The Lake Winnipeg Basin Stewardship Fund

The Lake Winnipeg Basin Stewardship Fund provides financial and technical support on projects or activities having concrete, demonstrable results to reduce pollutants, and in particular, nutrient loads entering Lake Winnipeg. Round 7 projects, detailed below, represent the most recent projects to receive approval for funding.

Environment Canada administers the Fund with support from a Technical Review committee and a Public Advisory Committee.

Project Name: Bow River Phosphorus Management Plan Implementation: Floating Island Pilot Project Project Recipient: Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development Environment Canada Contribution: $100,000 Description: The Bow River Phosphorus Management Plan (BRPMP) seeks to reduce phosphorus per capita from mechanical wastewater treatment plants and lagoons. This project will support the installation and testing of the BioHaven Floating Treatment Wetland in pilot lagoons within the watershed. If expected results are achieved, levels of phosphorus in wastewater effluent being discharged to the Bow River will be greatly reduced.

Project Name: Riparian Health Improvements Through Grazing Management Improvements Project Recipient: Cows and Fish (Alberta Riparian Habitat Management Society) Environment Canada Contribution: $78,900 Description: This project aims to improve the grazing management practices of cattle producers in the Oldman River and Battle River watersheds. The project is a mix of educational and stewardship activities, designed to increase knowledge, while developing detailed grazing management plans and implementation strategies. Riparian health assessments will be used to identify issues and determine the solutions required. The installation of exclusion fencing, alternative watering systems and the planting of native trees and shrubs are among the Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs) to be implemented.

Project Name: Moose Jaw River Integrated Excessive Water Management Plan Project Recipient: Moose Jaw River Watershed Stewards Inc. Environment Canada Contribution: $45,000 Description: This project will implement beneficial management practices (BMPs) such as buffer strips, alternative water systems and livestock exclusion fencing. Six projects will be showcased through stakeholder meetings and newsletters as examples for local producers. Hydrology reports will be developed for approximately five sub watersheds and consultations with stakeholders will be conducted in order to develop an Excessive Water Management Plan for the Moose Jaw River watershed.

Project Name: Promotion of Buffer Strips and Riparian Area Health Assessments for Agricultural Land within the Carrot River Watershed Area Project Recipient: Carrot River Valley Watershed Association Environment Canada Contribution: $4,000 Description: This project will deliver riparian area awareness workshops and educational materials to the residents of the Carrot River Watershed. Riparian Health Assessments will be utilized to identify areas that are stressed and determine solutions for problem areas within the watershed. Newsletters, brochures and workshops will be used to highlight the importance of riparian area health, riparian area health assessments and the usage of buffer strips.

Project Name: Turtle Mountain Conservation District Ecological Goods and Services Program Phase 1 Project Recipient: Turtle Mountain Conservation District Environment Canada Contribution: $41,000 Description: Phase 1 of the Ecological Goods and Services Program will create an inventory of drains, wetlands (Class 2-5), and water storage areas that are present within the Elgin Creek-Whitewater Lake sub-watershed. A series of workshops will be held to assist with information gathering and to promote the Ecological Goods and Services Program concept. The information gathered in Phase 1 will be analyzed to determine the feasibility of moving forward with the Ecological Goods and Services program.

Project Name: Cattle and Creeks: Local Solutions Toward Basin Results Project Recipient: Upper Assiniboine River Conservation District Environment Canada Contribution: $25,000 Description: The primary objective of this project is to restrict the access of livestock along the tributaries of the Assiniboine River and as a result protect stream banks and improve water quality. Key elements of this project include the installation of riparian fencing and alternate watering systems, as well as the development of pasture management plans. Pre and post assessments of each project site will be completed and implementation plans will be developed to monitor progress.

Project Name: Reducing and Utilizing Nutrients in Tobacco Creek Model Watershed Project Recipient: Deerwood Soil and Water Management Association Environment Canada Contribution: $90,000 Description: This project will construct and evaluate a consolidated network of water retention structures throughout the Tobacco Creek Model Watershed. The structures will create, preserve and conserve a minimum of 30 acres of wetlands and are designed to retain nutrients and limit spring runoff to reduce downstream flooding. Modified and existing designs of small dams, retention ponds, wetlands and ditches will be evaluated for flood control, nutrient remediation and farmer acceptance.

Project Name: South Central Eco Institute Project Recipient: South Central Eco Institute Environment Canada Contribution: $27,000 Description: The South Central Eco Institute (SCEI) is a data collection program that provides students with the opportunity to work with Conservation District partners in the research and monitoring of a variety of phosphorus reduction and overall watershed improvement projects. SCEI represents a network of partnerships between the academic community, community development representatives, conservation districts and eco-environmental agencies. Each Spring and Fall, students and staff are provided with the training and equipment necessary to collect water quality data.

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The Lake Winnipeg Basin Stewardship Fund