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MANAGING SASKATCHEWAN WETLANDSA Landowner’s Guide
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Managing Saskatchewan Wetlands ~ A Landowner‘s Guide by Denis Huel
© Saskatchewan Wetland Conservation Corporation, 2000
Authors and ContributionsDenis Huel - Author, Tracy Harrison - Case Study Author,
Contributions from: Al Foster, Noorjahan Pawana
AcknowledgementsThe development and production of this guide was made possible through thefinancial support of Ducks Unlimited Canada, Sask Water and the following
organizations through the Saskatchewan Prairie Shores program:California Waterfowl Association, The Nature Conservancy (U.S.), the Nebraska
Game and Parks Commission, the North American Wetlands ConservationCouncil, Pheasants Forever Inc., the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency,Wildlife Habitat Canada, and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
We gratefully acknowledge the work of the steering committee in directing thisguide from concept to production: Tom Harrison, Bob MacFarlane,
Sharon Metz, John Trevor, Brad Uhrich.
Landowner ReviewWe appreciate the helpful comments and suggestions
of landowners who reviewed this document.Wallace Brewer, Gordon Friesen, Felix & Bernice Juzynier, Christine Larson,
Fred & Margie MacKow, Danny Mikkonen, Clem Millar, Ken Mitchell, Jim Moore,Ernie Oblander, Stacy Oliver, Ted Perrin, Floyd Peterson, Connie Rothlander,
Grant & Julie Rourke.
Technical ReviewThank you to the many reviewers of this guide:
Bill Chappell, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Betty Collins, Sask Water,Ed Dean, Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management,
Chuck Deschamps, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Dr. Dave Duncan, CanadianWildlife Service, Don Fontaine, Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food,
Al Foster, Grazing and Pasture Technology Program,Mark Kornder, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Terry Kowalchuk, Prairie FarmRehabilitation Administration, Patrick Lang, Ducks Unlimited Canada,
Greg Riemer, Saskatchewan Wetland Conservation Corporation and Jeff Thorpe, Saskatchewan Research Council.
Thanks to the staff at the Saskatchewan Wetland Conservation Corporationfor their efforts in the development, editing and production of this guide.
ISBN: #1- 896793 -26 -6Published by Saskatchewan Wetland Conservation Corporation
Room 101 - 2022 Cornwall Street Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 2K5
Tel: (306)787- 0726 Fax (306)787-0780web site: www.wetland.sk.ca
Design /Illustration: Chris Jordison, Coventry Design StudioPrinting: Houghton Boston, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Printed in Canada 6m 03/2000
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Who is this guide for ?
This guide has been produced for Saskatchewan landownerswhose property contains wetlands.Wetlands were once regardedas wastelands, however, there is currently a growing awarenessand recognition of the value of wetlands to landowners andsociety in general.
Saskatchewan’s agricultural producers are the largest group ofprairie region landowners.Together, as stewards of soil and waterresources, they are responsible for managing an estimated 1.5 million wetlands covering 1.7 million hectares (4.2 millionacres).
The intent of this guide is to:
• promote an understanding and appreciation of the value of Saskatchewan wetlands;
• foster sustainable management of prairie land and water resources; and
• provide practical information to landowners on wetland management issues.
When viewed in the context of our climate and geological history, it is evident that prairie wetlands are integral and irreplaceable parts of the Saskatchewan landscape.The challenge is to find a place for these wetlands in our social,economic and land-use systems - a place where their protectionand conservation is assured by their inherent value. It is hopedthat this guide will assist Saskatchewan landowners in theimportant task of managing this valuable resource.
Managing Saskatchewan Wetlands ~ A Landowner’s Guide
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Part 1. Saskatchewan Wetlands
Introduction ...................................................4
What are Wetlands? ........................................4
Wetlands: More than just water .....................5
Wetlands, Glaciers and the Origin of theSaskatchewan Landscape ...............................6Prairie Pothole Region .................................8The Missouri Coteau.....................................9
Saskatchewan’s Wetland Resources
Wetland Numbers and Size ..........................10
Wetland Dynamics .......................................10
Wetland Types ..............................................11
Wetland Plant Communities ........................13A Typical Prairie Wetland ...........................14Wetland Margins ........................................16
Wetland Functions .......................................16 Prairie Water Cycle .....................................18 The Value of Water .....................................20
Wetlands and Agriculture ............................ 20
Wetlands for Wildlife ................................... 22
Part 2. Developing a Wetland Management Plan ............................. 28
Step 1. A Wetland Inventory ......................29Step 2. Defining Values, Objectives
and Goals ...................................... 36Step 3. Managing Your Farm or Ranch
in Pothole Country........................36
Grazing Management and Wetlands .............36i) Stocking Rates and Carryover..................... 39ii) Alternative Watering Sites ..........................40iii) Rest ........................................................43iv) Deferred Grazing .....................................43v) Wetlands and Grazing Rotations ............. 45
Managing Saskatchewan Wetlands ~ A Landowner’s Guide
Converting Croplands to Forages ................46Management of Annual Crops and Wetlands....46
i) Buffer Strip and Interpothole Seeding .........46ii) Maintaining Seasonal or TemporaryWetlands..48iii) Conservation Tillage .................................48iv) Winter Cereals .........................................48v) Seeding Erosion Prone or Salt Affected Soil ..... 50
Wetland Drainage ........................................ 50
Managing for Wildlife ...................................52
Restoring or Creating Wetlands ................... 56
Step 4. Monitoring and Evaluating............ 58
Part 3. Conserving Wetlands for Future Generations....................................... 58
References ................................................... 59
Appendices .................................................. 61
Table of Contents
Table of Contents of Case StudiesFarmers and Ranchers at Work
A Lifestyle Shaped by the Land ......................7
Wetland Wildlife - The Piping Plover ............12
Beaver...Whose Habitat is it?.... ....................24
Nature’s Classroom ......................................26
Elfros Grazing Coop .....................................37
Livestock Watering Systems ..........................41
Crystal Springs Pasture ................................43
A Changing Landscape.................................47
Seeding Straight ...........................................49
Flushing Bar Saves Wildlife........................... 54
A Prairie Oasis...............................................56
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INTRODUCTIONPrairie wetlands. Gems of blue water sparklingin the summer sun. Commonly known as potholes, sloughs and marshes,wetlands are important and distinctive features of the Saskatchewan landscape. Eachspring after a long winter, prairie wetlands,refreshed with new supplies of water,virtually explode with life. Shorebirds, ducks,coots, gulls, and dozens of other bird species,return after months of absence to the wetlands where they will spend the summerand rear their young. Frogs silenced by thecold and snow once again sing their nightlychorus.While drought and winter may temporarily halt the symphony, it alwaysreturns, a never-ending drama repeated yearafter year.This is the cycle of a prairie wetland, a cycle of water and of life.
WHAT ARE WETLANDS?Wetlands by definition are lands that are wet.They are low-lying areas covered by wateroften enough to promote and support thegrowth of aquatic plants and animals for partof their life cycle.They can be identified by their distinctive plant communities and soilswhich are the result of periodic or continuedflooding. Included as part of a functional wetland are the transitional vegetative zoneswhich separate the wetland from adjacent uplands.
Marsh area - Meacham, Sk.
Yellowheaded Blackbird in cattails.
PART 1. SASKATCHEWAN WETLANDSSa
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WETLANDS: MORE THAN JUST WATERAlthough water is the defining feature,wetlands are much more than just water.Prairie wetlands are dynamic, functioningecosystems.
As sources of water, forage, recreation, andwildlife habitat, Saskatchewan wetlands provide valuable benefits to landowners andsociety. Saskatchewan wetlands are vital components of complex and interconnectedsystems of surface, ground, and atmosphericwater movements.
Wetlands are home to a rich array of plants,animals, birds, aquatic invertebrates, insects,fish,and other creatures. As well, they providehabitat links for migratory birds.
Wetlands and their inhabitants have been partof the prairie landscape since its creation.Together they are all part of the same system,events, and processes that produced the richand productive landscape we live in today.
Haying operation beside marsh.
High bird use of marsh near Kandahar-Quill Lakes.
Grazing of uplands adjacent to wetlands.
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WETLANDS, GLACIERS AND THE ORIGINOF THE SASKATCHEWAN LANDSCAPE Saskatchewan’s landscape has its origins inthe great sheets of ice that once covered theprovince.The combined action of the ice andwater that was left behind as glaciers melted,created the landscape we see today. Acrossthe province, the abundance, distribution,shape, and size of prairie wetlands has beenlargely determined by the characteristics ofthis glacial landscape.
Four times in the last several million years,huge glaciers, sometimes a mile or morethick, advanced from the north, covering theland, grinding, crushing, and obliterating all intheir path.The last wave of glaciers begantheir retreat from the southern part of theprovince only 14,000 - 15,000 years ago.
Acting like huge conveyorbelts, the glaciers left in theirwake thick deposits of soil androck debris.Water from themelting ice formed large glacial lakes. Meltwater rushinginto the lakes carried enormous amounts of rock andsoil.The coarser materials likesand and gravel quickly settledout upon reaching the waterbut the finer silts and clayswere carried far out wherethey slowly settled, blanketingthe lake bottom. Eventually thewater drained as the iceretreated northward.These glacial lake bedswith their level topography and clayey soilsform the highest quality agricultural soils.These beds cover more thanhalf the land surface of the prairie regions ofSaskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta. Most ofthe remaining regions were largely unaffectedby the glacial lakes.These areas, termedmoraines, are covered by gently to steeplyrolling hills pitted with depressions. Duringperiods of slow glacial retreat, gently rollingterrain was formed, while steeply rolling hillsare the result of temporary halts in the retreat
of the glaciers. Large chunks of ice buried inthe newly deposited soil subsequently meltedproducing depressions. Moraines lack consolidated drainage systems and consist ofnumerous small independent drainage basinseach receiving local run-off.
Moraines are characterized by high numbersof small-and medium-size wetlands or potholes.
Although highly variable, moraines averagenearly 20 wetlands per square kilometer, withsome areas having over twice that number.In contrast, the old glacial lake beds averageonly five wetlands per square kilometer, witha greater tendency for wetlands to be linkedas part of regional drainage systems.
Moraines are rolling landscapes dotted with wetlands.
Farming flatlands of glacial lake bottoms.
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Ted Perrin of Beechy, Sk.
Case study: A Lifestyle Shaped by the Land
Among the ‘Sunken hills and Sandcastles’along the edge of the South SaskatchewanRiver,Ted and Olive Perrin have carved alifestyle out of the landscape. South of Beechy,a small town on the northern fringe of theMissouri Coteau, the Perrins ranch 25,000acres with their children, Pam and NeilDanroth and Shannon and Reg Schellenberg.
While a ranch of this size may seem unusualin a province known for its flat plains andwheat production, the Perrins will tell you itslocation is ideal for raising cattle.
The summer range on the uplands is a waveof rolling hills pitted with pockets of waterknown as prairie jewels.The winter range,which is closer to home, is cradled by the valley bottom. In the coulees and draws ofthese riverbreaks, cattle seek refuge fromprairie winds and forage on the native grasseswhich have been left untouched all summer.
From the lip of the valley above the ranch,peaked towers of a sandstone ridge overlookthe waters of Bearpaw Bend.At a heightreaching up to 75 feet high, these formationshave been a longtime source of intrigue forranchers and tourists alike.
“It’s been named ‘Sandcastles’ for as long as Ican remember,” said Ted, noting a portion ofthe ranch is named ‘Castleland.’
With roots planted in a family history forgedby the landscape,Ted is familiar with the man-agement practices which in turn have shapedthe ranch.
“My uncle, Pete Perrin bought the place in1943 and it was set up as the Perrin RanchingCompany,”he said, noting the owner beforehim founded the ranch because the land wastoo marginal for crop production.
“It’s the only homestead that I know of thatwas never farmed.The homestead inspectortold him it wasn’t worth farming because itwas too sandy. But if he ‘proved it up’ with cat-tle, he would help him get some leaseto go with it,” said Ted.
Located near the Matador CommunityPasture, which is a remainder of theoriginal Matador Ranch which extended fromTexas to the Northern Great Plains, the Perrinranch shares a unique history in the cattle
industry. In a similar fashion, cattle were herd-ed to utilize the grass.
“Forty years ago we would take them to thefirst pasture - then they would go to the nextone and then they would end up at the buildings for branding,” said Ted, noting theimportance of maintaining a summer andwinter range.
“The winter range has always been a winterpasture because of the shelter and the type ofgrass.The cattle might have only been in therein the summer two or three years out of thelast 100 years,” said Ted.
Equally important,Ted said management ofthe summer range included special consideration for the distribution of cattle. Forexample, several methods were used to lurelivestock into a particular area that was notbeing grazed.
“It was high country but we did put a dugoutup there.When the grass dried up in October,we also set up a molasses tank.That’s how weutilized the grass,”he said.
But like any progressive operation, the PerrinRanch has been constantly evolving.Whilecommon sense and a hard day’s work are theroot of its success - the adoption of new man-agement techniques are the key to itsfuture. By implementing a rotational grazingsystem, developing watering sites andmanaging their stocking rates, the Perrinshope to preserve the tradition of ranching onthe prairies for the next generation.
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PRAIRIE POTHOLE REGIONSaskatchewan is prairie pothole country.Covering nearly 800,000 km2, the prairie pothole region is composed of theglaciated portions offive U.S. states andsouthern parts ofthe three prairieprovinces. InSaskatchewan, itincludes boththe AspenParkland andMixed GrasslandEcoregions, theagricultural areasof the province.
A unique combination of climate and geological history
has combined to make the prairie potholeregion among the most productive
waterfowl habitats on the continent. However, theregion with its fertile soils,
suitable climate, andlack of major
physical barriers tocultivation has been
greatly transformed sincethe time of European
settlement.Today most of theregion has been converted
to agricultural production with littleof the land remaining
unaltered by human activities.
A typical prairie landscape of Saskatchewan.
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Scattered along the Coteau are areas of steephilly uplands bearing names such as the Dirt,Cactus, Bear, and Eagle Hills.These hills wereformed when the glacier retreat stalled for ageological moment, depositing deep layers of
crushed rock and soil.
The Missouri Coteauwith its rolling hills,
high density of wetlands, and large tracts of native grassland providesnearly ideal waterfowlnesting habitat.Theregion is especiallyimportant to duckslike the northernpintail which prefer tonest in the relativelyshort vegetation ofnative prairie.
MISSOURI COTEAUAngling across the southern part of theprovince from south central to west centralrises the Missouri Coteau.The MissouriCoteau, is a long, broad, slope or escarpmentthat marks the border between the Saskatchewan and Alberta Plains, two ancientlandscapes.The Alberta orhigh plains stretch fromthe coteau region, west tothe Rocky Mountains,forms most of the southwestern and west centralportions of the province.The Saskatchewan plainforms the bulk of theprovince’s agriculturalregion from east of theCoteau to the Manitobaescarpment situatedapproximately at theManitoba border.
Rolling hills are common in theMissouri Coteau.
Pintail hen and drake.
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roots, rhizomes, bulbs, long-lived seeds or theyhave seeds that easily spread from remainingwetlands.Wetland plant communities can quickly develop in wetlandbasins, returning with the water after years ofdrought.
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SASKATCHEWAN’S WETLAND RESOURCES
WETLAND NUMBERS AND SIZEEleven percent of Canada’s wetlands are present in Saskatchewan.Although wetlandnumbers and size change with the climate, itis estimated there are about 1.5 million wetlands covering 1.7 million hectares (4.2million acres) in the agricultural region of theprovince.While plentiful in number, mostSaskatchewan wetlands are small. Over 80percent of the province’s wetlands cover lessthan one hectare and less than one quarter ofone percent of Saskatchewan wetlands aregreater than 50 hectares in size.
