Pipe manufacturer back with previous Manitoba owner
Manitoba’s general farm organization was expecting rules that would let farmers manage water better and help protect wetlands
Project would map waterways, aid Saskatchewan cross-border drainage issues
Landowners say some municipalities are bending the rules when it comes to water management and the provincial government is turning a blind eye. Concerns are boiling over into the courts as the province considers off-loading the responsibility for drainage licensing onto municipalities
One farmer says he is successfully using excess water to irrigate crops instead of pushing downstream on others
The draft regulations aim to reduce red tape and wait times, while increasing protection for wetlands
The goal is to help municipalities better understand the issues for better outcomes
The Manitoba government passes its Sustainable Watersheds Act to co-ordinate programs and policy in water management
The Manitoba government has adopted a carrot-and-stick approach to addressing an issue that has divided neighbours and cost the provincial economy billions due to flooding and reduced water quality. Fines for breaking the rules will rise sharply, but incentives for protecting key wetlands are being developed, and the approval process for low-impact drainage projects will be streamlined.
2,000 Hectares That’s how much wetland Manitoba loses every year to drainage. The new law specifies no net loss of “wetland benefits.” Source: Manitoba government $748 Million Protecting key wetlands would prevent 1,000 tonnes of P and 55,000 tonnes of N from entering lakes and waterways annually. The estimated saving on removal using existing technology:
Ag Days speakers emphasize there’s no one-size-fits-all tile drainage system for Manitoba
About 160 acres have been converted back to wetland after the landowners farming it saw more advantage using the acres to hold water than farming it at a loss
With roots going back to 1925, each weekly issue of the Manitoba Co-operator contains production, marketing and policy news selected for relevance to crops and livestock producers in Manitoba.
