freewheat & others

[Klause]

Freewheat, I realize you're in an area that's been
wet for a few years now... I know you've talked
about draining - and not being able to.

Is the pile-up of water what's causing all the extra
rain to fall? Do you have the ability to get drainage
tile installed? Perhaps it's time to get your
neighbors together and start lobbying for better
drainage, tiles in low spots, etc. Considering what
you've said in the other thread, that the land is
nearly perfect for agriculture, you should have a
VERY plausible case, no?

Is it the Municipality causing the issue? Prov. Gov?

[gregpet]

Mainly the cabin owners at Fishing Lake. Thankfully we are not in that area and can still do some landscaping.

[grrrr]

The trouble with drainage is that the water has to go somewhere. What gives someone the right to take something they don't want (water) and dump it on someone else. That might be 2 miles away or 22 miles but the water does not just dissappear. Back when C D ditches were being dug in this area guns were taken off the back windows of half tons and pointed at those doing the digging. Luckily cooler heads prevailed at the time, but if some of those guys were around today, the guns would be coming out again.

[sumdumguy]

Farming South of Regina would not exist without drainage projects.

[wmoebis]

Maybe Ducks Unlimited would suport daining the marsh lands so you could plant winter wheat. Get them to move the flyways into your areas then we could drain our sloughs without out screwing there nesting habits here.

[booboo04]

Key to any drainage, in any area is an adequate outlet for the water (and/or consent by downstream owners up to and including the adequate outlet). An adequate outlet is one where no significant affects occur). In most cases an adequate outlet is a creek or stream.

With times like we are seeing now there is a chance to get consents because everyone is in a flood condition.

I work for the Watershed Authority and feel the only option the Assinoboine Area has is to get together and talk to our provincial Minister.


You should find out where your adequate outlet is in a high rainfall year. If your water runs and your minor streams are running all year, then your adequate outlet might be your own field and drainage does not affect anyone adversely downstream of you. However be aware that in any other year the adequate outlet will be further downstream.

I do not know of any drainage approvals with a variable outlet location, but think it could work. Sask environment let's communities drain overflowing lagoons with a special one time permit (sometimes 2 or 3 one time permits), maybe farmers should have the same privilege.

Drainage is expensive, but in some areas it now may make sense. Up near Carrot River, Arborfield, and Melfort controlled drainage works. Those guys are really smart. They have C&Ds. Local governing bodies that can tax and then provide capital construction works where they can. At one time the provincial government did all the engineering and paid 50% of the construction and maintenance. Try to get that back, and now is your only chance.

Controlled drainage can work. Where it fails is when one farmer hates the next, and most likely a ditch will cross paths of people who hate each other. Its a real problem since one poor sport can stop just about any project. I have heard of guys buying downstream land just to block a project.

I have found, against what many say, is one large slough is better than several. In our area (Craven) one large receptical slough is best, however where you have water courses that cross your fields that is impossible.

Lastly if you want a chance to drain at all, then call it water control. DO NOT call it drainage, not ever.

[fjlip]

We HAVE C&D ditches that are full of cattails and 4' tall grass so water is barely moving. Beavers are a regular issue too. We could NOT mow them last fall due to WET conditions and now it's even worse. There is little slope in the area so it's near impossible to drain. The water will be V ditched by most before winter but there will be conflict and road damage next spring, IMO.

[ado089]

I wish I could share some of my slope with you.

[Hopperbin]

Flip those CDs must be trackhoed out. Just raise the taxes from upstream. Isn't that the purpose of the C&D to keep the water moving?

[fjlip]

Yes it is, but moving dirt is not called maintenance, it "silt removal in restricted areas". Sask Water will not fund at 50% any "reconstruction". It's very expensive, plus the spoil must be dealt with, to leave a mow able bank. No new projects are being permitted due to all the regulations in place now. Best we can hope for is to MOW existing works and keep water moving. I'd say it's TOO wet here for track hoes, water is out of banks, ditches are full!

[booboo04]

Fjlip, appears you are in a C&D area. If so the C&D should be allowed to clean out the licenced ditch. Maybe for some reason the govt will not let you. Anyway, a track hoe can go anywhere, 15yrs ago we had them up to the floorboards in mud (rentals are good for that).

Just a note, SaskWater is not the crown responsible for C&Ds and water control projects, it is the responsibilty of The Saskatchewan Watershed Authority.

Maybe you need to use the Watershed Authority's Channel Clearing or Minor Channel Improvement Policys. I have been away from that side of things for 15 years.

Just trying to help!!!!

[fjlip]

Thanks booboo, correct it is SWA, but policy has changed and is still changing as we speak. Moving water for governments is a touchy situation. Our ditches were reconstructed in 1988 when there was a "drought" here. They are mostly levelled and rock free, perfect for mowing in the late summer or fall. Silting from erosion is not happening due to 20'grassed banks and as I stated low slopes. We would not want to rip them up to get at the weeds.