Unfortunately, prairie wetlands are a diminishing resource, facing serious threatsfrom drainage and degradation. Since the timeof settlement, it has been estimated thatSaskatchewan has lost 40 percent of its wetlands and half of those remaining arethreatened.
WETLAND DYNAMICSPrairie wetlands evolved under a regime offluctuating water levels.Although snowaccounts for only 25 percent of precipitation,snow-melt can provide over 50 percent ofrun-off.As a result, water levels in wetlandstypically peak in the spring and declinethroughout the summer. In addition to seasonal fluctuations, water supplies to wetlands vary greatly from year to year.Years of drought might dry up all but the largestwetlands while heavy snow and rain can fillpotholes and sloughs to the brim.
Rather than being destructive, this cycle offlooding and drying stimulates wetland seedgermination.Wetland productivity is promoted when nutrients bound in soils anddead plants are then released. Because of thecyclical nature of precipitation and wetlandwater levels, most plants growing inSaskatchewan wetlands are adapted to periodic drought.They survive unfavourableclimatic periods as persistent underground
Cattails trap snow in wetland areas.
In highly cultivated landscapes, wetlands may be theonly areas covered by permanent vegetation.
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WETLAND TYPESSeveral types of wetlands are recognizedbased on water conditions and vegetation.Temporary, seasonal, and permanent wetlandsare distinguished by the time they normallycontain surface water.Temporary wetlands areflooded for a short time in the spring or afterheavy precipitation. Seasonal wetlands normally have water present until mid-summer, while permanent wetlands areflooded year-round, except during extremedroughts. Because vegetation reflects averagelong-term water conditions,plant communitiescan be used to identify wetland types.
While wetland number and distribution isdetermined mainly by the physical characteristics of the landscape, climatic conditions have a greater influence on wetland type. Precipitation and evaporationinteracting with the size and nature of thedrainage basin determine water depth,permanency, and vegetation.
Semi- permanent marsh dominated by green smartweed.
Seasonal or temporary wetland in the Missouri Coteau.
Permanent wetlands with emergent bulrushes and willows.
Semi - permanent wetland dominated by sedges.
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Wetland Wildlife - the Piping Plover
The Piping Plover is one of many uniquespecies of wildlife which depends onSaskatchewan wetlands for survival.
A migratory shorebird, the piping plover,prefers to nest in the alkali shorelines of salinewater bodies such as Big Quill Lake in centralSaskatchewan.This lake,which is recognized asa Western Hemisphere Shorebird ReserveNetwork (WHSRN) site, encompasses a total of24,000 hectares (58,000 acres) including thesurrounding mud flats.
These mud flats,pebbled beaches and barepatches of ground provide attractive habitat forthe Piping Plover enabling it to remain wellhidden.A short, stocky bird with a black bandaround its neck and a band between its eyes - it has a light brown to grey colored backwhich helps it blend in with its surroundings.Likewise, it has darkly speckled,cream coloredeggs which are difficult to distinguish from thepiping plover’s pebbled nest.
Despite its remarkable camouflage, this speciesfaces many challenges to survive. Predation is asignificant problem for these birds.Wherewater levels change nests are at risk to flooding.On the shores of Lake Diefenbakernests can be lost when water levels start torise in the spring. Small chicks may have difficulty getting out of holes left in the mud bylarge animals.On a global scale,habitat isthreatened by the increasing pressures ofdevelopment.
In 1985, the piping plover was declared anendangered species in Canada. In 1996, it wasestimated to have a world population of lessthan 6,000 adults. Five per cent of these birdscan be found in the Quill Lakes region.
Through the combined effort of land mangersand conservation agencies,management practices have been developed to provide habi-tat benefits for the piping plover.
Saline wetlands may have gravelly, white beaches.Species commonly found here include saltgrass andNuttall’s alkali grass.
A nesting Piping Plover - an endangered species.
SALINE WETLANDSAnother special type of wetland is the salinewetland. Saskatchewan has substantial numbers of saline wetlands which are easilyidentified by the presence of extensive saltdeposits on the soil surface and distinctiveplant communities. Saline wetlands develop inbasins where water enters the wetland viagroundwater seepage and surface flow. Inthese basins, water can only leave throughevaporation. Over time, dissolved salts, mainlysodium and magnesium sulfate, that are present in the water entering the wetland areconcentrated and deposited on the soil surface.
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Many prairie wetlands, especially in the parkland region, are surrounded by a borderof shrubs, mainly willows. Grasses and sedgesare important components of the vegetationin temporary and seasonal wetlands as well asthe outer zones of permanent wetlands.Sedges are grass-like plants that are readily dis-tinguished from true grasses by having stemsthat are solid and triangular in cross-section. Cattails and bulrushes have special adaptations to transport oxygen fromthe air to their roots enabling them to grow incontinually flooded but shallow water areas.They can be found in borders of more perma-nent wetlands. Plants which float on thewater surface or grow submerged in thewater are found in deeper areas of permanentwetlands.
In saline wetlands, high levels of salt make itdifficult for plants to obtain water from thesoil. Plants that are adapted to these conditions are able to remove moisture fromthe soil without absorbing toxic amounts ofsalt. Species vary in their ability to toleratesalt, separating them into different areas of thewetland. Salt concentrations usually increasetoward the center of the wetland where onlythe most salt-tolerant species may survive.Often plants are restricted to the less salineouter areas.
WETLAND PLANT COMMUNITIES Saskatchewan wetlands contain a wide variety of plant species. Not only does wetland vegetation provide forage forlivestock, and cover and food for wildlife, italso protects soils and shorelines from erosion and filters out nutrients and residuesto improve water quality.
Rather than a random mixture of plants,wetland vegetation is ordered according tothe varying environmental conditions present. Individual species’ tolerance to flooding, drought, and salinity separates theminto specific habitats and locations within thewetland.
A typical Saskatchewan wetland mightcontain a variety of habitats.Water levels andflooding increase as one moves from theuplands to the deepest central portions of thewetland basin. Plant communities change inresponse to this gradient.This results in bandsor zones of similar vegetation which surround a wetland, from an outer transitionarea to deeper water in the center.Vegetationin small, shallow, temporary, or seasonal wetlands is usually similar to vegetationoccurring in similar moisture conditionsaround permanent wetlands. Large,permanent wetlands might contain the entirerange of plants normally found growing insmall wetlands.
Vegetative zones in a prairie wetland
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A TYPICAL PRAIRIE WETLAND
Wetland Zones
Wet MeadowThe outermost and driest wetland zone. Flooding occurs fora short time in spring, much like a temporary wetland.Common plants include northern reedgrass, sedges, wildmint and dock. In the aspen parkland, willows are commonin this zone.
Shallow marshNormally flooded until summer.Coincides with deepest partof seasonal wetlands.Vegetation includes a mixture ofsedges, Baltic rush, spike rush, sloughgrass, whitetop, marshsmartweed, water - plantain and water - parsnip.
Deep marshFlooded with shallow water from spring to fall.Vegetationdominated by emergent vegetation, like cattails and bulrushes.Other common plants include pondweeds andcoontail.
Permanent open waterStable areas of open water whose depth may be greater thanone meter. Vegetation, if present, is a combination of submerged and floating plants such as pondweeds, coontailand duckweed.
Saline WetlandsSaline wetlands contain specially adapted vegetation thatenables them to grow in the difficult conditions found there.Desert saltgrass, Nuttall’s saltgrass, alkali cordgrass, sea-bliteand red samphire are common inhabitants of highly salineprairie wetlands.
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Upland Wet Meadow Shallow Marsh Deep Marsh Open Water Deep Open Water
WillowWild MintNorthern Reed Grass
Baltic RushBeaked SedgeSpike Rush Cattail
BulrushPondweedDuckweedWater Lilies
Willow Sedges
A Typical Prairie Wetland
Cattails and Bulrushes
Baltic Rush Water Smartweed
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FLOOD CONTROLWetlands store water, slowing its dischargeinto streams and rivers, prolonging the flowand reducing the intensity of flooding. Peaklevels of flooding in downstream waterwaysare lower in watersheds which have manywetlands.
Extensive wetland drainage aggravates oreven creates flooding problems for areasreceiving drainage water. The volume ofwater a river carries might not significantlyincrease but the timing of the flow canchange. In areas of wetland drainage, waterflow is concentrated during a much shorterperiod increasing the intensity of flow anddamage caused by flooding.
WETLAND MARGINSAn important part of a functional wetland system is the surrounding border of vegetation that separates the wetland fromadjacent uplands. Permanent vegetation inwetland margins provides wildlife habitat,traps snow and silt,reduces salt buildup onthe soil surface, and improves a wetland’s abil-ity to filter and purify water before it seepsinto the ground. Plant communities in transition areas usually consist of a mixtureof moisture-loving grasses, broadleaved forbes,and shrubs such as willows. Groundwatermovement from the wetland can keep theseareas green and productive even during thedry summer months.
WETLAND FUNCTIONSWetlands function as a physical part of thelarger landscape.These primary functions are:
WATER STORAGEPrairie wetlands receive and store surpluswater from periods when it is abundant, asafter spring snowmelt and during times ofheavy rain.This water is then available toplants and animals during dry periods.Wetlands serve to moderate the effects of nor-mal fluctuations in precipitation which is a feature of the prairie climate.
GROUNDWATER RECHARGESeepage from wetlands helps maintain waterlevels in aquifers which supply water to wellsfor domestic and livestock use. Wetlands connect surface and underground water systems. Depending on soil permeability and topographical position of the wetland,water can infiltrate to aquifers or flow to surface wetlands from underground reserves.Groundwater discharge can stabilize waterlevels in some wetlands during times of littleor no run-off.
Groundwater recharge can be greater fromseasonal and temporary wetlands than permanent wetlands. Draining wetlands lowers the water table sometimes reducingwater yields of nearby wells.
The wetland margin separates the water from theupland vegetation.
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SEDIMENT AND RESIDUE TRAPPING Run-off from fields or other areas can contain soil,fertilizers, pesticide residues, and other conta-minants which can end up in lakes, streamsand groundwater.Through a variety of naturalprocesses, wetland environments removemany of these pollutants. In fact, the effect ofwetlands on water quality is so dramatic that artificial wetlands are sometimescreated specifically to treat domestic,municipal,and industrial wastewater.
SHORELINE PROTECTIONHealthy vegetation in wetland margins andshorelines help to maintain the integrity ofthe shoreline. Healthy root systems bind thesoil together and prevent erosion caused bywave action.
NUTRIENT CYCLING AND STORAGEWetlands trap nutrients in run-off and store them in plants and soils, preventing long distance transportation and removal from the local landscape. Cycles of floodingand drying release stored nutrients, fertilizingwetland plant communities.
PRIMARY BIOTIC PRODUCTIONAll living things require energy to live.Originally this energy comes from the sun,however, only plants are able to convert theenergy of sunlight directly through theprocess of photosynthesis. All other life isdependent on the energy captured and storedby plant growth.
The water and nutrients in wetlands makethem the prairie’s most productive ecosystems. The lush growth of wetland plantcommunities provides the energy to maintaincomplex food chains and supports literallyhundreds of species of insects, birds, mam-mals, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and other crea-tures large and small. A major differencebetween wetland vegetative production andterrestrial growth is that in wetlands there ismore debris build up and greater levels ofdecomposition and relatively less grazing andforaging.
Healthy wetland margins perform many functions.
Emergent vegetation such as bulrushes and cattails absorb energy from waves preventing shorelineerosion on larger wetlands and lakes.
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THE PRAIRIE WATER CYCLEWetlands function as part of a broad, complexand intricate system of water movement.Recognizing this is important to understanding the effect of wetlands and wetland loss on water supplies.
The oceans are the primary source of waterto the world’s land areas. In Saskatchewan, weunderestimate the influence oceans have onour climate.Water evaporating from theoceans is carried long distances in large scaleair movements. In western North America, theprevalent flow of air should bring moisturefrom the Pacific Ocean. However, as moistPacific air reaches the west coast, it is forcedupward by the mountains, cooling it and caus-ing most of the water present to fall out asrain or snow.
Generally, precipitation decreases furtheraway from the ocean. Saskatchewan’s long dis-tance from the ocean and the presence of thewestern mountains combine to produce a“rain shadow”or an area of low precipitationover the prairies. By the time air masses reachthe prairies, they have often been stripped ofmuch of their moisture. While limited inquantity, the prairies still depend on this supply of water from the ocean.
...AND RECYCLEWetlands and surrounding plant communitiesare important links between atmospheric,surface and groundwater movements.Evaporated water is available once again tofall as precipitation.As crops and other plantsgrow, they dry out the soil but most of thiswater simply passes through the plant to the atmosphere to again fall as rain.Waterreceived from the ocean can be evaporatedand fall as rain many times before finallyreturning to the ocean.This “recycled”watercan form a large part of the moisture presentin summer showers and thunderstorms.Even though Saskatchewan is a long distancefrom the coasts, most of the water in lakesand rivers ultimately flows back to theoceans. Draining wetlands into these streamsand rivers hastens the departure of this valuable but limited resource from theprairies, reducing its potential to cycle and recycle.
The effect of individual wetlands on climate issmall, however, the cumulative effect of exten-sive wetland loss and de-watering of the land-scape is potentially serious. Large-scale elimi-nation of wetlands has the potential to reduceregional precipitation.
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The Prairie Water Cycle
1.Water evaporates from the oceans
2.Clouds rise and cool over the mountains causing most of the precipitation to fall
3.Only a small amount of moisture is left to fall on the prairies
4.Water reaches the surface of land from the atmosphere byprecipitation and returns to the atmosphere by evaporation and transpiration (evaporation through plants).
5. Streams and rivers eventually carry much of the prairie water back to the oceans
Wetlands
Inflow BasinGroundwater Discharge Basin
Flowthrough Basin
Surface runoff
Surface water recharging water table
Groundwater inflow
Evaporation from plants
Evaporation from plants
Precipitation Precipitation
Groundwater percolating into basin
Surface runoff
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THE VALUE OF WATERWetlands supply water for domestic use,livestock, wildlife, irrigation, industry, andrecreation.Most residents of Saskatchewanlive in a semi-arid climate, which meansthe wind and sun can evaporate morewater than we normally receive as precipitation.Because of high temperatures and low rainfall, moisturedeficits are common and most extreme dur-ing the latter part of summer.
Water supplies in most areas are rarelyabundant, occasionally sufficient, but usually scarce.However, because of cooltemperatures in autumn, winter, andspring, or occasionally heavy summer precipitation, temporary water surplusesare created.This surplus is stored in lakes,wetlands, groundwater, and the soil.It isused by plants and animals including cropsand livestock during times when little precipitation falls.
About 90 percent of Saskatchewan farmsrely on wells to provide some of their watersupply.Local wetlands have a role in assuring adequate supplies of good qualitywater are available.
WETLANDS AND AGRICULTURESaskatchewan’s pothole region coincides withareas of intensive agricultural production. As a result, agricultural activitieshave had the largest impact on Saskatchewanwetlands.Wetlands can benefit agriculturalproducers and rural residents in a variety ofways.They provide water to livestock producers, recharge groundwater reserves,increase crop productivity in adjacent areas,and can reduce soil erosion and salinity problems.
However, sloughs and potholes are oftenviewed as impediments to crop production.Wetlands reduce cropland acreage, decreaseefficiency of field operations, and contributeto crop depredation by waterfowl which canoccasionally be extensive. In addition,frequent combinations of low commodityprices and high input costs have put tremendous pressure on producers to increaseproductivity and reduce costs. For these reasons, draining and converting wetlands tocrop production continues to be the mostserious threat facing Saskatchewan wetlands.
