Part of Manitoba’s Climate and Green Plan, the $102-million Conservation Trust will fund activities that create, conserve, or enhance natural infrastructure in Manitoba.

A watershed moment — province funds Conservation Trust

When fully capitalized, the fund is expected to generate about $5 million a year for projects and environmental goods and services

The ink is now dry on Manitoba’s new Conservation Trust agreement, and groups looking to it to support new programs with it should submit letters of intent by January 15. The province signed its agreement December 11, putting in an initial $28-million contribution this month, towards making the $102-million trust it announced in last spring’s

A local councillor is concerned about the condition of culvert and bridge crossings, which in some cases are reaching the end of their life span with limited funding in place to upgrade them.

Western Manitoba conservation districts oppose merger

Province says TRWCD and IMCD must amalgamate, but can retain separate mandates

Municipal leaders opposed to merging two western-area conservation districts say the move won’t save a cent, and the new ‘super district’ to be created will cost more and not less to operate. Turtle River Watershed Conservation District (TRWCD) and Intermountain Conservation District (IMCD) met with provincial authorities last week to argue their case for not


Tile drainage template will aid municipalities

Tile drainage template will aid municipalities

The goal is to help municipalities better understand the issues for better outcomes

Municipalities in Manitoba now have a document they can use for guidance when integrating tile drainage into drainage bylaws. This is a newly released tile drainage bylaw template, a project led by the Red River Basin Commission and various partners to help local governments better understand this subsurface drainage system used by more and more

The Crown lands program needs to strike a balance between continuity for established producers and opening opportunities 
for new ones.

Livestock industry sweating the details on Crown land changes

Manitoba Beef Producers says Crown land changes are a step in the right direction, but the group still has a wish list before the first bids come in this fall

Livestock and forage growers already know the next round of Crown land allocation will look different, but how different is yet to be confirmed. The province took its tender-based Crown lands program to the industry this spring, with the promise that feedback would be considered before the program got its first stress test when 2019


Some new proposed initiatives will create a new model for the province.

New era beginning for conservation work, says MCDA chairman

Meetings held to talk over future boundary changes, new programming

It’s a new day for conservation efforts in Manitoba, according to the chair of the Manitoba Conservation Districts Association. Ray Frey, who’s also an executive member of the Little Saskatchewan Conservation District, says there are a number of new and proposed initiatives that are going to create a new paradigm in the province. There’s the

Local projects for multi-beneficial water management were cited by staff with Seine-Rat River Conservation District speaking at the 42nd annual Manitoba Conservation Districts Association convention in December.

CDs cite need for multi-benefit water control projects

Flood preparations alone won’t buy a litre of drought protection, 
say MCDA speakers


Will there be flooding? Will there be drought? Planning for both is essential to help ward off the financial hits these weather extremes bring, speakers at last month’s Manitoba Conservation Districts Association convention said. In the Seine-Rat River Conservation District (SRRCD) they’re looking at ways to be ready for whatever climate change brings, and to


Turtle Mountain Conservation District manager Yasmine Wruth takes tour members through a five-year-old bank stabilization project south of Deloraine June 28.

Turtle Mountain Conservation District puts its best foot forward

The Turtle Mountain Conservation District toured the public around some of its recent 
and long-standing projects as part of the biennial event

It was a once-in-two-year chance June 28 as participants lined up for a look behind the scenes of the Turtle Mountain Conservation District during the biennial bus tour. “We just wanted to focus on the Waskada Creek area,” district manager Yasmine Wruth said. “We couldn’t do the entire area, but we focused on the southern

A miniature watershed demonstrates how water sources are linked during the first Brandon water festival May 13.

Conservation district holds a water festival

Erosion, water patterns and pollution were among the themes explored at Brandon’s first water festival

Science beat out commerce in one corner of the Brandon Shoppers Mall May 13 as the Assiniboine Hills Conservation District hosted its first home water festival. Conservation district manager Neil Zalluski said the event focused on public awareness of conservation district operations, many of which are largely unknown to the general public. “The kids are


Multiple flooding events in the Assiniboine River basin the past several years have seen crops losses increase in many jurisdictions.

MCDA updated on progress of Aquanty project

Conservation districts could one day use the program to run water-based scenarios in their jurisdictions

It’s no crystal ball, but when a new computer modelling program now under development is complete, a much clearer picture how various flood and drought scenarios could impact the rural landscape will emerge. Delegates at last month’s Manitoba Conservation District Association annual convention heard more about how a new HydroGeoSphere model under construction will work

Conservation districts need to step up their visibility with the public said Open Farm Day
co-ordinator Wendy Bulloch, a speaker at the 41st annual meeting of the MCDA last week.

Snowstorm keeps many — but not all — away from 41st MCDA AGM

Strategic plan, funding needs were discussed and ideas exchanged during smaller-than-planned MCDA meeting in Brandon Dec. 6 to 8

A massive snowstorm kept away nearly half the delegates — about 160 — trying to travel to Brandon for the Manitoba Conservation District Association’s annual meeting, which was held from Dec. 6-8. Numerous speakers also cancelled, but that resulted in some delegates successfully coaxed into taking their place, giving the event a new local tone. MCDA