Who is the CRVWA and what do we do?
We are often mistaken for the Water Security Agency (WSA)…and by often, we mean, at least a couple times a week. We think the most likely reason is because that agency formerly was called the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority. Many referred to them as the “Watershed Authority” or even just “Watershed”, and that name has stuck with people despite the fact that they officially changed their name in 2012. This mistaken identity does lead to some pretty interesting discussions, and sometimes brings us some projects, but most often adds to the frustration that has led the individual to contact us in the first place.
Recently, WSA created an informational fact sheet that outlines the key differences between Watershed Stewardship Groups (that’s us!), Conservation & Development Area Authorities (C&Ds) and Watershed Associations. You can find this fact sheet here WSA – Types of Water Management Groups. This fact sheet is a great resource to help explain the differences between these three groups.
In a nutshell, Watershed Stewardship Groups are non-profit, grassroots organizations, driven by local stakeholders and members which include Urban and Rural Municipalities, and special interest groups, such as C&Ds, Regional Parks, local Wildlife Federations, etc. These groups originally formed to drive watershed based source water protection planning and projects, and work on a wide variety of stewardship based programming ranging from invasive species to shoreline stewardship. Watershed Stewardship Groups focus on protecting and preserving our watersheds through education and awareness. Core funding for the 11 Watershed Stewardship Groups comes from the WSA, but the groups actively seek out grants, solicit memberships, and work with partners to secure funding to implement projects within their local areas. Provincially, the Watershed Stewardship Groups are represented y the Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds.
On the other hand, Watershed Associations function much more like a C&D. Watershed Associations are a form of local government, can charge a levy, and fall under the legal authority of The Watershed Associations Act. Members of Watershed Associations include Rural and Urban Municipalities, C&Ds and Irrigation Districts that have come together to work together on issues including flooding.
Conservation & Development Area Authorities (C&Ds) are also a form of local government, can charge a levy, and fall under The Conservation & Development Act. C&Ds are made up of private landowners, most often farmers, that have come together to address issues of drainage, flooding and erosion. According to WSA, there are approximately 90 active C&Ds in Saskatchewan.
You can learn more about how to form a Watershed Association or C&D, what activities are considered drainage (a topic for another day), and more on the WSA website.
Species at Risk in Saskatchewan
Species at Risk are plant or animal species that have populations that are declining to the point of disappearing all together. These species are often sensitive to human activity and natural events, and require careful consideration and management to ensure their survival and protection. The Saskatchewan Species at Risk Farm Program from SimplyAg Solutions Inc. works to help protect, enhance, and increase awareness of species at risk on farms in Saskatchewan; enables producers to complete a voluntary and confidential farm self-assessment to develop a Species at Risk Farm Action Plan; and provides producers the opportunity to accessing funding through the Saskatchewan Species at Risk Farm Program. You can learn more about the “target species” for this program at http://simplyag.ca/target-species/.
In partnership with SimplyAg Solutions Inc., we are hosting a Species at Risk (SAR) Workshop on Thursday, March 23, 2017 from 9am to 4pm at our office in Melfort. This free workshop is open to producers that are interested in learning about Species at Risk in Saskatchewan. This workshop will provide details on identification techniques, how to determine which SAR habitat you have on your farm and ranch and how you can manage for SAR while benefiting your farm or ranch operation. You will have the opportunity to complete a farm/ranch assessment where you will identify the different habitat types on your farm or ranch and work through an action plan where you will work through some species specific BMPs. You can find out more about the Saskatchewan Species at Risk Farm Program at http://simplyag.ca/brochure/ or by contacting our local program representative.
For more details and to register, please contact Morgan Leigh, Saskatchewan Species at Risk Farm Program Representative, at 306-921-6631.
Did you see us on the news? Find us at 7:45 in the video!
Thank you to Newcap News for coming to our Technology in Agriculture Stewardship workshop on January 25, 2017 and for the news story that aired on February 2 as a result! Our story is at about 7:45 in the video below.
2017 Poster Contest – Water Conservation
The Carrot River Valley Watershed Association (CRVWA) is pleased to partner with the Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds (SAW) to host our 6th Annual Poster Contest! This year, the poster contest theme is Water Conservation. The poster contest is open to all students in Grades 5 through 7 that live and/or attend school within the Carrot River Watershed area. The CRVWA will be providing prizes for the top three local winners, and the first place poster will then move on to the provincial contest to complete against the top posters from the other 10 watersheds for the chance to win the provincial Grand Prize – which consists of a $500 prize package for the student and $500 for their classroom! Entry deadline is 4pm on Friday, March 17, 2017. Full contest details and entry forms are available by contacting our office.