Besides draining, there are other effects ofagriculture on wetlands.Temporary and seasonal wetlands are often cultivated duringfall tillage operations. If the spring, is dry theymay be seeded but often they are too wet and the plants which were not killed by thetillage grow back. Desirable and productivewetland plant communities which could behayed or grazed are lost and producersreceive few benefits for their efforts.
When plants in wetland margins are removedby cultivation or overgrazing, snow trapping isreduced and the wetland is deprived of someof its water supply. Erosion from surrounding cropland can fill in wetlandbasins and salinity problems develop orincrease.
Checking establishment of forage seeding in a previously cropped pothole area.
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EFFECTS OF AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIESON WETLANDS
OVERGRAZING and trampling of wetland marginsby livestock compacts soils and damages plant communities, reducing productivity and loweringwater quality.
CULTIVATION of wetland margins reduces thecapacity of wetlands to trap snow and filter water,and can result in increased soil salinity. Cultivatingthrough temporary wetlands eliminates plants whichmay provide quality hay.
EROSION from cultivated areas can transport soil,fertilizers and pesticides to wetlands, filling wetlandbasins, reducing the productivity of croplands andpolluting water supplies.
DRAINAGE eliminates wetlands, lowers water tables,increases run-off and erosion and reduces productivity of adjacent areas.
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WETLANDS FOR WILDLIFESaskatchewan wetlands provide water, food,cover and nesting habitat for all kinds of prairiewildlife.Over 150 species of birds and animalsare known to make their home inSaskatchewan wetlands.Even birds and animalsthat live on dryland may require wetlands for water orother resources.Often,no wetlands means nowater and no wildlife.
Different habitats supplydifferent resources, someproducing food and others nesting cover orprotection from predators. In addition,habitat requirements vary between species and the needs of individual birds or animals often change withthe season. The characteristics of individualwetlands which influence their use by wildlifeinclude size, type,plant communities, land -useof adjacent uplands,and salinity. In general, amix of temporary,seasonal,and permanent wetlands,along with permanent upland habitat,provide the most productive wildlifeand waterfowl habitats.Small, shallow wetlandswarm up sooner in spring,providing early food
sources for migrating waterfowlwhen large wetlands remainfrozen.Permanent wetlands arerequired for the rearing of youngby most species of shorebirds,waterfowl and other waterbirdsfrom herons to gulls. The uniquecharacteristics of saline wetlandsare especially important to shorebirds.
Across the prairies, loss of wetland and upland habitat hasreduced the numbers of manykinds of wildlife.During the late1980’s, the combined effects ofyears of drought,agriculturaldrainage,and loss of upland
nesting habitat reduced populations of somewaterfowl to less than half their historical average.However, since the mid-nineties,aboveaverage precipitation and run-off have raisedwater levels and increased the number of wetlands.Combined with on-going habitat conservation, the result is increasing populations of waterfowl and wetland wildlife.
Directly and indirectly,Saskatchewan wetlandsand wildlife generate millions of dollars intourism and recreation revenues.Waterfowlhunting,outfitting and the developing eco-tourism industry provide enjoyment,business opportunities and incomes for manySaskatchewan residents.
Avocets feeding on saline wetlands.
Cultivating too close to the wetland limits its ability to filter and trap sediments and provides little cover for wildlife.
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MUSKRATS An important inhabitant of prairiewetlands is the muskrat.With its prolific natureand voracious appetite, the muskrat has thepower to shape wetland vegetation and habitats.
Feeding primarily on underwater parts of bulrushes and cattails, muskrats create areas ofopen water in what would otherwise be denselyvegetated wetlands.This results in a mosaic ofwater and wetland vegetation that is especiallyattractive to waterfowl. In addition, muskrathouses are used as nesting platforms by Canadageese and a variety of other birds.
Hunting and ecotourism benefit with healthy wetland habitat.
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Case study: Beaver - Who’s Habitat Is It?The beaver is making a comeback.These animals were nearly extirpated by the end ofthe 19th century from unmitigated trappingfollowing the arrival of Europeans. Like thebison that once covered the plains, beaverdams once covered nearly every stream andriver system on the North American continent north of the Mexican border. Beavernumbers are estimated to have been between60 and 400 million. Most streams and smallerrivers must have looked very different then.The entire flood plain of lowgradient drainages would likely have beencovered with a mosaic of wetlands and pondswhich supported a dense and diverse varietyof willows, shrubs, and riparian plant communities.
In the same way livestock producers havelearned to improve range conditions byunderstanding the dynamics of native prairieand the tremendous herds of bison that oncegrazed them, we cannot hope to fullyunderstand our stream systems without recognizing the beaver and its place in theirdevelopment and transformation. In general,the more intensively managed the land, themore troublesome the beaver is perceived tobe. Overall, however, streams with beaverhave a higher resistance to disturbance andare healthier than those without.
Influences on Stream Systems, WaterQuality and Plant CommunitiesBeaver ponds store vast amounts of waternear where it falls or melts, reducing damaging runoff and associated downstreamflooding and streambank instability.Thisstored water seeps slowly downstream providing a more constant flow throughoutthe year, particularly important during thesummer and fall months when many streams otherwise dry up. In addition, plant communities adjacent to ponded areas benefit from subirrigation. Beaver dams trapincredible amounts of sediment.
Tons of soil washed downslope from erosionof damaged uplands may be captured and filtered.Water running downstream frombeaver dams runs clearer.The trapped sediments serve as nutrient sinks whichenrich the water with microorganisms andaquatic plant communities.This, in turn,benefits the establishment of stabilizing willows and shrubfields.
Beaver are at the center of an extremely complex ecological system which is not yetwell understood. Generalizing broadly, thetwo kinds of beaver habitat on the prairies arewillow habitat and aspen habitat.Willow habi-tats are enhanced and spread by beaver activi-ty in both the short and long-term. On theother hand beaver may “eat themselves out”ofan aspen habitat. From our short-term, humanperspective, this “clearcutting”may be disturb-ing. On an ecological scale, however, thisactivity may lead to a positive long-termresult.Aspen is a short-lived species thatrequires complete overstory removal such asfire and perhaps beaver activity to regeneratea healthy stand. By removing the aspen,raising the water table and moving on, beavermay actually play an important role in therejuvenation of decadent aspen stands.
Nature’s Hydrological EngineersIn the late 1800s and early 1900s, with theloss of the beaver, the water table dropped.The shrub communities which were dependent on saturated soils perished.Livestock were introduced and crops wereplanted on the newly exposed flood plains.The integrity of the streambanks wasdestroyed.With no dams in place to stopspring runoff, the drainages were scoured anddestabilized. Stream channels cut the banks.Sediment filled the streams. The increasedscouring power of the sediment - laden waterand the unchecked flows served to furtherdestabilize streambanks in an unending spiral of destruction.
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While beavers are often viewedas a nuisance, these animals havethe potential to providelandowners with the means tosolve some chronic degradationissues. In Wyoming, beaver arebeing put to work to restorebadly degraded rangelands. Mostof the land (approximately 80percent) is privately owned.Among the successes of beaver reintroduction were stabilization of gully-erodedheadwaters, creation andenhancement of wildlife habitatand fisheries, improved waterquality, greater number anddistribution of livestock watering access points, andimproved forage production.Overall, beaver have shown to enhance biological productivity of headwaterareas and livestock grazing distribution.
What To Do About the Problem BeaverTolerance is tough to come by when beaverare cutting down that stand of aspen or thecottonwood viewed from the home or flooding that hay meadow. Solutions to theseproblems are not that easy.The offendinganimals may be trapped and killed or movedoff the property. This solution is only temporary since new beaver will likely movein the very next season. Dispersing two-year-old beaver have been known to travel 100 miles, though seven to ten miles ismore common. Similarly, removing damsis the most widely used but least effectivemethod of trying to get rid of beavers. Beaverrespond by repairing the dam the next day.
While unlimited beaver populations can bedetrimental, understanding the importance ofthese animals in creation of rich and healthyriparian habitats may help the landowner con-sider more creative solutions that, in
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some instances, could permit cohabitation ofhuman and animal.After all, if the landowneris facing stream degradation issues, the beavermay be just what’s needed.
If the primary concern is loss of trees,protecting individual and groups of trees bywrapping them with hardware cloth may bethe best solution. This may seem to be a lot ofwork. In the long run, however, once thosetrees are protected, the battle need not bewaged year after year as new populations ofbeaver move in. If flooding is a concern,ponds may be maintained at tolerable levelsby installing drain structures in the beaverdams. By taking a few steps to help solvethese problems, watershed and wildlife benefits associated with the beaver can berealized.
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EDUCATIONWetlands offer opportunities to viewwildlife and learn about our natural heritage.Programs are available thatassist youth, educators and others tolearn about Saskatchewan’s wetlandenvironments.
The GREENWING youth education program is offered by Ducks UnlimitedCanada. Individual memberships includea copy of the Marsh World booklet and asubscription to Puddler or Conservatormagazines.As members, young peoplehave a chance to take part in field daysand outdoor wetland conservation andenhancement activities like building andplacing bird nesting boxes. School presentations introduce students to wetlands and wildlife. For example, theWillowbrook Wildlife Federation sponsored the grade 5 and 6 classes ofWillowbrook School to become Greenwingmembers, one of the first clubs to beinvolved with the Greenwing project.
PROJECT WILD, PROJECT WET, and WONDERS OF WETLANDS are environmental education programs that
Case study: Nature’s ClassroomBuild it and they will come.
That’s what Grade 5 and 6 students ofWillowbrook School are learning about artificial nesting structures placed in wetlandareas.
Through a field trip traditionally held in Februaryor March,students from this east central Saskatchewan community join members of the Willowbrook Wildlife Federationin refurbishing 350 nesting tunnels and baskets.So what are nesting tunnels?
Used in areas where upland nesting habitat islimited, these structures are mounted on steelpoles which are placed in sloughs and marshes.To provide valuable protection for speciessuch as the mallard, the tunnels are made of
flax straw rolled up in wire.With an insidediameter of eleven inches, the tunnels measure three feet in length.
But to remain effective, the structures need tobe maintained and relined with hay every oneto two years.And that’s where the students ofWillowbrook School fit in.
Joining parents, teachers, and Federation members, students venture out across thefrozen water of a prairie wetland for a day oflearning in nature’s classroom.
Principal Brian Beck said he’s happy to seethe students’ eagerness to participate.Through a ‘hands on experience,’ they learnmore about the habitat needs of wildlife andthe role of conservation.
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teach youth respect for wildlife, nativelands and water.These programs, offeredby Saskatchewan Environment andResource Management (SERM), providematerials and information to teachersand youth group leaders through training workshops.The material emphasizes hands-on active learning andis recognized by SaskatchewanEducation.PROJECT WILD was introducedin 1985 and is in widespread use inSaskatchewan.PROJECT WET and thesupplementary program WONDERS OFWETLANDS were introduced in 1996.
“They really get excited about finding stuff inthe nesting tunnels - whether it’s anunhatched egg or whether its egg shells,” saidBeck.“When the kids find these and can actually say,‘This nest was used and this iswhat happened,’ it just makes it all real.Therewas evidence of what had been in there andthe kids are quite fascinated.”
Danny Mikkonen, president of theWillowbrook Wildlife Federation explainedmembers are pleased with the feedback.Tomake the exercise more educational, theyinvite a biologist to speak to the students.
But the students learn from the members aswell.
Since the Willowbrook Wildlife Federationwas one of the first clubs to become involvedin building and placing nesting structures,members have found out what works andwhat doesn’t.
For example, Mikkonen said they started withnesting baskets in 1993 and then began usingnesting tunnels in 1995. “The tunnels are notonly more attractive to ducks - but they arenot damaged by geese the way the basketswere,”he said, adding baskets still being usedhave been modified with domes.
“The duck use has really improved with thetunnels,” said Mikkonen, noting they now have150 of these structures.
He also added further improvements whichhave been made include the placement of
Willowbrook students help set a nest basket.
Nesting tunnel.
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nesting tunnels. If the nesting tunnels aren’thigh enough - they may be flooded in thespring.
“We try to keep them about three to four feetabove the ice when we install them,” saidMikkonen, noting each tunnel is mounted ona three foot pipe which slides over a ten footsteel post.
In the meantime,Willowbrook is flooded withinterest in wildlife conservation.
While the hamlet only has a population ofapproximately 35 people - the local wildlifefederation boasts a membership of 170 withroom to grow.
By making the nest basket and tunnel refurbishing a community event, school children and their wildlife mentors haveshown that wildlife and education are a natural fit.
“We just have a really good relationship withmembers of the Willowbrook WildlifeFederation. They manage to bring this type ofenvironment to the school in a way that’s stillbeneficial to the students,” said Beck, addingthe outing, which includes snowmobiling anda bonfire, makes the experience a memorableone for the children.
“It’s something the students really looked forward to. As soon as the snow starts to fly,they ask if we’re going.”
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Developing and implementing a wet-land management plan is an impor-tant start for landowners wanting tobenefit from wetlands, while con-serving and protecting them forfuture generations.A management plan outlines thedirection and actions which arerequired to assure wetlands remainhealthy. A comprehensive management strategy will help youreach your goals and objectiveswhile protecting the benefits thatwetlands bring.
Wetlands function as integral partsof the general landscape.Understanding how wetlands work,as explained in Part 1, is essential tothe process of developing a wetlandmanagement strategy. Most actionstaken by landowners to protect wetlands involve not just the wetland itself but also adjacentupland areas. Managing the use ofsurrounding land will not onlyincrease and maintain the productivity of these areas resulting in more profitable and sustainable farm production, butalso reduce any negative effects thatland - use practices can have on wetlands.
Preparing a management plan involves four basicsteps. Use your pull out assessment and manage-ment plan on pages 33 to 35.
Step 1. Perform an inventory and assessment of your wetland resources.
Step 2. Define your values, goals and objectives.
Step 3. Implement a course of action that will protect wetlands and meet objectives.
Step 4. Monitor the effectiveness of your actions.
PART 2. DEVELOPING A WETLAND MANAGEMENT PLAN
The number and size of your wetlands should be inventoried prior to designing a management plan.
Assess wetland and surrounding land use.
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STEP 1. A WETLAND INVENTORYBecause management decisions will be madeaccording to the specific characteristics ofyour land and water resources, a simple butthorough description and documentation ofthese resources is necessary.This inventory should include both the extent and type ofthe wetlands as well as the condition orhealth of your wetlands and surroundingareas. In addition, specifics about land - usepractices should be identified.
An air photo of your land is a valuable andinteresting tool when performing anassessment or when preparing amanagement plan. A bird’s eye view of yourland will enable you to easily count wetlandbasins, accurately estimate area and sketch outmanagement scenarios. In most cases,air photos of individual townships are available for agricultural regions ofSaskatchewan from the Geomatics Division ofthe Saskatchewan Property ManagementCorporation. Save the original air photo anduse photocopied enlargements to mark wetlands and wetland types, fences, land - usepatterns, water flow, and anything else ofinterest or concern.
Airphotos can give you a bird’s eye view of your land base.
1/2 mile 1 kilometer
Your inventory should include the following information.(A worksheet has been included to assist you)
a) Wetland resources.• Number of wetland basins? • Total area of wetlands in acres or hectares? • The portion of wetlands which are
temporary, seasonal, and permanent.• Are wetlands part of a regional water
system or are they isolated potholes?• Are wetlands saline or freshwater?
(Look for salt deposits)
How healthy are your wetland areas?The health of the wetlands refers to the ability of the wetland to perform the functions which were outlined in Part 1.The assessment of health is based on a number of physical, hydrologic and vegetative factors. Of these, the types andspecies of plants provide the greatest insightinto the health of the wetlands. It is,thereforenecessary to be familiar with the commonwetland species. Plant identification fieldbooks are available from extension offices aswell as book stores and libraries. Extensionagrologists with various agencies are available to assist you with assessment and planning.
