Available Programs

Farm Stewardship Program(FSP)

Provides eligible Saskatchewan producers with financial assistance to implement Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs) on their farm to help maintain or improve water, soil, air and biodiversity resources. If you are a landowner concerned about water quality protection within the Lower Souris River Watershed, contact our office at (306) 452-3292 or speak with our Group Plan Advisor, Karmen Kyle at (306) 452-7935. Karmen can assist you to identify and address surface water quality concerns on your farm.

Farm and Ranch Water Infrastructure Program (FRWIP)

FRWIP supports secure water supplies in Saskatchewan. Funds are available for projects designed to expand irrigated acres, grow the livestock industry, encourage rural economic activity, and mitigate the impact of drought. FRWIP provides eligible Saskatchewan producers, non-district irrigators, value-added agricultural businesses and First Nations bands financial and technical assistance to secure water supplies for agricultural use.

Projects include:

  • Small & large diameter on-farm wells
  • Shallow buried pasture pipelines
  • Deep buried pipelines
  • Deep buried pipelines that connect to an established municipal water source
  • Dugouts and dugout expansions (at least 1/3 size increase)
  • Relocation of existing livestock water systems for environmental purposes
  • Protecting existing wells
  • Decommissioning abandoned water wells

Forage Conversions

Are you an agricultural producer and are considering seeding forages on your farm? The LSWC can help you to access cost-share funding to assist with forage seed and establishment costs, obtain imagery and help with species selection.

Wetland Restoration

The LSWC can assist you to restore previously drained wetlands on your farm. Properly placed ditch plugs can help to restore wetlands to their natural function. $2000 dollars per wetland acre restored may be available to you. Contact the LSWC for more information.

Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS)

Aquatic invasive species (AIS) threaten aquatic habitats, fisheries and valuable recreational resources. They can spread through water or by attaching to watercraft, related equipment and gear, and aquatic plants. You can help stop the spread by remembering to practice: CLEAN, DRAIN, DRY! The LSWC works with partners to educate watershed residents and implement an aquatic invasive monitoring program in the watershed throughout the summer.

Agricultural Drainage

The LSWC is available to provide guidance and assistance to Watershed residents with the new Saskatchewan’s New Approach to Agricultural Water Management. We can help you find the right technical specialists, answer questions, and assist with the application process.

Source Water Protection Plans (SWPP)

By taking steps to protect our water resources, we not only help ourselves, but our communities. Source water protection is any activity that helps to protect source water from contamination. Developing a plan is a 5 stage approach designed to ensure a clean, dependable water supply into the future. The LSWC can assist small Towns, Villages, and First Nations Reserves to develop Source Water Protection Plans for their communities. Contact the LSWC office for more info.

Ag Plastic Recycling

The LSWC promotes Ag Plastics Recycling throughout the watershed. A collection site has been set up at Wawota. This site provides watershed residents a location to drop off grain bags and silage plastic (rolled), as well as twine and netwrap to be recycled. Contact the office to set up drop off times. The LSWC also owns a grain bag roller for residents of the watershed to use FREE OF CHARGE. It is stored in Wawota. Call the LSWC office to schedule a time to pick it up. Thank you to the Town of Wawota, RM of Walpole, and Simply Ag for their collaboration.

Water Sampling

For the past 3 years, the LSWC has worked with Ducks Unlimited Canada to collect water samples throughout our watershed. We have 3 sample sites within the watershed, the Lightning Creek, the Antler River, and the Pipestone Creek. DUC released a draft report in April of 2018, linked here.

The Lower Souris River Watershed actively promotes beneficial management practices (BMPs) throughout the Watershed through workshops, tours, and on-farm visits.  BMPs are implemented to improve the quality of local land and water resources, while sustaining or improving the economic integrity of  agricultural enterprises.  BMPs can be implemented in cropland management, grazing systems, intensive livestock operations, proper water well decommissioning, and water management.  Some examples of BMPs include:

Cropland Management

  • Seeding buffer strips around wetlands to maintain or improve the health
    of ground water sources
  • Forage establishment to reduce soil erosion, increase water absorption,
    and reduce soil disturbance
  • Extended crop rotations by including legumes resulting in improved soil
    fertility and stability
  • Practicing conservation fallow which reduces operating and labour costs
    and increases water retention, wildlife habitat, and farm revenues


Grazing Management

  • Promote rotational grazing by cross fencing into paddocks to facilitate a
    rest-rotation grazing system
  • Providing off site water sources for livestock via shallow buried pipeline,
    solar pumps, nose pumps and many new and innovative watering
    systems
  • Native rangeland restoration and re-establishment
  • Improved waterway crossings
  • Strategic placement of salt/minerals away from water sources to
    encourage uniform livestock distribution

Intensive Livestock Operations

  • Development of vegetative buffer strips to help filter and absorb pollutants
  • Relocate corral systems away from ground water sources
  • Divert and contain runoff from entering natural waterways
Research Projects
 
The Lower Souris River Watershed also actively engages themselves in various research projects that explore various land use practices and the associated impacts on water quantity a quality.  Recently we have completed a 2 year pilot project that was designed to explore the effects that various policy tools and recommendations would have on accomplishing locally determined landscape targets towards provision of acres for wildlife habitat.  Please feel free to check out the various project reports for further details.  
 
The FINAL PAPER is a great overview of the entire project and is available in both English and French.