The provincial government reported "significant progress" in the Boreal Watershed Initiative March 1, a program to "address potential environmental concerns and to identify sustainable management practices in the region."
Explaining that he was "very pleased with the work that has been done in year one," Environment Minister Dustin Duncan described the program as one with "numerous sampling and monitoring projects to assess potential environmental issues regarding development in the boreal region."
The program sampled 227 northern lakes to identify acidification, monitored air quality at 11 different locations to identify potential acid rain, developed satellite remote sensing tools for enhanced monitoring of water quality and sampling soil at 110 locations to address the buffering capacity.
Inventories of historical monitoring and assessment data are being captured digitally, to make information readily available for decision making by the ministry and stakeholders. The inventories will also, according to the ministry, allow for First Nations and Métis expertise being used to assist in the data collection and identification of sensitive traditional knowledge and information.
The program lasts for five years, and the 2011 cost was nearly $1.6 million, with the province contributing $1 million. Additional funding was provided by Areva, a mining and nuclear energy company, Cameco, Environment Canada, the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority, Queen's University, the University of Alberta, University of Regina and University of Saskatchewan.
The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, a conservation-based NGO, released a statement "commending" the work done by the study, and praising the inclusion of traditional indigenous ecological knowledge, calling it "a valued and respected source of local knowledge."
But CPAWS Saskatchewan also expressed some concern with how the results would be used. While the data could be used to bolster conservation efforts, "it could also be used to allocate water usage to industry or in the construction of a dam."
CPAWS summarized their attitude by arguing that the initiative, if it leads to "increased protection of our threatened northern rivers, lakes, streams, wetlands" and the species who live there, will prove to be "a worthwhile endeavour."
If it "opens up the possibility of expanded industrial development in our boreal forests," then one should "question the intention of the study in the first place."
To view the study, go to http://www.gov.sk.ca/news?newsId=ad8a59db-632b-47a6-86ed-931ef665b3de.
