intends to take the need for more zebra mussel inspection and decontamination stations to the Legislature this fall. All Municipal Officials should be encouraged to speak to their MLA to bolster support in their efforts.” The army is small. Working together, we can take affirmative action to stop the spread. For more information on AIS, please visit www.manitoba.ca/stopais Call 1-87-STOP AIS-0
Pembina Valley Conservation District
I Spent My Summer Helping to Manage Our Waterways By Leanna Fehr, Summer Student
F
inding summer work near where I live can be difficult as a university student so I’ve been grateful to work at the Pembina Valley Conservation District this summer. As I’ve learned, a main responsibility of PVCD is working with municipalities and landowners to manage local watersheds. A watershed is defined as an area where all water flows to a common waterway such as the Deadhorse Creek or the Red River.
Overall, the summer experience has opened my eyes to how much work goes into managing waterways. Where before I took flowing waterways for granted, I now realize how much they are influenced by human activity on the landscape. Of course, flow changes seasonally and from year to year; but actions such as creating ditches, draining sloughs or building dams all impact water flow as well. PVCD projects often involve building small dams and water retention areas which slow peak runoff as well as reducing flooding and erosion. But we all need to take responsibility for our water as everyone’s actions have an impact. And these actions affect people downstream. Importantly, it is necessary to manage a watershed in such a way that fields can dry in time for seeding, enough groundwater exists to provide water for drinking and irrigation, and that water doesn’t run off too fast, flooding properties or washing out roads on its way downstream. Finding this magical balance is important and requires being in touch with what’s happening regarding local water management issues. For this reason, watershed management decisions are made by the PVCD board which is made up of landowners and municipal representatives. My biggest take away from the summer has been that a lot can happen co-operatively when it comes to managing a watershed. Of course, there are issues with cooperative decision making. For instance, both time and available funding can limit which projects are completed each year, making it challenging to agree on which projects to prioritize. But the challenge is worth it. As previous board member, Brenda Seward, explains “It’s good to have landowners involved because they have the experience and practical knowledge needed for good watershed management".
Canada’s leading land conservation organization; protecting our natural areas and the plants and animals they sustain.
LEARN MORE: www.natureconservancy.ca/mb manitoba@natureconservancy.ca 1-866-683-6934 MCDA.ca 21
Seine-Rat River Conservation District
Project Spotlight: Vita Community Child Care Center Rain Garden
T
he Vita Community Child Care Centre had a vision for developing a natural playground. They wanted to create a space where children could connect with nature through outdoor play. Engaging with nature is one of the best ways for children to master emerging social, emotional, and physical skills, like running, jumping, inventing games, and solving problems. The Vita Community Child Care Centre found a unique way of developing a natural playground by incorporating the environmental benefits of rain gardens. A rain garden is a bowl-shaped perennial garden that captures surface water runoff. They are typically planted in urban and residential areas where water flows off roofs, streets, sidewalks, driveways, sump pump discharge areas, and parking lots. Surface water runoff that is unable to infiltrate into the soil is often directed to the street where it can overwhelm local drainage infrastructure. It can even pick up harmful substances on its way to the drain, including road salt, heavy metals, oils, and other contaminants. When they end up in our rivers and lakes, these contaminants can harm the quality of our drinking water and put the health of our aquatic ecosystems at risk. Rain gardens provide a simple solution for mitigating these issues by infiltrating surface water into the soil. The soil in a rain garden is porous because it is amended with organic materials that help speed infiltration and filter out pollutants. The perennial plants in the garden clean surface water by taking up nutrients as water is absorbed into the soil. As an added benefit, rain gardens create habitat for birds, bees, butterflies, and other wildlife. They also beautify the neighbourhood and mitigate local water issues. The natural playground area of the Vita Community Child Care Centre functions as both a rain garden and as a unique natural landscape for outdoor play. The rain garden is designed to capture and store water from the roof of the building as well as from the playground area. A small hill with a slide overlooks the rain garden and features a hand pump system, which circulates water for children’s playtime. This interactive design provides stimulating physical activity while teaching children about the water cycle and the importance of green spaces. The water used during children’s playtime is returned to the rain garden at the end of the day to minimize waste and the need for plant watering. This innovative multi-use space utilizes the environmental benefits of rain gardens to inspire children’s imaginations through hands-on outdoor play. Kim Chornopyski, Director of the Vita Community Child Care Centre, said, “We are lucky to experience the benefits of two
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Completed urban rain garden project and natural playground area at Vita Community Child Care Centre. rain gardens at our Centre. This spring and summer the rain garden, in the main playground where the children play, was full of butterflies, bugs and a garter snake. The children were very excited to observe these creatures in their natural habitat an opportunity they would not have had without a rain garden.” The Vita Community Child Care Centre approached local representatives of the Seine-Rat River Conservation District (SRRCD) with the project idea in summer 2015. The SRRCD Board of Directors approved project funding for two urban rain gardens and staff provided project design and management support. Additional funding was secured by the Vita Community Child Care Centre through a Province of Manitoba Community Places Program grant. The natural playground/ rain garden project was completed in summer 2016. A second rain garden was also constructed behind the Centre to capture water from a sump pump discharge area. The Vita Community Child Care Centre urban rain garden project is an innovative watershed initiative implemented at the local level. “The children are very involved with taking care of the rain gardens. The learning opportunities these gardens provide for the staff and children at the Centre are invaluable to us.” said Kim. Heavy precipitation events and rapid snowmelt in the Southeast challenge the way we manage surface water in our area. Rain gardens are innovative design features that can improve the way we manage surface water in urban areas. The SRRCD helps design and create rain gardens for our residents. We also provide funding up to $500 for individual projects, or 50% up to $5,000 for projects located in public spaces.
