Prairie weather has always tended to extremes, but now climate scientists are telling farmers to expect drier and longer droughts as well as more flooding in the years to come. The challenge of balancing public versus private interest and town versus farm needs will be determined by the quality of our decisions about managing the […] Read more
Tag Archives Water Security Agency — page 2
Prairie wetland loss estimates raise questions
Wetland retention is likely much lower than the figure advertised by the Water Security Agency, say scientists
REGINA — Scientists say the Water Security Agency’s claim that 86 per cent of Saskatchewan’s wetlands remain is based on recent rather than historical data. “My understanding is that they were using baseline years around 2006,” said Colin Whitfield, associate professor at the School of Environment and Sustainability and Global Institute for Water Security at […] Read more
Sask. wetland retention number questioned
The opposition NDP claims the government is overstating the percentage of wetlands that remain intact in the province
REGINA — The opposition NDP questioned the Saskatchewan government’s wetland retention last week, saying the Water Security Agency is advertising false numbers. Erika Ritchie, MLA for Saskatoon Nutana, said the agency is using public money to publish ads claiming that 86 per cent of the province’s wetlands are undrained. “If only that were true,” she […] Read more
Governments top up payments to Saskatchewan livestock producers
The Canada-Saskatchewan Feed Program accepted applications until March 15 and is now making final payments to eligible producers
REGINA — Livestock producers who enrolled in Saskatchewan’s drought relief program last fall will get additional payments within a few weeks. Agriculture minister David Marit announced April 8 that there is enough money within the Canada-Saskatchewan Feed Program to add to the initial payments of $150 per head. The top-up will be up to $50 […] Read more
Sask. reservoirs mostly full
REGINA — Saskatchewan’s Water Security Agency said April 3 that it expects most of the province’s reservoirs to fill this spring. The agency said 33 of the 45 major reservoirs are near full or will fill, and six more are between 70 and 90 percent full and still filling. The remaining six that won’t fill […] Read more
Sask. goes it alone on irrigation development
Premier Scott Moe says construction costs are rising and the provincial government will allocate funding as the project proceeds in phases
REGINA — Saskatchewan will begin constructing the first phase of its Lake Diefenbaker irrigation project on its own after it was unable to secure Ottawa as a financial partner. Premier Scott Moe announced last week that the $1.15 billion Westside Irrigation Project would be cost-shared with producers at a ratio that hasn’t yet been determined. […] Read more
Sask. expects little runoff
REGINA — Saskatchewan producers could experience another drought year in 2024, according to the Water Security Agency’s preliminary runoff report. Spring runoff is expected to be well below normal in most of the province. Snowpack accumulation has been minimal and as of Feb. 1 the entire province is rated well below normal for anticipated runoff […] Read more
Sask. watches water levels closely
REGINA — The head of Saskatchewan’s Water Security Agency says the province is watching Alberta’s preparation for potential water shortages with concern but also with the security of Lake Diefenbaker behind it. Chief executive officer Shawn Jaques said the situations are different because of the “gem” reservoir created in the 1960s. He said aside from […] Read more
Sask. irrigators keep their eyes on water supply
Levels at Lake Diefenbaker were lower than usual going into winter but still significant; province’s snow cover also low
MEDICINE HAT — River flow, low mountain snowpack and reservoirs struggling to fill in southern Alberta haven’t escaped the attention of irrigators in Saskatchewan as the traditional wet spring becomes critical. Mountain snowpack levels across Alberta’s Eastern Slopes as well as those in Montana that feed into the St. Mary and Milk rivers are well […] Read more
Prairie water users watch mountain snowpack
Alberta officials say the region’s moisture shortage remains dire but stress the situation could easily turn itself around
MEDICINE HAT — The best greeting for farmers attending last week’s Irrigation Production Conference was the dump of snow outside the Agri-Food Hub and Trade Centre in Lethbridge. Inside, the need for that type of precipitation was laid bare in order to avoid a water shortage this year. The numbers tell the tale as to […] Read more