When going out to assess wetland health, youcan look at either a representative area of thewetland or a critical area.The representativearea should tell you what the general healthof the wetland is while an assessment of acritical area may involve looking at a knownproblem area.The reasons for deciding whatto assess will be based on how familiar youare with your wetlands and your objectivesfor managing these wetlands. In either case,you should be taking notes as you walk aboutyour land. It is also important that whenassessing your wetlands, the areas which youare looking at are in the same field or pasture.For example, if a fence crosses through a wetland, assess one sideand then the other.
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Some of the factors that are used to indicate wetland health are listed below.Not all factors will apply in all situations.
• How much of the ground is covered by plant growth or vegetative cover. If less than 85 percent, determine why.
• How much of the shoreline is protected with vegetation that has a deep binding root mass? Species with good root systems include all woody vegetation,cattails,bulrushes, sedges among others.A good objective would be to have at least 85 percent of the shoreline covered with these types of species.
• How much soil in the wetland areas is exposed as a result of human or land - use practices? More than five percent exposed soil would be considered a problem.
• How much of the shoreline is altered by human or land use activity? Aim to have less than five percent of shoreline in an altered form.
• Is there extensive pugging or hummocking present? Pugs are the tracks left by large animals in soft soil and hummocks are the mounds observed next to the pugs.
• Are there any invasive or noxious weeds such as leafy spurge, purple loosestrife or scentless chamomile present? Any amount of these type of weeds may prompt you to take some action to control them.
• Are undesirable plants dominant in the vegetative zones? These are the types of plants that would increase in abundance in response to disturbance.These may include weedy annuals, low-producers such as Kentucky blue grass, smooth bromegrass,foxtail barley, dandelions, quackgrass or strawberries.
• Is there a diversity of sizes and species of trees and shrubs present? The roots of shrubs and bush hold the soil together and prevent erosion and it is important that young plants are present to replace the older shrubs as they die out. It is important
to note that in somesituations, the soils,water levels or otherfactor may preventwoody vegetationfrom growing on thissite.
• Is woody vegetation being browsed too heavily? If there is a high level ofutilization of the previous year’s, or older, growth,regeneration of shrubs and trees may be impaired.
• Are there high levels of dead or decadent woody
vegetation? This may arise from over browsing, change in groundwater tables,the presence of disease or insects or climatic change but in a situation where woody vegetation should be present, this may indicate a decrease in wetland health.
Healthy wetland - showing good vegetation cover and woody vegetation.
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• Is there artificial drawdown of the water? Some wetlands have been modified with dikes and water control structures in order that water levels can be altered. Extensive drawdowns of water does not allow for the maintenance of healthy wetland vegetation.Where there is excessive shoreline exposed due to water drawdown, it is subject to degradation and de-stabilization.
• Are there any overflow structures and how stable are they? Man-made overflow structures are susceptible to erosion if they are not stable.
b) Upland resources:
• Are surrounding areas cultivated, grazed,hayed, or idle?
• How large is the land base? What is the size of individual fields or paddocks?
• Do wetlands provide grazing, hay, water, or recreation?
• Has drainage affected wetland watersupplies? If yes, how?
• How does topography and soil type affect adjacent land use?
If land is cultivated:
• How close does cultivation come to wetlands?
• Have old depressions and wetlands been removed?
• What are crop production practices and rotations?
• Is soil erosion occurring?• Are areas of salinity developing or present? • Are there areas where crop production is
marginal?• Are there areas which could be seeded to
forages to make field operations moreefficient?
If the uplands are grazed:
• Is the pasture native or seeded? • For native pasture, what is the rangeland
condition?• If seeded pasture, how is plant vigor? Is soil
protected by plant litter? Are plants present which weren’t seeded? (Various guides are available to assist in the assessment of
range and seeded pastures.
• What is the pasture grazing plan?When are pastures or paddocks containing wetlands grazed and how heavily?
• Do stocking rates match forage availability?• Is grazing pressure uniformly distributed or
are the wetlands more heavily used than the uplands?
• Where do livestock water?• Does run-off from livestock holding and
wintering areas or feedlots reach wetlands?
c) Wildlife habitat:
• What kinds of birds and animals are commonly present?
• Are semi-permanent and permanent wetlands present nearby where waterfowl can rear young?
• Is upland nesting habitat for waterfowl available?
• Are there any non-cultivated natural areas? If so what portion is grassland, shrubs and trees?
d) Additional information:
• Are wells which supply domestic or livestock water present nearby?
• List anything else that is unique to yoursituation.
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saline wetland
dugout
heavily grazedarea
(480 acres)cultivated land
Fenceline
wetlands with bufferof willows and Snowberry
wetlands (no buffer)
Native Prairie (960 acres)uplands - loamy range
light grazed areaon slopes
patches on uplandsdominated by
Speargrass & nwgpermanent wetlands
with open wateredges - bulrush/cattails
temporary wetlands
sedges and rushes(potholes) dominated by
Buckbrush on edge- site in good condition
Place your aerial photo map here.
Pull out Assessment of Wetlands Wetland InventoryValues and Goals
What do you value about your land?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Your ResourcesNative Prairie ________ acresCondition - poor, fair, good, excellent
Tame Pasture ________ acresCondition - poor, fair, good, excellent
Cultivated Land ________ acresWetlands ________ acres# of Wetlands ________ Wetland types Temporary Seasonal
Permanent Freshwater Saline
What do you want to achieve? (Be specific)____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
ExampleAir Photo Map - Like theexample shown to the right,an air photo map is a helpfultool to help identify andrecord land features and wetland inventory.
Your Air Photo Map - Use this area to place your air photo and identify the features in your own wetland inventory.
Things to identify
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Diversity of shrubs and trees? _____%
Browse on woody plant _____%
Dead or decadent woody vegetation? _____%
Artificial control of water levelsnone minor extensive extreme
Stability of man-made structures none unprotected stable well protected
Plant cover of wetland margin _____%
Shoreline with deep binding rootmass _____%
Exposed soil in wetland margin _____%
Exposed shoreline _____%
Pugs or hummocks present _____%
Invasive weeds? _____%
Undesirable plants? _____%
Knowledge of vegetation is important for assessmentof wetland conditions.
Willows are species that are adapted to wet conditions.
How Healthy are your Wetlands?Use the Checklist below to help gauge improvement following implementation of the Plan.
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Comments / Problem Areas
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
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Develop
new fence
480 acres
seed buffer stripsseed to cwg / alfalfa
Native Prairie
watering site
new water site
new fence
Sample Management Plan
Goals
1. Improve cattle distribution and reduce impact on wetland vegetation.
2. Maintain 150 cow/calf herd.
3. Maintain pasture in good condition.
Plan
1.Convert 240 acres of cultivated land.
2. Fence three miles around new seeded land.
3. Cross fence native prairie into two fields based on wetland density.
4. Seed buffer strips on remaining cultivated land and fall graze stubble - or spring graze summerfallow.
5. Develop water systems at two locations.
6. Graze tame pasture - then native - then stubble.
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Your Management Plan
Your Goals
1. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Plan Implementation
1. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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STEP 2. DEFINING VALUES, OBJECTIVES AND GOALSClearly defining what you value about yourwetlands and what your management objectives are, is necessary to develop aneffective management plan.Your values andobjectives will help you set realistic management goals.Your goals will relate toyour assessment of your wetland and uplandresources.These goals will provide a sense ofdirection, guide the actions you need to takeand are a basis by which you can measuresuccess.
Saskatchewan landowners are as diverse as thewetlands.Everyone will have his/her own reasons for conserving and protecting wetlands.Some of the more common reasons are:
• Livestock forage• Water for livestock or other uses• Salinity and erosion control• Wildlife habitat• Balance of wildlife and livestock• Recreational opportunities and aesthetics
If resources and time are limited, you maywant to prioritize your values and objectives and split your goals into short-medium - and long-range so that you canwork at the most important first. Once this is completed, you can work at finding solutionsand strategies.
Many actions landowners take to protect andconserve wetlands involve not only the wetland but adjacent uplands. Managing youractivities in these areas will benefit not onlywetlands but protect the long-term productivity of cropland and pastures.
Following are management considerations forvarious land - use activities and landownergoals.
STEP 3. MANAGING YOUR FARM ORRANCH IN POTHOLE COUNTRYAgricultural producers are the largest groupof wetland landowners.The majority of wetlands exist as part of an agricultural landscape and most management plans willreflect this.The information gathered in Steps1 and 2 will assist you in deciding upon thebest set of land - use and management practices for your particular situation andoperation.
GRAZING MANAGEMENT AND WETLANDS
Wetlands found on range and pasture landsare valuable assets. Like other riparian systems, wetlands are often four to five timesas productive as surrounding uplands. Ifgrazed appropriately, wetlands and wetlandmargins produce large quantities of forage.Wetland sedges and grasses are palatable to livestock and make good quality hay.Periodic flooding and groundwater movement keeps these areas productive andexcellent sources of late-season forage andhay, even during droughts. Although wetlandsmight cover only a limited area of rangelands,their potential productivity warrants special attention to their specific management needs.
Grazing management has a direct impact on wetlandcondition.
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Case study: Elfros Grazing Co-op
When the Elfros Grazing Co-op implementeda pasture rotation based on wetlands - thebenefits to livestock producers quicklybecame evident.
Henry Bzdel, a rural municipal councillor whoserves on the pasture committee, said thedevelopment of offsite watering systems wasjust one of the improvements to contribute to the health of the cattle.
“This is great! Before, the cattle just drankfrom the creek and sloughs. Now the cattleare out of the muck, there’s less problemswith hoof rot, and the udders stay clean forthe calves,” said Bzdel.
Pasture manager, Stacey Oliver, said he noticedthe cows prefer to drink from the wateringsite.“They’ll walk a long ways for that water,”he said.
According to Bzdel and Oliver, the new grazing plan has not only benefitted the livestock - but it has made the job of managing the cattle easier as well.
The Elfros Grazing Co-op leases a 2,500 acrepasture which is largely comprised of marshes and saline lowlands. It is situatednear Little Quill Lake in central Saskatchewan,which is part of the Western HemisphereShorebird Reserve Network.
In the past, pasture riders found the task ofchecking cattle was often difficult. Not onlywere cattle scattered throughout a large areadivided by wetlands, the boggy soils made theterrain difficult to cross - even by horseback.
Poor livestock distribution and overstockingalso resulted in parts of the pasture beingovergrazed.Without adequate rest within thispasture, problem weeds such as gum weedand foxtail barley had been moving in ondominant species such as salt grasses,northern reed grass, slender wheat grass andKentucky blue grass.
“The best grass was overgrazed and the cows wouldn’t eat the poor stuff. So all of a suddenweeds start taking over,” said Bzdel. Oliveradded,“But now, we can move the cattle tothe grasses that are good at a certain time ofyear.”
So how did they do it?
In 1995, the Saskatchewan WetlandConservation Corporation conductedan assessment of the pasture.Tom Harrison,rangeland specialist for the WetlandCorporation, said the unique features of thispasture and the surrounding area providedthe framework for the grazing plan that wasimplemented in 1996.“It’s a real mosaic ofhabitat,” said Harrison.“It’s got a little bit ofeverything. One wetland, which is permanent, attracts waterfowl. Another, whichis only temporary, attracts shorebirds. On topof this, it includes riparian areas, native pas-ture, tame pasture and adjacent cropland.”
This is what they looked at:• A large dam built by Ducks Unlimited in the 1950s was reconstructed in the early 1970s.It created a large wetland at the north end of the pasture. During peak water levels, it overflows into Little Quill Lake.
• From the east side of the pasture, Duck Hunting Creek drains into the large wetland near Little Quill Lake.
• Dikes and dams were used to create two other wetlands. While one is adapted for shorebirds and may dry up, the other, whichattracts waterfowl, always has water in it.
To manage these areas, the existing pasturewas split into four main fields and grazed witha once over rotation.
“One field was basically established aroundthe creek; one field was around the shorebirdwetland; one field was around the waterfowlwetland and one around the big wetland,” saidHarrison.
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By incorporating adjacent nesting cover fieldsowned by Ducks Unlimited Canada - as wellas a lure crop belonging to SaskatchewanEnvironment and Resource Management - thesize of the pasture increased to 3,000 acres.
The planted nesting cover fields had neverbeen grazed because they were seeded for thepurpose of providing waterfowl habitat. Thelure crop, on the other hand, is used to attractwaterfowl during harvest.The cattle areallowed to graze this field when most producers in the area are finished combining.
Noting that the addition of these fields hasreduced the impact of livestock around thebig wetland, Bzdel said,“That has taken the pressure off our existing pasture. I believethat’s why it’s recovering as fast as it is.
“The north side of the pasture is a tremendous nesting area. It’s kind of a lowland and it’s wet. It’s not a very good pasture for the simple fact that the cows arewalking in the mud. When Ducks Unlimitedtold us we could use some of their quarters inexchange for resting some of that nesting land- it worked out well.”
Other changes which contribute to the pasture’s improvementinclude a reduction in thestocking rate and a shortened grazing season.At the present time, 200cow-calf pairs occupy thepasture from June 1 toOctober 1. In the past, cat-tle grazed continuouslyfrom late May untilNovember.
From a range managementstandpoint, the vegetationis improving. After threeyears of monitoring, therehas been good recovery.“While we found there
haven’t been changes in species composition -there’s big increases in the amount of plant lit-ter that’s out there. There’s less bare soil. Sooverall, there is a trend toward improving thehealth of the pasture,”Harrison said.
Bzdel concluded, “The people who had cattlein there said they came out in good shape.”
Elfros Grazing CoopLittle Quill Lake
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The Elfros Grazing Coop Pasture Plan
Manager, Stacey Oliver and R. M. Councillor, Henry Bzdelare happy with the pasture improvements.
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Keeping wetlands healthy and productiverequires producers to manage the use of wetland plant communities by grazing livestock. Preferably, this will be part of a larger grazing system which also includesupland pastures. Good management of grazing lands will optimize use of forageresources while protecting the health of pastures.The benefits of well-managed grazing systems include: improved forage production and range condition, increased livestock gain and economic return, betterwildlife habitat, and protection of soil and water quality.
Controlling the timing, intensity and frequency of grazing is necessary to maintain wetland and pasture health.Management considerations for livestock producers who are grazing pastures with wetlands include:
i) STOCKING RATES AND CARRYOVERIt is important to balance forage production with livestock use and nutrition requirementswhile leaving sufficient carryover to maintainplant and ecosystem productivity. Carryovermaintains plant vigor, protects the soil,conserves moisture and provides cover for wildlife. Overgrazing results in reduced productivity and promotes replacement of desirable forage plants with unpalatableand less productive grazing - resistant types.
When setting stocking rates, make sure theyare based on the area which is actually grazed.Slope, aspect, plant communities, type andclass of livestock, and distance to water - all affect grazing patterns and canresult in uneven or patchy use by livestock.The varied environments present in rollingpothole country requires extra monitoring toensure overgrazing is not occurring in parts ofthe pasture. Wetlands are especially attractive to livestock during the warm summer months.
Temporary and seasonal wetlands usuallyhave an abundance of green, palatable forageat this time. Monitor these areas to make surethey are not being overused. If grazing pressure is not well distributed, adjust stocking rates accordingly or take steps to improve distribution. Carryover required inwetlands depends on the grazing season. Ifwetlands are grazed early in the year andallowed rest before autumn, the moisture present will usually allow some regrowth. Ifwetlands are grazed during late summer,more carryover is required. Heavy grazing dur-ing late summer without sufficient time forregrowth can deplete plant carbohydratereserves, weakening plants. Grazing wetlandslater in fall, after plants are dormant, is another option. In all cases, the goal is toensure that sufficient plant material remainsto protect soils and trap snow before wintersets in.
