Saskatchewan has approved the largest single agricultural drainage project in the province’s history.
Seventy-three landowners and more than 18,000 acres are involved in a single approval for the Dry Lake Project in the Gooseberry Lake Watershed southeast of Regina.
All existing drainage works and some future works have been included in the project, which will provide land control and security for the landowners. There will be 30 gated structures controlling the release of water during spring runoff.
The joint application negated the need for legal easements on 113 quarter sections of land or landowner-to-landowner agreements.
“This single project is equal to roughly one year of drainage approvals issued in southeast Saskatchewan, which is remarkable progress,” said environment minister Scott Moe.
The project also restored 34 acres of wetlands on existing drainage and 21 acres of wetland on new drainage.
The Water Security Agency is working with hundreds of other landowners on 12 projects across the province, which will encompass more than 160,000 acres.
karen.briere@producer.com