Swan Lake Watershed Conservation District
Turtle Mountain Conservation District
Looking Back at the Last 10 Years By Kristine Wilkens, Resource Technician
T
he East Souris River Integrated Watershed Management Plan (IWMP) was completed in January of 2006 and was the first IWMP to be approved by the then Minister of Water Stewardship. This watershed includes four sub-watersheds: Chain Lakes, Medora Creek, Waskada Creek and the Elgin Creek – Whitewater Lake located within all or parts of the Municipalities of Brenda – Waskada, Grassland, Deloraine – Winchester, Boissevain-Morton and Two Borders. The East Souris River IWMP addresses 6 Watershed Goals:
1. Efficient and effective surface water management
2. Preserve and enhance surface water and groundwater quality
3. Sustainable water supplies
4. Maintain ecological functions of the watershed
5. Maintain the productive capability of soils
6. Education and engage the watershed community
The Turtle Mountain Conservation District (TMCD) has worked with various partners and watershed residents to meet the goals of the IWMP. An implementation report has been compiled demonstrating the accomplishments from 20062016. Implementation highlights include:
Goal 4: ECOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS The TMCD has a long-standing partnership with Manitoba Habitat Corporation (MHHC) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) to provide conservation agreement programs. The partnership with MHHC is focused on the conservation of natural cover in highly erosive areas. The program developed in response to logging pressures in the Turtle Mountains and has surpassed its goal of 25% of the natural cover of private land secured in the Turtle Mountain, Chain Lakes Valley and Blind Souris River Valley. The partnership with DUC focuses on providing incentives for conservation of wetlands. The program initially targeted Whitewater Lake and its surrounding area and was expanded eastwards towards Killarney and west towards Medora. 4524 Acres of upland areas secured in Conservation Agreements 1615 Acres of wetlands secured in Conservation Agreements 54 Portable windbreaks 9 Exclusion fencing projects 2 Bank stabilization projects 45 Remote watering systems 3 Winter watering systems 505 Head of cattle excluded from the creek/river
Goal 1: SURFACE WATER MANAGEMENT
Goal 5: SOILS
29 Water retention projects totaling 2892 acre-feet
24 Grassed waterways
489 Culverts surveyed
4020 Acres of salinity seed planted
86 KM creek surveyed
2 Salinity soil testing projects
Goal 2: SURFACE AND GROUNDWATER QUALITY
Goal 6: EDUCATE AND ENGAGE
226 Abandoned wells sealed
379 Students participated in Water Festivals
610 Well water samples tested
5 Landowner workshops
3 Water quality sampling programs – Souris River and Medora Creek
3 Grazing tours
Goal 3: WATER SUPPLY
Our Implementation Report will soon be available. A public consultation meeting is scheduled for winter 2017 to update the East Souris River Integrated Watershed Management Plan.
A Buried Valleys Aquifer Assessment was conducted by Manitoba Water Stewardship and the Geological Survey of Canada for the Medora Waskada buried valley aquifer in 2007.
