Drainage meeting hears solution
Explanation of new drainage rules evoked some comments at a water management conference in Moose Jaw. A Rouleau Flats farmer from east of Moose Jaw wanted to know how to involve farmers who are not members of a conservation authority but are contributing to water flooding.
He was advised that a ministerial order, as a last resort, can annex land owners and force them to pay the conservation authority levy.
Another farmer, describing himself as a hill person, objected to paying for drainage when he gets no benefit. Natural drainage from the hills is different and not subject to the ministerial order.
Those water flows to Rouleau Flats from the hills south of Avonlea enter the Moose Jaw River.
Water Security Agency special projects manager Doug Johnson said there is a potential solution to the flooding from the hills.
The Deer Creek conservation area near Portage la Prairie, Manitoba dealt a with a similar situation by building 45 dams along the path of flowing water to temporarily hold the water back.
The project reduced water flooding, improved quality of water and reduced the nutrient content (fertilizer) from runoff.
Milt Rigetti of the Madrid Conservation Authority east of Moose Jaw said drainage works have improved the quality of water flowing into the Moose Jaw River
“The water from our land is 10 times better quality than what’s in the river,” said Rigetti.
On leaving the conference a retired farmer wondered who enforces the approvals and the conditions set by WSA. His question was answered the following day in a newspaper report on the Quill Lake drainage controversy when a WSA spokesman was quoted saying: “we can’t police every single piece of land.”
Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net
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