Illegal drainers, beware.
Fourteen new water resource officers will be posted throughout Manitoba to enforce the province’s water legislation.
Water stewardship minister Christine Melnick said tougher enforcement will mean heftier fines for breaking the law, up to $2,000 per offence.
“Proper drainage of water on agricultural lands is critical, not only for optimal production of those lands but also to ensure our aquatic ecosystems are appropriately protected,” Melnick said.
The water stewardship department has established a water control works and drainage licensing branch with 25 staff, including the additional new water resource officers.
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New and existing employees will receive regulatory and enforcement training as well as training that focuses on principles of integrated watershed management.
Manitoba is amending its offence notices regulation under the Summary Convictions Act to allow for more efficient and timely enforcement for certain offences under the Water Rights Act. Designated officers will be able to issue tickets with projected fines increasing to more than $2,000 per offence. A single, unlicensed drainage work may incur multiple fines should compliance not occur.
Melnick also announced funding for a manual of environmentally friendly approaches and designs for drainage projects that will be available to municipalities and landowners.
The focus will be on protecting water quality and fish habitat while meeting the needs for land drainage.
As well, she announced an increase of $1.2 million in funding to support conservation districts in Manitoba, of which $800,000 will be allocated to capital infrastructure projects for districts that maintain provincial waterways.
Total provincial funding of $5.6 million will help conservation districts develop and implement cost-shared programs directed at sustainable water and land use.
