With above average rainfall comes flooding. With flooding comes farmers needing ways to get water off their fields.
Field drainage projects have not had new regulation since 1981 and flooding has been a big problem in Saskatchewan since 2011, sais Patrick Boyle with the Water Security Agency.
But the Saskatchewan government and the Water Security Agency announced on Sept. 1 that they are putting new regulations in place for all water drainage projects all across the province.
“We heard from many stakeholders across the province and those (old) regulations weren’t working for anyone,” Boyle said.
Boyle said that with heavy rainfall, you see the differences between a well-planned drainage project and an unplanned drainage project.
“Essentially, where you have someone who drains water off their land but doesn’t take into considerations the effects down stream, this moves the problem to their neighbour,” he said.
Under the old regulations, projects planned before 1981 were exempt from any regulation. Now the Water Security Agency wants to put all projects under the microscope to see what impact they have had in the past or will have if they are put in place.
“New regulations will require that all drainage projects be dealt with in the same manner because all these projects have similar impacts,” Boyle said. “Older projects that have not received approvals will have the same requirements to be in compliance than new ones.”
This will mean more sustainable water management for wetlands, says Scott Stephens with Ducks Unlimited, who works with cultivation staff in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
“The past several years and the challenges we’ve had with flooding and water quality issues from across the province,” he said. “Those are a clear sign that we need more sustainable management of drainage across the province.”
As well as increasing regulations on current and future projects, the new drainage program will see a streamlined process to make it easier for landowners and will have “qualified persons” who will take part in the drainage design process.
The persons available will be certified by the Water Security Agency.
In the 2014 Speech from the Throne, water security was one of the key issues addressed. Boyle said this is just the first step in the 25 years of water sustainability plan. Current regulations will take 10 years to implement.