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ii) ALTERNATIVE WATERING SITESConcentrated livestock traffic associated withwatering can destroy wetland vegetationreducing productivity. Manure and waste inwater lowers water quality and reduces livestock gains. In addition, livestock can bereluctant to wade through muddy areas todrink and moist conditions promote foot andudder problems.
Some alternatives to direct access to wetlandsfor watering include:
• Fence large, permanent wetlands and provide water to troughs away from wetlands with wind, solar or electric pumps.Recent research has shown that pumped
water from wetlands or dugouts can increase livestock gains by as much as 35 percent. Inmost cases, fencing all wetlands is not practical or necessary, as not all wetlands willbe severely impacted by livestock. Observelivestock behavior and focus on those wetlands which are heavily used. Once alternative watering sites exist, livestock willprefer them and traffic around wetlands willbe reduced.
• If cost of pumps or additional wells anddugouts is prohibitive, construct compacted,graveled access ramps to wetlands. Livestockwill normally use the compacted areas ratherthan wade through mud and water.
Pumping water to troughs can increase livestock gainsby as much as 35 percent.
Solar or wind can be used to provide power in remotelocations.
Access ramps must have a solid base.
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Case study: Livestock Watering Systems
The IssueThe most common type of watering systemsfor grazing livestock across the province isaccess to open water, be it dugout, slough,lake or creek.The principle reason for this isit is thought to be inexpensive and maintenance free. However, over the longterm, this is probably not the case. Livestockhave significant impacts on soil and vegetation around water points when freeaccess is allowed. With unrestricted access,livestock can destroy vegetation resulting inerosion and loss of wildlife potential. Siltationof water sources and deposition of urine and dung result in reduced water quality for bothlivestock and wildlife - all of which costs theproducers in terms of lost livestock production and increased site maintenance.Society also loses in terms of reductions inwildlife habitat and surface watering qualityespecially when the watering sites aresloughs, lakes or riparian areas.
The SolutionThe solution to this issue is to provide highquality water for livestock by more environmentally friendly methods. Numerousmethods are presently available to theprovince’s livestock producers. Solar, windand animal powered systems enable the fencing of the water source for protectionfrom livestock. Gravel pads allow cattle todrink directly from the water body but provides an area of solid footing with minimal disturbance to the water body.
Cattle Watering PointsWhen given the option, cattle will tend towater at sites with a solid base that will provide good footing. Access ramps can bebuilt out into the water body using compacted pit run gravel. It is important toexcavate the ramp back from the water bodyfar enough to reach firm ground. If there isnot a suitable till or clay base (i.e. unstableorganic soils) then plastic webbing materialcan be used to hold the gravel in place andprevent it from sloughing into the water body.
Lister PumpsLister pumps are designed to allow cattle topump water for themselves.The animal usesits nose to push a lever that pumps water intoa small water bowl. Lister pumps are self-priming and deliver one quart of water foreach stroke of the lever. Therefore, in somesituations an adult animal may need to make50 or more pumps per day to meet its waterrequirements. For this reason it is importantthat one pump be available for every 25 adultanimals. Animals may need to be trained touse the pumps, possibly by keeping the bowlsfull during the training period. For largerherds, access should be maintained to analternate water source until all cattle are famil-iar with the pumps. Calves will have difficultyusing these pumps and will need to drinkwith the cow. A metal pan can be placedunder the pump to collect spillage and pro-vides additional water for calves.
Laneway to livestock watering point.
Lister pumps can provide water for 25 cows.
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Solar and Wind Powered SystemsSolar or wind powered pumps can be usedinstead of electric or gasoline poweredpumps to move water from a water site to theanimal. When considering the use of thesepumping systems, it is important to select asystem that will meet the demands of yourherd. Pumping to a storage reservoir with agravity feed to a trough equipped with a shutoff valve is recommended.Two to three daysreserve capacity is recommended in case ofequipment failure or during peak demandperiods. Where pumps workcontinuously, a return line should be installedto return overflow water from the reserve ortrough back to the water body.
Solar PumpsSolar pumps are available in a variety ofcapacities.They use an array of solar panels toconvert sunlight into electrical energy. Thesesolar panels can be used to power the pumpdirectly and can also be used to charge a num-ber of batteries.The batteries will store ener-gy to pump water during periods of overcastskies or if there is a problem with the solarpanels.These systems are quite reliable but are expensive relative to otherwater systems.
Wind Powered PumpsWind powered pumps have long been used topump water from wells and dugouts. Morerecently, windmills that use compressed air topower a floating diaphragm pump have beenused to supply water to smaller herds. It isimportant to have storage tanks and/or extratrough capacity with wind systems due toprolonged calm periods. Windmills should beplaced in unsheltered locations away fromtrees or buildings. On top of dugout spoilpiles is often a preferred site.
Water and WildlifeWatering points designed for livestock usecan also include special considerations forwildlife. For example, a dugout which is terraced and fenced will provide habitat benefits to waterfowl. Instead of a steepslope, the gradual incline of ‘steps’ will promote the growth of a wider vegetationfringe.
Accompanying water sites such as troughscan also be made wildlife friendly. To preventsmaller species such as songbirds fromdrowning, an ‘escape ramp’ or perch can bemade from a rough material such as wood toprovide better footing.
ConclusionWater quality has been shown to have significant impacts on livestock production.Part, if not all the cost of implementing an alternative watering system can be recoveredin improved gain or production per acre ofpasture, extending the lifespan of water site,improved wildlife potential of the site, andelimination of livestock deaths due to drowning or miring in shoreline mud.
Solar panels
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iii) RESTPlants require rest from grazing during thegrowing season in order to rebuild reservesand maintain productivity. Rest can be provided by deferring grazing, rotational grazing, and creating alternative pastures.
Valuable forage plants which are weakened bycontinuous grazing may be replaced by lessdesirable species, reducing pasture productivity. Productive shrubs, sedges andgrasses in wetland margins are often replacedby foxtail barley or other poor-quality forageplants if these areas are continually overused.
Case study: Crystal Springs Pasture
“As far as I can see, livestock and wildlife benefit each other.”
Those are the words of Jim Moore, manager ofthe Crystal Springs Community Pasture whichis located south of Birch Hills in north-central Saskatchewan.
Since a multiple use management system wasimplemented in 1994, Moore said the 5,280acre pasture has shown a major turn around.
While improved utilization of the pasture provides livestock benefits in the form of forage and water quality - it also provides valu-able habitat for wildlife.The poplar bluffs,wetlands and open areas of grassland in thisaspen parkland region attract a diverse arrayof species.
“The cattle come out in better shape and theamount of wildlife and birds that are out thereis unreal,” said Moore.
So how was this accomplished?
A three phase management plan revolvingaround a planned grazing system, wetlandrestoration and the development of livestockwatering sites was implemented through thecooperative effort of pasture managers,patrons, Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food,Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Grazing andPasture Technology Program.
According to Phil Curry of Ducks Unlimitedin Melfort, when the large bush pasture wascleared and seeded to a mixture of tame grass-es in the 1960s, some of the water drainedaway.
In addition, with only a limited number ofwatering sites and an uneven distribution ofcattle, the impact of livestock became obvious.
“The few wetlands that were there wereseverely degraded,” said Curry, noting valuablenesting habitat was affected when cattle congregated in these areas.
iv) DEFERRED GRAZINGDefer grazing until summer. Soft soils aroundwetlands are more sensitive to trampling damage in spring when they are very wet.Deferred grazing of pastures also provide better habitat for ground-nesting birds.However, if wetlands are lightly grazed earlyin the season, there may be sufficientregrowth for a second grazing later in summer.
Deferring grazing allows important forageplants to complete their growth cycle beforegrazing. If needed, seed some previously cultivated areas to tame forages and grazethese pastures first.Tame forages are moreproductive early in the season and are moretolerant of grazing at this time.
Hummocks developed in the wetland margins and undesirable grass species tookroot in areas that were over grazed. In the meantime, areas that were under utilized weresubject to aspen encroachment.
“This reduces the carrying capacity of thepasture,” said Curry.
To provide water for livestock and improvewildlife habitat, wetlands encompassing 130 hectares of the pasture were restored.“We created 91 wetlands with little dams anddikes and we recreated wetlands that hadbeen drained,”Curry said.
In addition, offsite watering systems wereadded to a few of the major wetlands anddugouts that were fenced to exclude cattle.Pleased with the changes, Moore said,“Thecattle can walk a short distance in any direction and they’ve got water.”
Instrumental to the improvement in livestockdistribution, was the development of watering sites which complemented the newgrazing system.
By using 13 kilometres of cross fencing, the11 existing fields within the pasture were
divided into 20 paddocks. This not onlyincreased the number of fields - it createdfields that were more uniform in size. Fieldsthat previously ranged from 65 to 390 hectaresin size are now closer to 120 hectares.
Taking into consideration there are approximately 1,060 adults and 700 to 750calves in the pasture, the number of herdswere also reduced from six to five. A once-over, four paddock rotation is used foreach herd from mid-June until October.
“On average, the cattle stay in each paddockfor 20 to 30 days,” said Moore, adding thateach paddock has a full year of rest before it’sused again.
While this rotation allows for the life cyclecompletion of grassland and wetland vegetation, it also benefits waterfowl duringthe critical nesting period which ends by lateJuly. Since two out of the four paddocks ineach rotation are not used until mid summer,grazing is deferred on approximately 1200hectares.
In the form of improved forage production - this rotation also provides a direct benefit tolivestock producers. The grazing period isextended by at least another two weeks.Moore said,“Even in September, you’re takingthe cattle into a field that has never beengrazed. I believe this truly prolongs thelongevity of your grass and the longevity ofwildlife habitat.”
Resting the grass, allowing carryover of residual cover, improving livestockdistribution, reducing livestock disturbance innesting areas and allowing wetland vegetationto recover provides multiple benefits.
“People have been very pleased with it. Wecontinue to do monitoring of wildlife andgrass species and have found it’s really quitediverse.These areas are really attractive tograssland songbirds, waterfowl and woodlandbirds such as the vesper sparrow and the bluewinged teal,” said Curry.
Aerial view of Crystal Springs Pasture
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v) WETLANDS AND GRAZING ROTATIONSConstructing fences and separating large pastures into smaller management units orpaddocks can improve pasture productivity,facilitate livestock handling, and allow greaterflexibility in use of the grazing resource.If diverse pastures are divided into paddocksaccording to landscape and managementneeds, each area can be used at the optimaltime. Seeded, native, and paddocks with wetlands can be grazed in a complementaryfashion.
When setting up a grazing system in potholecountry, location of wetlands is an importantconsideration. Successful rotations require frequent monitoring of pastures to determinewhen livestock must be moved. Because wetlands will likely be the most productiveareas of pasture, management decisions basedon wetland use may be best for overall productivity.
Design the rotational grazing plan based on wetlandlocation and density.
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A NOTE OF CAUTIONSeveral plants growing in or nearprairie wetlands are poisonous to livestock. Seaside Arrow-Grass(Triglochin maritima) and WesternWater Hemlock (Cicuta douglasii) arethe two most likely to be encountered.Seaside Arrow-Grass is a grass-likeplant with solid leafless stems oftenfound adjacent to saline wetlands.Western Water Hemlock is found inmarshy sloughs and streambanks andis the most poisonous plant of thearea. It is similar to water parsnip,which is not poisonous.
Seaside Arrow Grass
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CONVERTING CROPLAND TO FORAGESSaskatchewan has many areas of cultivatedcropland where production of cereals andoilseeds has become increasingly marginal,economically and ecologically. Low yields,low prices, high costs and the loss of theWestern Grain Transportation Act subsidy areforcing agricultural producers to rethink production strategies.
In some regions, because of light-texture soilsor hilly terrain, years of summerfallow andcereal crop production have greatly reducedsoil quality. Extensive wind and water erosionhas left soils degraded and depleted of basic plant nutrients. Continued crop production isdifficult, risky, and expensive. In these cases,sustainable low-cost production of foragesand livestock may prove more viable. Whenmanaged appropriately, marginal croplandconverted to forage and livestock productioncan improve economic returns while conserving wetlands and wildlife habitat.Thiscan also protect soils, groundwater supplies,and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
MANAGEMENT OF ANNUAL CROPS AND WETLANDSCultivating land with potholes and sloughspresents special problems for both crop producers and wetlands. Although the valuesand benefits of wetlands to society are wellrecognized, individual landowners may havedifficulty realizing a direct benefit from wetlands unlessthey are drained and converted to crop production. Because of theextensive nature of agricultural production in the province, agriculturalactivities have had a largeimpact on wetlands.
Seeding forages around a pothole
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Because wetland ecosystems can be damaged by production practices thatoccur on nearby cropland, managementpractices which minimize negative effectsare beneficial.
i) BUFFER STRIP AND INTERPOTHOLE SEEDINGA buffer is an area of permanent vegetationthat surrounds and protects wetlands. A 10meter strip between the wetland vegetationand the cropland should be considered the minimum width of a buffer. However, theactual width required to be effective dependson the size of wetland, topography, soil characteristics, salinity, and crop productionpractices. Wider buffers are required if soil isprone to erosion, salinity is likely, or summerfallow is frequently used in rotations.
If the buffer is large enough, it is then feasibleto manage the buffer area separately for hayor other products. On mixed farms, bufferareas can be a valuable and stable source ofhay and forage for livestock that is less susceptible to yield variations caused bydrought.
When wetlands are clustered in close proximity, consider seeding the areas connecting the wetlands to forages.This willreduce the amount of equipment turning andoverlap, increasing efficiency of field operations in other areas, provide increasedand consistent forage production, while maintaining wetlands.
Case study: A Changing LandscapeAcross the prairies of Saskatchewan, the land-scape has been painted by the brush of civi-lization. When settlers first arrived, waves ofgrass swept across a sea of rolling hills.Then,wheat became king and those wavesturned to prairie gold. From these crowns ofseed, an agriculture industry - and a way of life- were born. But the landscape is changing again.
In recent years, cropland conversion and permanent cover programs have been helping farmers seed their cropland to perennial forages. While early programs wererooted in the prevention of soil erosion, thosedeveloped in later years were created for reasons which include economics, lifestylechoices and wildlife habitat.
For Ken and Shawna Camphaug of Caronport,Sask., a cropland conversionprogram is helping them build a future in agri-culture for their children, Michael andShannon.
“We had marginal land that we wanted toswitch back to pasture and we were alsoexpanding our cattle operation to include ourson,” said Shawna, adding two of the five sections they farm are located near wetlands.
While the decision to seed forages may be alifestyle choice for producers such as theCamphaugs - it may be an economic one forothers.
Tom Harrison, who coordinates cropland conversion activities for the SaskatchewanWetland Conservation Corporation in Regina,said the potential of forages as a cash cropmay be more appealing - and more feasiblethan large scale farming which requires costlyequipment.“More and more farmers have saidto me that they just don’t see the economics of grain farming anymore. This isan option to keep farming but in a differentmanner,”he said.
“Under government programs such as theHomestead Act in the 1800’s, the Crow Rateand Crop Insurance, there was a lot of landthat was broken and farmed that probablynever should have been because it was marginal. Now we’re trying to back pedal abit. While we’re never going to restore it tonative prairie, at least maybe we can get somegrass on it.” And that’s what Bengough areafarmer William Haugen is doing. Haugen, whofarms nine quarters, said a cropland conversion program is helping him change toa livestock based operation.
“I’m going to go to all cattle now. I did have amixed farm but the way they’re pulling therail lines out and having to truck grain a longdistance I’m going to switch,”he said, addingthat by growing his own hay, he hopes toexpand his herd from 100 to 125 or 150 head.
