The Lower Souris River Watershed
Who are we?
Since 1999 a group of local rural municipalities and conservation groups in southeastern Saskatchewan have been developing watershed plans in conjunction with the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority. In partnership, the three local sub watershed committees; Four Creeks, Pipestone and, Antler Watershed Advisory Committees have formed a basin-wide organization know as the Lower Souris River Watershed Committee Inc. Now ten years into existence, the Lower Souris Watershed Committee works with our members, local municipalities, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and the residents of the Lower Souris Watershed. With them, we are working towards positive change of our local landscape.
The guiding principles of the Lower Souris River Watershed Committee Inc are reflected with in our mission statement; “Promoting economic, environmental and social balance to sustain and improve the watershed for future generations”.
What is a Watershed?
A watershed can be defined as the area of land that drains to a particular point. Each water body has its own watershed. Topography is the key element affecting this watershed area. The boundary of a watershed is defined by the highest elevations surrounding a low point.
The Lower Souris River Watershed is located in the south-eastern corner of Saskatchewan, bounded to the east by the province of Manitoba and to the south by the State of North Dakota. Ecologically, the Lower Souris River Watershed is predominantly located in an area known as Aspen Parkland. Undisturbed, the Aspen Parkland ecoregion is a mix of aspen groves and fescue grasslands and represents the zone of transition between open grasslands and continuous forest. Agriculture use has altered the landscape, with 80 percent of the area being cropland.
The Lower Souris River Watershed encompasses, in whole or in part, 20 rural municipalities, 19 urban municipalities, and three First Nation’s lands. The Lower Souris River Watershed includes the Antler River, Four Creeks, and Pipestone Creek watershed areas.
What do we do?
All members of our communities need to be aware that they have an impact on the environment surrounding them. Water quality and quantity are issues that concern all of us. We all enjoy abundant water for human consumption, livestock, agricultural use, as well as recreational activities such as swimming, boating and fishing. The everyday activities of a watershed’s residents can negatively impact both the quality and quantity of water. The Lower Souris Watershed Committee is working with all community members to reduce the detrimental environmental impacts of everyday activities through:
- Providing watershed education
- Restoring wetlands for water conservation
- Developing sustainable community water supplies
- Identifying and reducing surface and ground water threats
- Implementing beneficial management practices for agricultural producers
- Preserving and developing local fish habitat
- Engaging in research projects
- Monitoring of water quality