BRUNO, Sask. – Gord Bender said unauthorized farmland drainage has contributed to the first flood his central Saskatchewan farmyard has experienced in 53 years.
Bender has complained to provincial water authorities and his municipality for 12 years about unauthorized local drainage, but none of the drains were reversed and this year’s one-in-50-year spring runoff has flooded his yard.
April Fool’s Day filled his basement with sewage as flooding from fields spilled into his lagoon.
His home was further threatened by heavy snowpacks melting in nearby fields and flowing onto his property.
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This year’s spring melt is threatening farms across the northern half of Saskatchewan. Some areas are reaching 25 to 100 year highs in spring water flows, says the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority.
Bender said it wasn’t just the spring’s higher than normal water level that brought the water to his home.
“I have been complaining to SaskWater and the municipality about local ditching activities since 1995. Nobody came and asked. Nobody, as far as I can tell, had a permit to do the ditching.”
But until the water rose April 1, “nobody seemed to care because it hadn’t flooded me yet,” said Bender.
Don Dill of the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority said often the full effect of farmland ditching doesn’t appear until a spring like this one.
“But drainage without approval is illegal and a serious matter that we do investigate,” Dill said.
Bender said the $200 fee charged to launch an investigation is steep.
“I’ve made casual complaints before. Now I have to pay this fee on top of several grand to have dikes built, lawyers’ fees, a wrecked basement, ruined yard and lawn and the loss of all my son’s toys,” said the single father, who has taken two weeks off work to keep the floodwater away from his house.
“All so a few acres can be drained so it can be farmed with bigger equipment,” he said.
Insurance will provide money to repair the damage to his home and replace contents due to the sewage damage, but should the water rise another half metre and flood his home, there will be no additional coverage.
Lonnie Sowa, administrator of the Rural Municipality of Byrne, said the provincial water authority has provided a pump and the legal right to start pumping the water away from Bender’s home. He hopes that will prevent further damage.
Bender said initially he was concerned that if he started pumping water to protect his home he might be charged if he flooded someone else downstream.
He feels being asked to pay a fee to investigate local drainage is unfair.
Dill said the fee was implemented to reduce frivolous complaints, but admits it is unpopular.
Don Johnson of the watershed authority said the watershed’s regional offices take complaints and requests for investigations about unapproved drainage and water diversions as well as poorly sized culverts through roadways.
“In a very dry year we don’t get too many. This year we’re expecting a bunch between now and seeding, then a lot more between seeding and spraying (season),” Johnson said.