Elk producer Barry Haubrich of Hodgevilleand his partner Keith Kleckner made thesame decision in 1996. To maintain a herd of500 animals, they seeded 880 acres to a mixof meadow brome and alfalfa in ‘potholecountry’ near Coderre, Sask.
“We were expanding our elk operation so thecropland conversion program was perfect forus,” said Haubrich. “The land was kind of hillyand marginal and there were lots of sloughs.There were quite a few stones so it justworked out better being put back into grassthan it did for farming purposes.”
Shawna Camphaug is converting most of their marginal cropland to pasture and hay.
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iii) CONSERVATION TILLAGECropping practices that reduce erosion andconserve soil organic matter also reduce theamount of soil, fertilizers and pesticide residuescarried to wetlands in run-off. Erosion of soilduring spring snowmelt and heavy rain contin-ues to be a serious problem in many areas.
Seeding water runways to grass will prevent
Seeding directly into stubble reduces erosion.
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ii) MAINTAIN SEASONAL AND TEMPORARY WETLANDSSmall, temporary, and seasonal wetlands are important groundwater recharge areasbecause they allow slow seepage into theground and are typically the most productivewetlands. Keeping them in a natural state willprotect local water sources.
Since cultivated wetlands are low-lying, theyare usually the last areas to be seeded. Lateseeding and the danger from frost or floodingby heavy summer rain makes crop production in seasonal wetlands risky. Theimpervious soil structure below many wetlands results in agricultural soils with lowlong-term productivity. Instead of drainingand cultivating, consider limited improvements which allow them to be efficiently hayed. Sedges and grasses growingin temporary wetlands and wetland marginsare productive, palatable to livestock and produce good quality hay at low cost. Periodicflooding and groundwater movement keep these areas productive.
Re-grassing natural runways prevents gullying and erosion.
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iv) Winter CerealsDirect - seeded winter cereal production isanother cropping option in areas that are subject to periodic flooding. Winter cerealsreduce tillage and pesticide use. In addition,existing stubble and emerging winter cerealcrop protect the soil and provide much needed nesting habitat for waterfowl andground - nesting songbirds.
v) SEEDING EROSION-PRONE OR SALT-AFFECTED SOILSSeeding marginal lands to forages to use forhay or grazing provides wildlife habitat andprevents further soil deterioration. Make sureto choose saline-tolerant species where necessary.
Seeding winter wheat is compatible with nesting habitat for waterfowl.
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gullying and erosion in these areas. Besideprotecting wetlands, limiting erosion fromcroplands will also protect soil quality andproductivity.
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Case study: Seeding StraightWith its rolling topography and many depressions, the prairie pothole region ofSaskatchewan is known for its unique landscape. But for farmers - these unique char-acteristics also create challenges in the field.To achieve the full potential of their cultivated acres, producers maneuver theirequipment into small corners and pockets ofland. As a result, areas which have alreadybeen tilled are worked again.
By “farming the landscape,”however, somefarmers have found a more productive solution. Patches of perennial vegetationestablished between wetlands can be used tosquare up fields.
While this improves efficiency of the farmingoperation, it also provides benefits in the formof weed control and moisture retention.Aswell, fields which are prone to soil erosionand salinity also become more productive.
For Felix and Bernice Juzyniec, who farm sixquarters in the Whitewood area, the establishment of forages directly benefits theirlivestock operation.
“I’ve been haying it but this year I’m going topasture it,” said Felix.
In the fall of 1994, the Juzyniecs seeded a totalof 120 acres through a cropland conversion program. By targeting areas oftheir property which had more potholes, theyseeded grass in 40 acre patches on three different quarters.
“There’s quite a few sloughs and there’s higher land between the sloughs,” said Felix.
Satisfied with the success of this project, theJuzyniecs decided to convert more of theircropland to forages.
“I want to semi-retire and keep some cattlearound,” said Felix.
When wetlands are close together, the interpothole areas can be converted to forages to improvecropping efficiency.
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Due to potential impacts and possibility forconflicts, individuals contemplating drainageof wetlands are required to first obtainapproval from Sask Water, prior to constructing drainage works. See Appendix 3for information on approval for drainageworks.
The Cost of Draining WetlandsDrainage of wetlands can be uncontrolled orcontrolled with the use of structures. In mostcases, uncontrolled drainage will result inexcess runoff onto neighboring properties. Itis therefore, necessary to take steps to construct structures which reduce theimpacts of runoff.
An evaluation of water management optionsfor landowners was conducted in Alberta inthe early 1990’s. In all projects analyzed, thecontrolled drainage projects resulted in a netincrease in acreage available for crop production without detrimentally affectingneighboring land. However, it was determinedthat even with subsidies, controlled drainageprojects were not economically feasible. In fact, the actual benefit to costratios of the projects ranged from 0.2 to 0.5,even with government financial assistance.This means that for every dollar the producerspent on drainage, his return was only 20 to50 cents total over a twenty year period.
WETLAND DRAINAGELandowners drain wetlands because theyexpect an economic benefit, either throughincreased production or decreased costs.Converting wetlands to crop productionincreases cultivated acreage and can improveefficiency of field operations. However, thenegative impacts of wetland drainage aremany and include:
• Costs of converting wetlands to crop production often exceed the value of added production
• Loss of water from the prairie water cycle
• Reduction of groundwater supplies
• Reduced water quality
• Increased flooding in downstream areas
• Increased erosion
• Increased salinity
• Loss of wildlife habitat
The real costs of drainage include not only thedirect monetary costs of clearing,breaking and constructing a drainage network but also indirect costs such as reductions in productivity of other areas dueto increased soil salinity, erosion and loweredwater tables. Also important is the impact on downstream recipients of drainage water.When examined carefully, the total costs ofconverting wetlands to crop production oftenexceed the benefits landowners receive fromthe additional cropland, especially if steps aretaken to alleviate the effects of the extrawater on downstream landowners. When considered with other effects of draining, it isevident that converting wetlands to crop production is not a simple issue.
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When calculating whether or not drainagewill financially cost you, there are several factors to consider:
1) Capital costs
2) Operating costs
3) Borrowing costs
4) Property tax implications
5) Productivity increases
6) Crop quality
7) Downstream or socio impacts
8) Wildlife impacts
9) Reflooding risks with summer rains
Calculate your cost of draining. Are you goingto make any more money by draining yourwetlands?
Added Revenue:
Gross revenue: estimate the value per acre ofthe crops produced from the new lands available as a result of drainage activities overa twenty year period. (Remember to use yourplanned crop rotation including summerfallow, and stubble crops over thenext twenty years).
Cost reduction: estimate the value fromincreasing the efficiency of field operationswhich result from less overlapping and lessturning over a twenty year period.
Added Costs:
Cropping costs: estimate the cost per acre ofputting in the crop on the new lands following your planned crop rotation over atwenty year period (Remember to add allcosts including all inputs and operating costs,crop insurance, cost of borrowing, increase intaxes from a re-assessment, etc.)
Capital costs: estimate the cost of drainage,breaking, spraying, rock picking, tillage andconstruction of control structures such asberms, weirs, dikes or chokes amortized overa twenty year period. Loss of production:estimate the loss of hay production from notbeing able to bale the sloughs over a twentyyear period.
Divide your estimated total additional revenue by your estimated total additionalcost. If this value is less than one, you are losing money as a result of drainage and clearing activities.
Gross Revenue ______________
Cost Reduction ______________
Total Additional Revenue______
Cropping Cost _______________
Capital Cost __________________
Total Additional Costs ________
If < 1 - You are losing money by draining
AB
A
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MANAGING FOR WILDLIFEProviding wildlife habitat may be an important management objective for some landowners. Often, looking after the health ofthe land and water will in itself, improvewildlife habitat.
Because of the universal requirement of waterfor life, wetlands are focal points on the land-scape for a variety of bird and animal activi-ties and are a good starting point when con-serving and creating wildlife habitat.Enhancement projects centered on wetlandsprovide habitat for many species of wildlife.
Many areas lack sufficient grassland nestingcover for ground-nesting birds such as sharp-tailed grouse, songbirds and someducks.This shortage of cover forces birds tonest in poorer habitat or concentrates nestsmaking it easier for predators to locate anddestroy them. Ducks such as the mallard andthe northern pintail have been most affectedby upland habitat loss. In regions with poornesting habitat, success of duck nests candrop to below 15 percent. While the amountof upland habitat necessary varies with the quality, a ratio of three upland hectares to onewetland hectare is considered good. Morehabitat may be required if it is poor quality, orgrazed and hayed annually. Frequently creating quality nesting habitat is the easiestand most productive habitat improvementslandowners can make.
To enhance wildlife habitat quality, considerthe following management practices:
• Ensure adequate buffers of permanent vegetation are present around wetlands.If a buffer is not present, seed an appropriatemixture of forages and/or trees and shrubs.
• Avoid cultivating or draining temporary andseasonal wetlands. If needed, these can provide a late summer haycut.
• Avoid cultivating or clearing any remainingnatural areas.
• If not present, provide upland nesting habitat by seeding some cultivated land to for-age or hay.
• Consider planting winter wheat or fall ryeas these do not require spring tillage operations that disturb and destroy manyduck nests.
• If upland nesting habitat for waterfowl cannot be provided by natural areas or seeded perennial forages, nesting platforms orstructures can provide sites for some duckspecies.
• Implement a planned grazing system such asa rest/rotation which allow some areas toremain undisturbed each year.
• Restrict livestock access to large permanentwetlands. If wetlands are used as watersources, pump water to sites away from thewetlands or construct compacted access areasto direct cattle movements to limited portionsof the wetland.
• Make sure enough carryover is present afterthe grazing period to protect soils and provide cover.
• If not already present, plant trees and shrubsto provide food and cover for upland birds and animals.
• Construct islands of rock and soil in largershallow wetlands.These are used as nestingsites by Canada geese and other birds.
Man - made nests such as bales or tunnels can reducepredation.
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PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE(Lythrum salicaria) is an introducedplant with showy flowers that is occasionally planted as an ornamental by prairie gardeners.Although beautiful in the flower garden, purple loosestrife can escapeand become established in prairie wet-lands where it spreads aggressively, displacing native wetland plants. Because purple loosestrife is of little value to wildlife,the habitat potential of infested wetlands is destroyed. At present theplant is not yet common inSaskatchewan wetlands. However, it does occur in an increasing numberof widely scattered sites throughoutthe southern part of the province.
There are no herbicides available tocontrol purple loosestrife. However,biological controls in the form ofinsects which attack the plants areavailable. Gardeners should be awareof the serious problem this plant cancause and destroy any purple loosestrife plants present in ornamental plantings.
If you find purple loosestrife in yourwetlands, report this to your local Conservation Officer. If only a fewplants are present, you may be able to eradicate the weed before it spreads.Dig out plants paying special attention to remove all roots, stemsand leaves. Root pieces left in theground will re-sprout and pieces ofstem and leaves can root, formingnew plants. Flowers produce viableseed by mid-summer, so it is important to remove plants before thistime. If you suspect seeds are present, cut and bag the seed headsbefore moving the remainder of theplant. The collected plants should bemoved to where they can be safely dis-posed of, either by burning or baggedsecurely in a dark plastic container and sent to a landfill.
Ducklings hatched in a nesting area.
Nesting area for waterfowl and other birds.
Purple Loosestrife
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Case study: Flushing Bar Saves WildlifeAs landowners, Grant and Julie Rourke ofMorse, Saskatchewan feel a strong sense ofresponsibility for the affects of land use practices on wildlife which share their property. And that’s why they use a flushingbar during the haying season.
“I haven’t killed a duck since I put it on, andthe year before I put it on - I slaughteredthem,”said Grant, who along with his wifeJulie, uses the bar while cutting 100 to 120hectares of alfalfa annually.
So what is a flushing bar?
Developed to reduce the number of birdskilled during the nesting period, flushing barsare mounted on the front of the tractor. Aseries of chains which hang from the bar dragthrough the hay and scare ducks out of themower’s path. While nests may be lost,studies show up to 90 per cent of birds canbe saved.
And that’s good news for landowners such asthe Rourkes.
“We have a lot of ducks,” said Grant.“We’re inthe Missouri Coteau range so we have a lot ofpockets of water - a lot of sloughs and it’svery rolly. It’s a real popular area for nestingand that bar just works super. It’s a must.”
But while the bar was designed to save waterfowl - the Rourke’s are pleased to seethat it protects other wildlife too.
“I think it works quite well overall. I’ve hadfawns jump up right underneath it,” saidGrant, adding Julie feels the same way.
“Her favorite job is cutting hay and she justthinks the flushing bar is the greatest thing.We wouldn’t go to the alfalfa fields without it.”
And like many farmers who find that “necessity is the mother of invention”,Grant also found a way to improve the flushing bar’s effectiveness.
“I made a few little changes on mine. Insteadof a single chain running all the way from thebar to the ground level - about three-quartersof the way down, I welded on another chainso they make kind of a racket. I’ve foundthat having a double chain at the bottom endreally seems to help quite a bit.”
In the meantime, while the Rourkes arealready sold on the benefits the bar provides,they say its success hinges on the number ofproducers who are willing to use it.
“I think the biggest problem most landowners have is they look at it and thinkit’s going to be a hindrance to them - it’s not.It doesn’t seem to be in the way at all. Onceyou’ve had it on for a day, it just seems likepart of the machine,” said Grant.
“And if they’ve got any feeling at all forwildlife, whether it’s ducks or chickens ordeer - it’s a good idea.”
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HAYFIELDS AND WILDLIFEUpland nesting birds such as songbirds, sharp-tailed grouse,pheasants and some ducks are attract-ed to the dense cover found in hay-fields. Unfortunately many of thesenests are destroyed, abandoned, orexposed to predators after hayingoperations. Birds and other wildlifeare frequently injured or killed byswathers and mowers. Delaying haycutting until mid-July allows nestingbirds time to hatch their young andmove them to safety.
Injury to wildlife can be reducedthrough the use of a flushing bar.Mounted on the tractor ahead of themower, the flushing bar’s chains dragthe ground and flush birds and otherwildlife away, before they can beinjured. While the nest might bedestroyed, the hens are saved and willoften re-nest elsewhere.
NESTING TUNNELSWhen upland nesting habitat for waterfowl cannot be provided by natural areas or seeded forages,artificial nesting structures can be placed within wetlands to provide nesting sites.While old basket-type structures were more readily acceptedby Canada Geese, a new tunnel style is well used by mallards.When properly placed, these structures average a 70 percent use rate. In addition, nesting success is extremelyhigh, exceeding 90 percent.
In selected areas, Ducks UnlimitedCanada, cooperating with local branches of the Saskatchewan WildlifeFederation, will install and annuallymaintain these structures in returnfor an agreement by landowners thatthe wetlands will not be disturbed.Individual landowners can alsoobtain the structures directly. Inreturn, they are responsible for supplying the structures with freshstraw each year before the waterfowlbreeding season.
Attaching a flushing bar to the mower - conditioner willscare the hens off the nest and allow them to re-nest.
Nesting tunnels located in wetlands act to reduce predation.
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RESTORING OR CREATING WETLANDSRestoring a wetland that has been altered,damaged, or lost to cultivation and drainagecan be rewarding for landowners. Theprocess is sometimes as simple as filling in adrainage ditch, quickly restoring water to thewetland basin during the next run-off period.Seeds of many wetland plants remain viable inthe soil for decades. Restoring water to a wet-land basin will bring back most wetlandplants.
It’s possible to create a wetland where therewas none before by excavating a shallowbasin or constructing dikes to retain or collect run-off. Because soil texture affects theability of the wetland to hold the collected water and the potential for salinityproblems, careful site selection is importantfor the success of this type of project.
Creating a wetland which will be used bywildlife is more complicated than restoring anatural wetland basin and some guidancefrom wildlife biologists will likely be helpful.