Facebook: @turtlemtncd Twitter: @TurtleMtnCD Website: www.tmcd.ca
215 Meters of streambank stabilized
MCDA.ca 23
Turtle River Watershed Conservation District
The Truth About Zebra Mussels and Clearer Water Jody Tucker, District Manager
O
n the weekend I found myself giving information on the dire effects of zebra mussels that seemingly only I was aware of. These were intelligent people who owned properties along Lake Manitoba. They had heard there was a problem, but just did not know exactly what it was, seeing as one of the perceived “benefits” of zebra mussels is clearer water, which is good…..right?? No. In light of these conversations, it seems that some clarification is needed as to impacts of zebra mussels on people, and the water bodies that we all use and enjoy. First, a little bit about the life cycle and ecology of zebra mussels. Adult females can produce 100,000 to 500,000 eggs per year. These eggs hatch and become “veligers”, which are free living microscopic larvae that float around for two or three weeks before settling and attaching themselves to any firm surface using tiny fibres. Zebra mussels mature in their first year of life, and adults can grow to anywhere from one to four centimeters long and can live two to five years. They can latch onto surfaces up to 45 feet deep and can form layers up to 6 inches thick with up to 700,000 mussels per square meter. The veligers have a hard time going upstream but float freely downstream, meaning that once a water body is infested, any downstream water bodies may also be subject to colonization. Now, about the argument that zebra mussels are good for the lakes in this area because they filter the water as they feed. This is true, but their extreme filtering is not good for the lakes. Yes, zebra mussels make the water clearer. Clear water does not necessarily mean clean water. The clear water resulting from the zebra mussels often causes algal blooms that are harmful to people, pets, and other wildlife. Clearer water also promotes vegetation growth on the lake bottom which can choke out beaches and get caught in boat motors. This vegetation growth can occur in deeper waters due to the ability of the sunlight to penetrate through the clearer water. During their feeding, the zebra mussels filter out phytoplankton and zooplankton, which are the microscopic plants and critters that form the base of the food chain in a waterbody. These are the organisms that feed the slightly larger organisms that feed the minnows, which feed the predatory game fish such as walleye and pike. Basically, if you eliminate the smallest creatures by filtering them out, you affect the entire aquatic ecosystem of a lake from the ground up, and can decimate sport and commercial fish stocks. There are also many other ways zebra mussels impact water bodies and shorelines. They attach themselves to any hard 24
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surface – rocks, trees, metal (water intakes, boat propellers and hulls), docks and ladders. They plug water intake lines and attach themselves to native mussels (clams) and choke them out. They can form layers up to 6” thick, and swimmers cut their feet on them. Massive amounts of sharp shells can also wash up on beaches. Basically, any firm surface that sits in water infested with zebra mussels for more than a few weeks can and will eventually be covered with them, and they are difficult to remove once established. Human activity is by far the main reason for the spread of zebra mussels in Manitoba’s lakes. Once they are in a lake there is no known way to get rid of them, so the best prescription is prevention. Adult mussels can live out of water for seven days and the veligers can be transported in live wells, boat trailers and fishing gear, so unless you want your next trip to the lake to end with cut feet, clogged motors, and no fish in your live well or on your stringer, then “clean, drain, and dry” your boat, trailer, fishing gear and waders, and “dispose” of your bait before going from one lake to the next. We all have to work together to help prevent the spread of zebra mussels.
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West Interlake Watershed Conservation District
Good Things Come in Trees Adrien Carriere, Resource Technician
T
he community tree nursery program is in its 3rd year and has grown significantly in popularity among residents in the West Interlake. Launched in 2014, the program was developed to help reestablish local vegetation destroyed in the wake of flooding in 2011 and 2014. The program covers the cost for the first 25 seedlings ordered by applicants, and offers a variety of species such as pine, ash and maple. While the program was developed with those who were affected most Maple seedlings planted in by the flood in mind, Woodlands MB the program is also useful for those in agriculture, helping cover the costs for the development or restoration of shelterbelts which, when properly applied can conjure a number of benefits such as soil quality, livestock shelter, crop protection and even biodiversity retention. Over 30,000 seedlings have been provided over the past 3 years with over 400 applications in the fall of 2016 alone. With all these trees being planted, the West Interlake has provided a program that is beneficial to all its residents in the conservation district. Next on the list is our well sealing program, many abandoned homesteads established by our ancestors leave behind traces of their existence, while homes and barns deteriorate over a century or two, Old well in Oak Point dug by the stone or steel wells last Hudson Bay Company in 1862 significantly longer. still being used to this day These abandoned wells can be a nuisance to farmers as an obstacle in the field that can potentially damage equipment and can even be a threat to livestock and people depending on their location, ever hear of the story of Little Timmy fell down the well? Furthermore they can provide a vessel to contaminate aquifers with surface run off. On top of abandoned wells are flowing
wells, which can cause drainage issues in spring time and increase erosion and run off. With over 20 applications submitted in 2017 alone, over 80% have been approved with 18 completed Abandoned well found in the so far, helping cover RM of Grahamdale thousands of dollars in expenses. Sealing wells is just another good thing the WIWCD is doing to help conserve our watershed. Back in June, another one of our big projects was a smash hit. We hosted our 5th annual water festival in Eriksdale, receiving over 100 students aged from kindergarten to grade 5 where they would learn the importance of environmental Green kids animating an conservation through interactive play with kids from games and interactive Lundar school pre se nt at ion s. The children were shown the functions of our ecosystem and how to conserve it with stations that demonstrated erosion, the function of wetlands, the animals in our watershed, recycling, water pollution and the importance of conserving water. The water festival is an important event to us as we believe that our wellbeing is closely linked to the environment, and emphasizing the importance of environmental conservation to our youth will help them prioritize it in the future. The festival would not be possible without all our volunteers and participants and we would like to thank them all for helping make our festival a success.
