A portion of Oak Hammock Marsh, near Stonewall, today.

DOWN THE DRAIN: Manitoba’s wetlands a shadow of their former selves

It’ll take years to reverse the trend, but the effects will be cumulative

Manitoba farmers heading out to plant this spring can thank the likes of R.T. Riley for the fact that they have fields to work instead of swamps. Riley, best known today as one of the founders of the Great West Life Assurance company (now Canada Life), was the son of a prominent British businessman who

Eight municipalities join Manitoba watershed districts

Eight municipalities join Manitoba watershed districts

Watershed districts play key role in climate resiliency: Wharton

Eight municipalities have joined Manitoba’s Watershed Districts Program, bringing the membership to 111 out of a total 137 municipalities. “Manitoba Association of Watersheds is pleased to see further expansion of the Watershed Districts Program,” said Garry Wasylowski, board chair of the Manitoba Association of Watersheds, in a news release. “The importance of Manitoba’s 14 watershed


The money will be used to increase rotational grazing, cover cropping and nitrogen management.

Federal government funding sustainable agriculture

Projects targeted to help farmers adapt to climate change, reduce emissions

A $66-million funding announcement from Ottawa aims to target climate change. Member of Parliament Terry Duguid said climate change, and the resulting extreme weather events such as last year’s drought, underscore the need, while at a news conference March 17. “The extreme nature of these events is related to climate change,” Duguid said. The Manitoba

John Towle poses with his CWRA Distinguished Service Award Dec. 7 in Brandon.

Watershed association honours water architect with Distinguished Service Award

Faces of Ag: Water management fixture John Towle has joined the list of CWRA Distinguished Service Award recipients

It took some time for John Towle to get to the door after leaving the stage of the Manitoba Association of Watersheds awards banquet in early December. It seemed like every other person wanted to shake his hand. In his grip, Towle carried an inscribed paddle, the mark of his Distinguished Service Award, just presented

Val and Gordon Turner with their grandchildren.

Turner family recognized for conservation efforts

Though not active farmers, Val and Gordon Turner are keen stewards of their land

The Redboine Watershed District (RBWD) is recognizing Gordon and Val Turner for their impact on the landscape through water and soil conservation programs. “They are a very community-minded couple that has always been interested in conservation and nature,” said RBWD board member Reg Marginet. “They have been such a benefit to our district. We are pleased to


One of Al Ayotte’s three water retention dams.

Water retention projects show promise for drought protection

Funds from the MHHC-stewarded GROW trust has allowed watershed districts to ramp up water conservation projects

It was a simple equation for Al Ayotte. It was a dry 2020 summer, and water was seeping out of his sandy-soiled pasture into a drain and flowing off his property. “It doesn’t make sense, and it gets me mad,” he said. “Let’s go reverse. Let’s pile up some water and let the water go

It’s not just a pretty sight, a natural landscape also benefits everyone.

What’s the value of our natural landscapes?

Taking care of the environment isn’t free and should be compensated

If you have looked around your local countryside, you may have noticed that we are losing our trees. This is considered progress as we are developing more arable land to grow more food which makes our farms more profitable. But on the other side of the coin, we need the benefits that natural landscapes provide

Seymour named watersheds builder

Annual award from Manitoba Association of Watersheds recognizes outstanding contributions

Murray Seymour has been awarded the 2020 Watershed District Builder Award. The annual award “… recognizes the outstanding contributions of individuals directly associated with the growth and success of watershed districts in Manitoba.” Seymour was named this year’s recipient during the Manitoba Association of Watershed Districts virtual conference, held Dec. 8. “My greatest reward was being chair of


Premier Brian Pallister and Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Minister Blaine Pedersen visited several GROW (Growing Outcomes in Watersheds) projects July 22, including this one near Souris. The pothole in the background usually floods, drowning the crop and wasting the farmer’s investment in inputs. Now the farmer is getting an annual payment not to seed those temporary wetlands and he will seed them to water-tolerant forages and harvest the hay. Yasmin Keeler (l), co-manager, Souris River Watershed District (SRWD), Doyle Piwniuk, MLA for Turtle Mountain, Premier Brian Pallister, Lloyd Atcheson, chair SRWD, Dean Brooker, co-manager SRWD, and Blaine Pedersen, Manitoba agriculture and resources minister.

Manitoba government-funded trust leverages millions for watershed projects

The Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation has announced $5.6 million in funding for new conservation projects under the Growing Outcomes in Watersheds (GROW) Trust and the Conservation Trust. The trusts, set up by the Manitoba government, will help fund watershed programs to improve the environment and assist farmers in perpetuity. And as hoped, when the trust

Construction of a dam and water retention project at Swan Lake First Nation.

Living Labs projects wrap up first year

Going into the second year of the project, impacts already being felt

Despite a slow start, the teams behind the Living Labs — Eastern Prairies are diving into field research, says a newsletter from Manitoba Watersheds. “There have been some recent challenges with the weather and COVID-19, which have slowed us from getting into the field,” wrote researcher John Fitzmaurice in Manitoba Watersheds’ spring newsletter. “I can assure you that we