Case study: A Prairie OasisIf you ask Fred and Margie Mackow why theydeveloped a back flood project on theirmixed farm near Chaplin, Saskatchewan -they’ll tell you the answer is simple.
“We really love wildlife!”
By holding back spring runoff and creating a20 hectare wetland which is flooded yearround, the Mackows have provided an oasisfor wildlife on the prairies.
“It originally started because we wanted toattract the wildlife,” said Margie, adding theback flood has developed into a rewarding‘retirement project.’
“Because we wanted to slowly get out offarming, my husband thought we’ll put insome grass,” said Margie.“We also planted over40,000 trees to help us bring in the wildlife asmuch as we can.”
As a result, Fred is happy to see the grasslandsurrounding the new wetland is providing asource of income as a hay crop. For Margie,‘inhabitants’ such as red-winged black birds,western meadowlarks, pelicans and blueherons are a natural complement to her fledgling bed and breakfast business;“Margie’sCountry Getaway.”
So how did they do it?
In 1984, with assistance from Prairie FarmRehabilitation Administration (PFRA), theMackows developed a back flood from aspringfed creek which flowed through theiryard.
“Part of the fill of this back flood is by aspring that runs through the winter and formsice fields. When they melt, they run into thisback flood project of ours,” said Fred.
While the Mackows can release the water byopening a flood gate - they have chosen tomaintain the wetland for wildlife habitat.
Man made dams on runways can create watering areasfor livestock and provide waterfowl habitat.
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To widen the diversity of wildlife attracted tothe area, the Mackows provided additionalhabitat by planting trees.
“We contacted the PFRA Shelterbelt Centre inIndian Head to help us pick trees and shrubsthat would benefit wildlife the most,” saidMargie, adding they established stands of buffalo berry, chokecherry, caragana, lilac andevergreens.
When Ducks Unlimited Canada becameinvolved in the back flood project in the early1990s, the Mackows also learned about management practices that would make theirfarming operation more ‘wildlife friendly.’ Onethat suited their needs in particular wasDucks Unlimited’s delayed hay cut program.
“We cut our hay after July 15th so the duckshave time to finish nesting and move off,” saidMargie, noting the 240 hectares (600 acres)they seeded back to grass provides cover formore than just waterfowl.
“In fact, there were some elk on our hayfieldhere too along with coyotes, foxes and rabbits,” she said.
As a benefit to their bed and breakfast business, the Mackows have also found thewildlife creates a focal point for visitors whoare eager to see a variety of plants and animals.
For example, due to their close proximity toChaplin Lake, a large saline wetland that hasbeen recognized as a Western HemisphereShorebird Reserve Network Site, theMackow’s wetland also attracts shorebirdssuch as the American Avocet.
“It really helps me,” said Margie.“We havebirdwatchers that come here and just sit onthe veranda at the house or walk down by thewater and watch the birds.”
Fred added,“We can watch the geese nestright from our window while we’re eatingbreakfast.”
“He put bales out there to attract the geese sothey can nest there,” said Margie, noting thatshe likes to join him in scattering grainaround the wetland for the birds.
While this is a small part of maintaining theproject, building these attractions for wildlifealong with planting trees, seeding forages,delaying haying operations and becominginvolved in ecotourism all contributes to whatthe Mackows value most about wetlands - an abundance of wildlife.
And that’s what makes this back flood projecta special treasure they’re happy to share.
“There’s nothing like being out in the country,” said Margie.“Our guests are reallyenthused about it. It seems like a lot of thesepeople are from the city and they don’t get tohear these birds or see someof these things.”
Fred and Margie Mackow - Chaplin Sk.
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STEP 4.MONITORING AND EVALUATINGThe final step in a wetland management strategy will be a continuing one. After a management plan is implemented, continuedmonitoring is required to assess the effectiveness of changes in management practices. Re-visit your original assessment ofyour wetlands and determine if there is achange in wetland health or is there evidencethat a change is taking place. This will giveyou some indication as to whether the planhas been effective and successful. Have short-term goals been met? Is progress occurring on the long-term goals? Are anyadjustments necessary? Continued, periodicevaluation will ensure that your actions havethe desired effects and that wetlands stayhealthy.
PART 3. CONSERVING WETLANDSFOR FUTURE GENERATIONSWhen considering long term protection ofwetlands, landowners have several options.Implementing a management plan whichkeeps wetlands functioning and healthy is afirst step to conserving wetlands for futuregenerations.
Several other options areavailable to landowners. Ifa parcel of land has spe-cial wetland and wildlifesignificance,conservation groups maybe interested in purchasing the land.Landowners can donateland directly to conservation groups andreceive a charitable donation tax receipt. Inother cases, special use agreements may be developed that compensate landowners
for management decisions that directly benefit wildlife.
CONSERVATION EASEMENTSAnother option is a conservation easement.A conservation easement is a legal agreementbetween a property owner and a conservation agency which restricts theamount and type of development and landuse allowed on a property. The exact natureof these restrictions depends on thelandowner and conservation agency.
Easements can be granted for a specified period of time or in perpetuity. The easementis filed with the title and is binding on current and future owners for the term of theeasement. An easement provides a method ofprotecting a parcel of land from what alandowner might consider undesirable landuse or development, even after he/she nolonger own the land. An easement could befiled to restrict wetland drainage or protect anatural area from cultivation or otherdevelopment.
A conservation easement has some tax benefits and may be considered a charitabledonation. For more information on conservation easements, contact any of theappropriate organizations listed in Appendix 5.
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REFERENCESThe following is a list of references and publications containing useful information onwetlands and issues related to wetlands. Mostare available from the agencies that producedthem or can be obtained through local libraries.
CROP PRODUCTION AND SOIL CONSERVATIONDirect Seeding Manual. 1993. PrairieAgricultural Machinery Institute and Saskatchewan Soil Conservation Association.
Farm Management Facts.The Economics ofConverting Wetlands to Croplands.Water Series No. 1. Saskatchewan WetlandConservation Corporation.
Farm Management Facts. Making $ense ofSalinity. Saskatchewan Wetland ConservationCorporation.
Soil Conservation Resource Directory. 1993.Canada-Saskatchewan Agreement on Soil Conservation.
Tillage Practices that Reduce Soil Erosion.1992. Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food.
FORAGES AND LIVESTOCK GRAZINGGrazing Systems for Rangelands of SouthernSaskatchewan.1994. Z.M. Abouguendia and T.O.Dill.Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association/Grazing and Pasture Technology Program.
Initial Stocking Rate Recommendations forSeeded Pastures in Saskatchewan. 1998.M.Tremblay and B.Kirychuk.Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food.
Managing Your Native Prairie Parcels. 1998Saskatchewan Wetland ConservationCorporation.
Managing Saskatchewan Rangelands. 1990.W. Pyle and W. Johnson Eds.Saskatchewan Agriculture Development Fund,New Pastures and Grazing Technology Project.
Planning Aids for Balancing Forage Supply andDemand. Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association, Grazing and PastureTechnology Program.Ranching for Conservation and Profit:
Producer Experiences. 1999.Grazing and Pasture Technology Program.
Range Plan Development. A Practical Guide toPlanning for Management and Improvementof Saskatchewan Rangeland. 1990. Z.M.Abougendia. Saskatchewan AgricultureDevelopment Fund, New Pastures and GrazingTechnology Project.
Re - grassing Farmland:A Practical for Selectingthe Right Forage Species. 1999. Z.Abougendia.Grazing and Pasture Technology Program.
Rejuvenation of Tame Forages: SouthernSaskatchewan 1999. Grazing and PastureTechnology Program. SaskatchewanAgriculture and Food.
Rejuvenation of Tame Forages: Parklands 1997.Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food.
Saskatchewan Forage Crop Production Guide.1998. M.Tremblay, Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food.
Stock Poisoning Plants of Western Canada.1983. J. Looman, W. Majak and S. Smoliak.Agriculture Canada.
Streambank Stewardship. 1998. SaskatchewanWetland Conservation Corporation.
The Stockman’s Guide to Range LivestockWatering from Surface Water Sources.Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute. 1996.Canada - Manitoba Agreement on AgriculturalSustainability (CMAAS), SaskatchewanAgriculture and Food.
PLANT IDENTIFICATIONBudd’s Flora of the Prairie Provinces. 1979.J. Looman and K. F. Best.Agriculture Canada, Research Branch.Publication No.1662.
Flora of Alberta.A Manual of Flowering Plants,Conifers, Fern and Fern Allies Found Growing Without Cultivation in theProvince of Alberta, Canada. 2nd. Ed.1983. E. H. Moss, revised by J.G. Packer.
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Identification of Common Range Plants ofNorthern Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food.
Identification of Common Range Plants ofSouthern Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan agriculture and Food.
Identification of Riparian and Wetland Plantsin Saskatchewan. Grazing and PastureTechnology Program / Saskatchewan WetlandConservation Corporation. ( In press)
Plants of the Western Boreal Forest and AspenParkland. 1995. D. Johnson,L.Kershaw, A. MacKinnon and J. Pojar.
Prairie Grasses Identified and Described byVegetative Characteristics. 1982.J. Looman. Agriculture Canada Publication No. 1413.
Wildflowers Across the Prairies. 1984. F. R.Vance, J.R. Jowsey and J.S. Mclean.
WATER SUPPLY AND MANAGEMENTA Prairie-wide Perspective of Non-PointAgricultural Effects on Water Quality.1997. D. Brook Harker. PFRA, PrairieResources Division.
Hydrologic Functions of Prairie Wetlands.1998. J.W. LaBaugh,T.C.Winter and D.O. Rosenberry. Great Plains Research 8:17-37.
National Wetland Working Group:Wetlands ofCanada.1998.
Polestar Geomatics Database.1995.(Unpublished)
Saskatchewan Wetlands Water at Work. 1993.North American Water Management Plan / Saskatchewan Wetland ConservationCorporation.
The Groundwater Recharge Function of SmallWetlands in the Semi-Arid Northern Prairie. 1998. G. van der Kamp, and M.Hayashi. Great Plains Journal 8:39-56.
Wetlands: A guide for Rural Landowners.Ducks Unlimited Canada (In press).
WETLAND ECOLOGYMarsh World. 1991. Ducks Unlimited Canada.
Restoring Prairie Wetlands. An EcologicalApproach. 1994. S. M. Galatowitsch, and A.G. van der Valk. Iowa State University Press.Ames, Iowa.
Water Management Framework. 1999.Government of Saskatchewan.
Saskatchewan Wetland Policy Working Group.1993. One Resource, Many Benefits.Managing Saskatchewan Wetlands.
Wetlands of Canada. Ecological LandClassification Series, No. 24. 1988.National Wetlands Working Group. SustainableDevelopment Branch, Environment Canada,Ottawa, Ontario, and Polyscience PublicationsInc., Montreal, Quebec.
Classification of natural ponds and lakes inthe glaciated prairie. 1971.K.E. Steward and H.A. Kantrud. Bureau ofSport Fisheries and Wildlife, United StatesDepartment of the Interior. ResearchPublication No . 92.
Northern Prairie Wetlands. 1989. A.G. van derValk. Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa.
WILDLIFE HABITATDesigning Tree Plantings For Wildlife. PFRAShelterbelt Centre.
Methods of Reclamation of Wildlife Habitat inthe Prairie Provinces. 1987.Environment Canada.
Planting Trees for Wildlife. PFRA ShelterbeltCentre.
Trees and Shrubs for Wildlife HabitatPlantings. PFRA Shelterbelt Centre.
Wildlife Habitat. A Handbook for Canada’sPrairies and Parklands. 1981.Environment Canada. Canadian Wildlife Service.
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APPENDIX 1Common and Latin names for Riparian andWetland plants.
Alkali Cordgrass ..................... Spartina gracilis
Awned Sedge .........................Carex atherodes
Awned Wheatgrass...Agropyron subsecundum
Basket Willow............................Salix petiolaris
Balsum Poplar ..................Populus balsamifera
Baltic Rush ...............................Juncus balticus
Beaked Sedge ............................Carex rostrata
Beaked Willow ..........................Salix bebbiana
Bluejoint ..................Calamagrostis canadensis
Buffaloberry ....................Shepherdia argentea
Bulrush ..........................................Scirpus spp
Canada Buffaloberry ....Shepherdia canadensis
Canada Wild Rye ................Elymus canadensis
Cattail ........................................Typha latifolia
Choke Cherry ......................Prunus virginiana
Common Bulrush .....................Scirpus validus
Common Plantain ....................Plantago major
Common Tall Manna Grass ....Glyceria grandis
Coontail .................Ceratophyllum demersum
Cow-Parsnip .....................Heracleum lanatum
Creeping Spike-Rush ........ Eleocharis palustris
Desert Saltgrass ......................Distichlis stricta
Duckweed .....................................Lemna spp.
Fowl Manna Grass ...................Glyceria striata
Goldenrod ..................................Solidago spp.
Great Bulrush ...........................Scirpus acutus
Green Ash ...................Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Hawthorn .....................Crataegus rotundifolia
Hoary Willow ..............................Salix candida
Manitoba Maple ........................Acer negundo
Marsh Hedge-Nettle ...............Stachys palustris
Marsh Smartweed .......Polygonum coccineum
Marsh Marigold .......................Caltha palustris
Narrow-Leaved Cottonwood ..Populus angustifolia
Narrow Reed Grass .........Calamagrostis stricta
Nebraska Sedge .................Carex nebraskensis
Needle Spike-Rush .......... Eleocharis acicularis
Northern Reedgrass ......Calamogrostis inexpansa
Nuttall’s Saltgrass ..........Puccinellia nuttalliana
Pondweed ...........................Potomageton spp.
Prairie Cord Grass ...............Spartina pectinata
Prickly Rose ............................. Rosa acicularis
Pussy Willow ..............................Salix discolor
Red Osier Dogwood ................Cornus sericea
Red Samphire ........................... Samphire spp.
Reed Canarygrass ........... Phalaris arundinacea
Reed Grass ................... Phragmites communis
Sandbar Willow ............................ Salix exigua
Saskatoon ...................... Amelanchier alnifolia
Sea-Milkwort ...........................Glaux maritima
Seaside Arrowgrass ...........Triglochin maritima
Seaside Buttercup .......Ranunculus cymbalaria
Sedges .............................................Carex spp.
Silverberry .................... Elaeagnus commutata
Silverweed ..........................Potentilla anserina
Slender Wheatgrass ..... Agropyron trachycaulum
Sloughgrass ..................Beckmania syzigachne
Smartweed ................. Polygonum amphibium
Spikerush .................................Eleocharis spp.