Upper Assiniboine River Conservation District www.uarcd.com
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West Souris River Conservation District
Local Conservation Districts Working with Landowners to Improve Grassland Bird Habitat Dean Brooker, District Manager
S
ince the 1970’s, only aerial insectivores, those birds such as swallows and swifts which catch insects in flight, have declined at a faster rate in Canada than grassland birds. These are generally migratory birds which come to Manitoba in spring to breed in the mixed-grass prairies of southwestern Manitoba.
33 properties recording the bird species encountered. This is providing baseline information for incentive projects moving forward.
In response to the losses of grassland birds, and other biodiversity of the native prairies, Environment and Climate Change Canada established Species-At-Risk Partnerships on Agricultural Land (SARPAL). This program recognizes that threatened wildlife cannot be conserved in isolation in parks. They need the help of private landowners. Fortunately beef producers are retaining the grasslands which these birds need and SARPAL is here to develop relationships with these producers.
In addition West Souris River Conservation District has built a number of nesting platforms for the threatened Ferruginous Hawk, which will be put in place this fall. A third SARPAL project titled Support for West Souris River Conservation District and Turtle Mountain Conservation District to implement Burrowing owl recovery actions. Both conservation districts have been working closely with the Manitoba Burrowing Owl recovery program since 2010.
In 2017, West Souris River Conservation District has been working with Turtle Mountain Conservation District, Bird Studies Canada (BSC) and Nature Manitoba on a SARPAL project in the southwestern mixed-grass prairies. This is complementing a much larger project with the Manitoba Beef Producers and Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation. During the summer months, Dr. Christian Artuso of BSC monitored
All partners in both projects are currently working with landowners to implement incentives and recovery actions for Species-At-Risk. For more information on this project go to www.wsrcd.com/ sarpal or call our office at 204 877 3020.
Partners in agriculture for nearly 80 years Ducks Unlimited Canada has a variety of programs to meet your needs and to benefit your business. From individual farmers to entire Conservation Districts, we work with you to help safeguard the land under your care. Ranging from forage and grazing programs to incentives for restoring and protecting habitat, we have a program that will fit your operation.
Contact Ducks Unlimited Canada today to explore all your options.
1-866-251-DUCK (3825) du_brandon@ducks.ca
MB - MCDAThe ad 2017_new.indd 1 26 Current 2017
2017-09-05 8:44 AM MCDA.ca 26
Whitemud Watershed Conservation District
Small Dams Mitigate Drought and Flooding Chris Reynolds, District Manager
S
mall dams have proven to be an effective option to mitigate both drought and flooding effects. By creating additional water storage area, peak flows are reduced; thereby reducing erosion, nutrient transport, and flooding impacts to downstream land and infrastructure, while holding a supply of water later into the growing season. In 2012, the WWCD partnered with the Municipality of North Cypress-Langford and the Municipality of North Norfolk to pursue several options for new small dams and water storage locations. Five project sites were chosen on several waterways: Pine Creek near Wellwood, Rat Creek near Rossendale, Squirrel Creek near Austin, and Boggy Creek near Oberon. It was decided that the ideal water retention structure for each project would be what is known as a “dry dam”. A dry dam causes water to back up during spring and summer r u noff events, then temporarily holds and slowly releases the runoff, and can be emptied for maintenance or to provide additional storage. The water level in each project is set by “drop-inlet” culverts. Each drop-inlet culvert has a half-blocked end to hold the water level in the retention pond, yet allow additional water to continue flowing over the block and through the culvert. The drop-inlet
is filled with concrete which is gently sloped into the culvert; providing erosion control and allowing fish passage. Water in the retention ponds are used for wildlife habitat, livestock watering, and recharge of the Assiniboine Delta Aquifer. In 2013 the WWCD received additional funding from Environment Canada and the Province of Manitoba. Construction on the projects began in the fall of 2013 and was completed in 2016, with all projects being fully operational in 2017. Results: • 5 small dams constructed • Approximately 100 acre-feet of storage was created • 215 acres of wetland habitat was created • R unoff from almost 10,000 acres of land is slowed or temporarily stored To date, the WWCD has built nearly 100 small dams and water storage projects, and six more projects are currently in progress and expected to be operational in the next two years. The WWCD thanks all of its partners including Environment Canada, the Province of Manitoba, the Municipality of North Cypress-Langford, and the Municipality of North Norfolk.
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“ As part of Manitoba’s pork industry it is my job to protect our lakes and streams.” Scott Dick
Nutrient Management Specialist, Agra-Gold Consulting Ltd.
manitobapork.com/solution 28
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