Prizes will be awarded as follows, with no substitutions:
Grand Prize (Provincially) – $500 prize package for the student and $500 for the student’s classroom.
Locally: First Prize—CRVWA backpack and merchandise, and 10 Punch Youth Swim Pass for the Northern Lights Palace Pool in Melfort (approximate value of $100).
Second Prize—CRVWA backpack and merchandise, and 1-Bowling Pass at Melfort Bowl (approximate value of $75).
Third Prize—CRVWA backpack and merchandise (approximate value of $50).
Contest details:
- Contest is open to youth in grades 5, 6 and 7 that live and/or attend school within the Carrot River Watershed. A list of eligible schools is available from the CRVWA office. All entries should reflect a Water Conservation theme.
- Formatting guidelines:
- Artwork must be 100% hand-drawn, original artwork on a 8½’’ X 11’’ white piece of paper.
- Any medium may be used (pencil crayon, paint, wax crayon, marker, etc.).
- Posters will be judged based on the following criteria:
- Accuracy and knowledge of information presented within the poster (i.e. illustrations demonstrate the student’s understanding of the topic).
- The artwork demonstrates an appreciation of water conservation.
- General artistic ability and creativity.
- All posters are to be mailed or hand delivered to : Carrot River Valley Watershed Association, 202 Main Street or PO Box 40, Melfort, SK S0E 1A0
- All entries must be received before 4pm on Friday, March 17, 2017, the closing date of the contest.
- All entries become property of the Carrot River Valley Watershed Association, and may be used in print or promotional materials, social media, newsletters, website, etc. now or in the future.
- The 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners of the local contest agree to have their name and poster published in CRVWA newsletters, crwatershed.ca, Facebook and Twitter.
- Parent permission is required on all entries, and this Poster Contest Details sheet must be completed and attached to each entry. Only one entry per child.
- Judges at the local level will be CRVWA staff and board members. The decision of the judges is final. All winners will be notified by telephone.
- Provincial judging will occur in Esterhazy on April 6, 2017 in conjunction with the Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds Annual Conference.
- Immediate family and household members of CRVWA Board Members and CRVWA Staff are ineligible.
Happy Holidays from the CRVWA!
Season’s Greetings from the Board and Staff of the Carrot River Valley Watershed Association! Our office will be closed December 23-January 3 as we take some time to enjoy the holiday season with our family and friends. Thank you for your continued support of the CRVWA and all the best in 2017.
Kitchen Table Workshops – Let us bring the workshop to you!
Are you interested in finding out about the Farm Stewardship Program (FSP) and the Farm and Ranch Water Infrastructure Program (FRWIP)? Don’t want to miss out on funding opportunities for your farming operation? The Carrot River Valley Watershed Technician is coming out to farms over the next couple of months to give producers the run down on these two programs at no cost or obligation to you. All you need to do is book a time with our Technician, invite over a few of your neighbours, supply the coffee, and then sit back, listen and learn about these programs and cost-shared funding available to producers in our area!
Each kitchen table visit can be tailored to suite your specific needs. Various topics can be discussed such as water source development & management, waterway erosion control, forage conversion for erosion control or salinity control, variable rate fertilizer application, creek crossings, grain bag recycling, and more. Land can be pre-assessed for eligibility for forage conversion and we supply aerial imagery of land you are considering completing a project on at each visit.
Invite your neighbours out, swap project ideas, ask questions, and make a fun afternoon or evening of it! Our Technician can fill your applications out with you and help identify cost-shared funding programs that may be a fit for your project ideas. Take this opportunity to connect with your local Agri-Environmental Group Plan Technician and be kept in the loop on future opportunities.
FRWIP applications must be received by August 1, 2017. All claim forms for approved projects must be submitted by February 15, 2018.
FSP pre-approval applications must be received by June 30, 2017. All claim forms for approved projects and all rebate applications must be received by January 31, 2018.
Simply contact Charlotte Gayler, AAg at the Carrot River Valley Watershed Association at 306-920-8166 or 306-752-1270 or email crwatershedaegp@gmail.com to book your kitchen table workshop today!