Spotted Water-Hemlock .........Cicuta maculata
Three-Square Bulrush ............Scirpus pungens
Trembling Aspen .............Populus tremuloides
Tufted Hair Grass ......Deschampsia caespitosa
Yellow Willow .................................Salix lutea
Water Sedge ............................. Carex aquatilis
Water Smartweed .......Polygonum amphibium
Water Parsnip .................................Sium suave
Water Plantain ..........Alisma plantago-aquatica
Western Dock .................. Rumex occidentalis
Western Sea-Blite ...................Suaeda depressa
Western Snowberry ...Symphoricarpos occidentalis
Whitetop ......................Scolochloa festucacea
Wild Black Current ............Ribes americanum
Wild Mint ...............................Mentha arvensis
Wood’s Rose ...............................Rosa woodsii
APPENDIX 2Agencies and organizations able to provide information and assistance onwetlands and wetland management.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - PFRA603 CIBC Tower1800 Hamilton Street, Regina, SK S4P 4L2Phone (306) 780-5070Website - http//aceis.agr.ca/PFRA/
Agriculture and Agri-Food CanadaPFRA Shelterbelt CentreBox 940 Indian Head, SK S0G 2K0Phone (306) 695-2284Website - http//aceis.agr.ca/PFRA/
Agriculture Canada - PFRAP.O. Box 1150 Watrous, SK S0K 4T0Phone (306) 946 - 8720
Agriculture Canada - PFRA1410 A Caribou Street WestMoose Jaw, SK S6H 7S9Phone (306) 691 - 3370
Agriculture Canada - PFRA304 Royal Bank Tower1101 - 101st StreetNorth Battleford, SK S9A 0Z5Phone (306) 446 - 4050
Agriculture Canada - PFRA205 Federal BuildingWeyburn, Sask. S4H 0W0Phone (306) 848 - 4488
Agriculture Canada - PFRABox 1748 Melfort, SK S0E 1A0Phone (306) 752 - 4442
Agriculture Canada - PFRA1011 - 11 Innovation Blvd.Saskatoon, SK S7N 3H5Phone (306) 975 - 4693
Agriculture Canada - PFRABox 130 Melville, SK S0A 2P0Phone (306) 728 - 5790
Agriculture Canada - PFRAP. O. Box 1420 Rosetown, SK S0L 2V0Phone (306) 882 - 4272
Agriculture Canada - PFRAL.B.Thompson PlaceGate No. 2, SPARC, Airport RoadBox 1088 Swift Current, SK S9H 3X3Phone (306) 778 - 5000
Agriculture Canada - PFRAP.O. Box 155 Gravelbourg, SK S0H 1X0Phone (306) 648 - 2214
Agriculture Canada - PFRABox 430 Maple Creek, SK S0N 1N0Phone (306) 662 - 5520
Ducks Unlimited Canada (Regional Offices)
Ducks Unlimited CanadaOak Hammock Marsh Conservation CentreBox 1160 Stonewall, Manitoba R0C 2Z0Phone (204) 467 - 9028Web Site - http://www.ducks.ca
Ducks Unlimited Saskatchewan1606 - 4th Ave. Regina, SK S4P 3W7Phone (306) 569 - 0424WebSite -http://vm.ducks.ca/prov/skmenu.htm
Ducks Unlimited (Field Offices)
Box 1180 2552 Commerce DriveNorth Battleford, SK S9A 3K3Phone (306) 445 - 2575
Box 2139Highway # 3 West, Melfort, SK S0E 1A0Phone (306) 752 -2791
#13 - 301 45th Street WestSaskatoon, SK S7L 5Z9Phone (306) 665 -7356
Box 67077 1st Street NEWadena, SK S0A 4J0(306) 338 - 3677
Highway 16 A WestYorkton, SK S3N 2X3Phone (306) 782 - 2108
Box 250 Highway #123Cumberland House, SK S0E 0S0Phone (306) 888 -2149
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Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation444 River Street WestMoose Jaw, SK S6H 3J6Phone (306) 692 - 8812Website - http://wwwdi.com/swf
Sask Water Corporation4th Floor,Victoria Place111 Fairford Street EMoose Jaw, SK S6H 7X9Phone (306) 649 - 3900Website - http://www.saskwater.com
Sask Water OfficesSask WaterBox 2133, 201-1st Avenue ENipawin, SK S0E 1E0Phone (306) 862 -1750
Sask Water402 Royal Bank Building1101- 101st StreetNorth Battleford, SK S9A 0Z5Phone (306) 446 -7450
Sask WaterBox 5000, 350 Cheadle Street WestSwift Current, SK S9H 4G3Phone (306) 778 - 8257
Sask WaterWeyburn Square, 110 Souris AvenueWeyburn, SK S4H 2Z9Phone (306) 848 - 2345
Sask Water2nd Floor, 120 Smith Street EastYorkton, SK S3N 3V3Phone (306) 786 -1490
Saskatchewan Environment and ResourceManagement3211 Albert Street, Regina, SK S4S 5W6 Phone (306) 787 - 2314 Web site - http://www.serm.gov.sk.ca
Saskatchewan Purple Loosestrife EradicationProject Phone (306) 975 - 4101.
Saskatchewan Soil Conservation AssociationBox 1360 Indian Head, SK S0G 2K0Phone (306) 695 - 4233Website - http//paridss.usask.ca/consgroups/ssca
Saskatchewan Stock Growers AssociationBox 4752 Regina, SK S4P 3Y4Phone (306) 757 - 9499
Grazing and Pasture Technology ProgramBox 4752 Regina, SK S4P 3Y4Phone (306) 757 - 9499Website - http://www.aginfonet.sk.ca/agricarta/html/t_forages.html
Grazing and Pasture Offices
South West Regional Office#1 -1081 Central Avenue NorthSwift Current, SK. S9H 4Z1Phone (306) 778 - 8294
North West Regional Office5 - 100 1st Avenue WestUnity, SK S0K 4L0Phone (306) 228 - 6402
South East Regional OfficeBox 2003Weyburn, Saskatchewan S4H 2Z9Phone (306) 848 -2382
North East Regional Office105 Crawford Avenue WestBox 6500 Melfort, SK S0E 1A0Phone (306) 752 - 6159
Saskatchewan Wetland ConservationCorporationRoom 101 - 2022 Cornwall StreetRegina, SK S4P 2K5Phone (306) 787 - 0726Website - http://www.wetland.sk.ca
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project.Your design plans will have to be submitted to the regional office so that thestaff can complete a detailed evaluation. Forsome projects, the regional office may indicate that sketch plans are acceptable.
Upon request, engineering surveys, designsand plans may be undertaken by the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration(PFRA), depending on the availability of staff.If requested, Sask Water will undertake therequired engineering work, either directly orthrough the use of consultants.You will be charged 50 % of the cost involved up to$4,000 and all of the cost exceeding thatamount.
5.You may be required to advertise yourintention to construct by posting a notice toappear for 21 days in your local post officeand rural municipal office. In some cases, theregional office will also require that you advertise your intention for three consecutiveweeks in the newspaper serving the area inwhich the project is located.
6.The regional office will discuss with youany objections received as a result of the post-ing and/or advertising, and the options to dealwith them.
7. It is your responsibility to obtain land control from owners of other lands affectedby your works. Sask Water will seek ruralmunicipality and Department of Highwaysand Transportation approvals where a municipal road and/or a provincial highwaywill be affected.
8. Once all the legislative requirements havebeen met, Sask Water will issue an Approval toConstruct Works, and you can begin construction according to the approvedplans. PFRA may provide construction surveys for plans and designs they provide.Sask Water will provide that service if it provides the engineering work, subject tocharge-out costs as outlined in #4 above.
9.When you complete the works, Sask Waterwill have them inspected to confirm theywere built according to plans. If all is in order,Sask Water will issue an Approval to Operateworks subject to any terms and conditions required.
APPENDIX 3Approval to Construct/Operate DrainageWorks
Sask Water is the provincial crown corporation responsible for managing and administering the province’s water resources.
Before you can construct or operate mosttypes of drainage works, you must obtainapproval from Sask Water. Some types ofdrainage works do not require approval underThe Drainage Control Regulations which are apart of The Water Corporation Act. In somecases, approval will also be required fromSaskatchewan Environment and ResourceManagement (SERM). However, you will beinformed by Sask Water when approval fromSERM is necessary.By discussing your proposal with staff at thenearest Sask Water Regional Office, you willbe advised whether or not you have to obtainapproval to proceed.
Where an approval is required, the followingbasic steps are followed:
1. Obtain an application form from the region-al office of Sask Water for your area. (This will provide you with an excellentopportunity to discuss your project with theregional office staff and deal with any questions or concerns they or you might haveabout the project, the application form andthe procedure to be followed.)
2. Submit your application to the appropriateregional office along with the appropriate fee.The fee is $25 for an individual project, $50for a joint project and $100 for all other pro-jects.
3. Sask Water will review the application forpotential conflicts with other water projectsand to estimate possible downstream effects.If it is determined that downstream effectsmay be significant, a project evaluation andinvestigation of outlet sufficiency may berequired.
4. If it appears that the proposal will beapproved as submitted, you will, in mostcases, be requested to have surveys undertaken and provide a design of the
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RIGHT TO APPEALUnder Section 77 of the Water CorporationAct, the applicant or any person affected byany action, order, or decision by theCorporation has the right to appeal a decision to issue or deny an approval and anyterms or conditions attached to an approval.The appeal is heard by the Water AppealBoard, appointed under the Water AppealBoard Act.
An application form is available for smallprojects while larger, more complex projectswill require submission of detailed plans.Applications should be made at least thirtydays in advance of project startup.Proponents are encouraged to discuss theirproject with the SERM area manager orregional fisheries biologist early in the planning stages so they are aware of anyregulatory concerns and can plan their project accordingly.
SERM staff will review the project and determine if the project can be approved,approved with conditions, or if it must berejected. If there are concerns, the project isdiscussed with the proponent and additional information may be requested ormodifications to the plan may be suggested.When the project is approved, a ShorelandAlteration Permit is issued with appropriateconditions to minimize impacts to aquatichabitat.
During the SERM review, if the reviewerdetermines that the project has potential todestroy fish habitat, the proposal will bereferred to the federal Department ofFisheries and Oceans (DFO). A separatereview by that agency will then be conducted.
Following completion of the project, aninspection is conducted by SERM staff toensure that all permit conditions were followed.
Shoreland Alteration permit
Saskatchewan Environment and ResourceManagement is responsible for the management and protection ofSaskatchewan’s natural resources, includingfish, wildlife, lands, forests, air, soil, water.
The Environmental Management andProtection Act requires that a ShorelandAlteration Permit must be obtained beforeany work is conducted in or along anywater body in Saskatchewan.This includesall works that have potential to alter the bedor bank of the water body, add material to the water body, remove material from the water body or removeaquatic vegetation from the water body.Some examples of projects that requireapproval by a Shoreline Alteration Permitinclude channel clearing, channelization,dam construction and road crossings(including low level and ford crossings).
One important exception to the requirementto obtain a permit for work that will occuron a water body is that a permit is notrequired for work conducted by a landowner on sloughs and dugouts situatedcompletely on his own land. However, a permit is required for work on private landif the water body is connected to other waterbodies or water courses not located on landowned by the individual carrying out theproject.
Permits may be obtained by applying to thenearest SERM area office.
To file an appeal, you write to:The Water Appeal BoardRoom 216, 3085 Albert StreetRegina, SaskatchewanS4S 0B1
It is important to note that a notice of appealmust be filed within 30 days and must beaccompanied by the appeal fee of $200 asrequired by the regulations.See Appendix 2. for addresses of Sask Water’sregional offices.
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Water Management FrameworkSaskatchewan people recognize the importance of water to their lives andwell-being and recognize the need to protect and use those waterresources wisely. The importance of water to provincial residents and theneed to address critical water issues has led the Government ofSaskatchewan to develop an integrated Water Management Framework.
Management of water in Saskatchewan today is more complex than in thepast. Demands on water are greater than they were even a few years ago.Water resource management strategies must balance competing demands,address growing requirements and optimize social, cultural, environmentaland economic benefits for all the people of Saskatchewan.
The Water Management Framework was developed around the following three themes.Objectives that provincial agencies must fulfill inorder to realize the water management goalsare listed under each theme.
1. Protection of water and wetlands• Maintain, restore and protect the health of
aquatic and riparian ecosystems and drinking water sources• Minimize contamination of waterbodies• Protect aquifers from depletion and contamination• Foster wetland retention and orderly drainage in accordance with
regulations and public policy
2. Management and Development of the Resource• Enhance safety of municipal and domestic drinking water supplies• Promote water developments with broad public benefits• Promote economic diversification and stability through sustainable use
of water and related land resources• Prevent bulk export of water• Establish innovative approaches for financing costs of developing,
operating, maintaining and upgrading infrastructure• Plan developments in consideration of the potential effects of flood,
drought and climate change• Clearly define and fully integrate agency mandates and activities
related to water• Manage water on a watershed basis• Recognize Aboriginal peoples’ interests• Monitor and research water resources
3. Coordination of government activities and public involvement in decision-making
• Enhance public awareness and involvement in water management planning and decision making
• Recognize the intrinsic and economic value of water and cost of its management
For further information, contact SaskWater at (306) 867-5500 or Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management at (306) 787-2700
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Saskatchewan’s Wetland Policy
Increased awareness by Saskatchewan residents about the decline of theprovince’s wetland resources led the Government of Saskatchewan, in1995, to develop a policy to aid in the conservation of provincial wetlandresources. The Saskatchewan Wetland Policy is seen as complementary tothe development of overall land and water management strategies for theprovince.
Saskatchewan residents guided the planning and development, and arecontinuing to guide implementation of the policy through various groupsin this province.
ObjectivesImplementation of the policy is based on five key objectives:• to increase awareness of the benefits of wetlands;• to increase wetland monitoring;• to coordinate government policies and programs to improve
wetland management;• to develop land-use planning guidelines for wetland
management;• to encourage landowners to maintain wetlands.
Wetland Policy PrinciplesThe following principles will guide delivery of wetland policy.• Wetlands are a valuable resource with multiple benefits.• The rights of landowners and their role in the stewardship of
land are recognized and their ongoing involvement is assured.• The interest of aboriginal people in resource management will
be respected and their involvement is assured.• Wetland conservation will be pursued in an integrated
approach to land use planning and management.• Sustainable uses of wetlands are to be achieved through
partnerships and co-operation with all levels of government and thepublic. The public will continue to be informed and involved inwetland management decisions through activities such as educationand awareness programs and public consultations.
• All government organizations involved with or affectingwetlands are to recognize and consider wetland functions in theirpolicy and program development and decision-making.
• Wetlands are an intrinsic component of broad ecologicalprocesses and systems. Wetland management will be carried outusing an ecosystems approach.
ContactFor further information, contact the Saskatchewan Wetland Conservation Corporationat (306)787-0726.
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APPENDIX 5The following organizations are qualified tohold conservation easements. For more information, contact the agency that best suitsyour objectives for conservation and landmanagement.
Ducks Unlimited CanadaPhone (306) 569-0424Website - http://www.ducks.ca
Meewasin valley AuthorityPhone (306) 665-6887Website - http://www.lights.com/meewasin
Nature SaskatchewanPhone (306) 780-9273Website - http://www.unibase.com/~nature
Rocky Mountain Elk FoundationPhone (306) 691-2854Website - http://www.rmef.org
Saskatchewan Environment and ResourceManagement Phone (306) 787-2314Website - http://www.serm.gov.sk.ca
Saskatchewan Parks and RecreationalAssociation Phone (306) 780-9262Website - http://www.spra.sk.ca
Saskatchewan Wetland ConservationCorporation Phone (306) 787-0726Website - http://www.wetland.sk.ca
Saskatchewan Wildlife FederationPhone (306) 692-8812Website - http://wwwdi.com/swf/index.html
Wakamow Valley AuthorityPhone (306) 692-2717Website -http//www.asupca.sk.ca/wakamow.htm
Wascana Centre AuthorityPhone (306) 522-3661Website - http//www.wascana.sk.ca
Nature Conservancy of CanadaPhone (403) 294-7064Website - http//www.natureconservancy.ca
Trans-Canada Trail FoundationPhone (306) 780-9262Website - http://www.tctrail.ca
APPENDIX 4
Ducks Unlimited Canada Programs
Ducks Unlimited Canada in cooperation withpartners delivers a wide range of programsthat promote soil, water and wetland conservation.These programs are designed tosecure wildlife habitat and to demonstrateand provide incentives to alter agriculturalpractices.They may provide financial assistance to landowners.
• Habitat Purchase
• Wetland Restoration
• Cropland Conversion to Forages
• Land Use Exchange Program
• Planned Grazing Systems
• Winter Cereals Extension
• Flushing Bars
• Salinity Plantings
For more information on which programs areavailable in your area, please contact the nearest field office of DucksUnlimited Canada.