The Swift Flowing River: Summer 2018
A South Saskatchewan Watershed Steward E-Newsletter
SSRWSI UPDATE
SSRWSI Board appreciates the contributions made by board representatives that are stepping down.
The board of the SSRWSI, thanks the City of Saskatoon for their support in having Watershed Protection Manager, Twyla Yobb, and the Town of Cabri in having Rob Oldhaver sit on the board of directors.

We'd like to thank Twyla for her dedication and time spent over the past year while the watershed was without a coordinator. Her contributions have been significant and greatly appreciated.

Robert has been a long-standing member of the board of directors since inception in 2007. The board would like to express their gratidue for his support over the years from Source Water Protection Planning to guiding Agri-Environmental programs as well as his dedication to watershed stewardship since 2004. His insight and passion will be missed.
The South Saskatchewan River Watershed Stewards held their Annual General Meeting on April 27, 2018 in Osler, Sask. The meeting was well attended with representation from eleven communities including cities, rural municipalities, and resort communities. Thank you to everyone who came out!

Discussions included: developments along the river and lakes; aging infrastructure; drainage; City of Saskatoon Green Infrastructure Strategy; raising awareness of water quality threats; beneficial management practices.

We would like to extend a warm welcome to our incoming board members Debbie McGuire, Wayne Acorn, and Craig Tondevold. Congratulations to Leah Tallis and Kerry Lowndes on assuming the roles of Watershed Coordinators!
The South Saskatchewan River Watershed Stewards are excited to be building a biobed with the Meewasin Valley Authority. With the support of an environmental grant through the city of Saskatoon, a biobed will be built for use by the Meewasin Valley Authority and city staff.
Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds (SAW) is the umbrella organization for the 11 watershed groups in the province. Each watershed is represented by one delegate to serve on the SAW board of directors. The board meets 5 times per year, meetings taking place in either Moose Jaw or Regina.
2018 Wetlands and Wildlife Poster Contest Winner
Congratulations to Keardyn Cairns of Dalmeny! Keardyn’s poster for the Wetlands and Wildlife Poster Contest, hosted by the SSRWSI and Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds (SAW), was selected to represent the watershed at the recent provincial AGM of SAW.
We are looking for a site for a well decommissioning demonstration. 
Contact us for more details. 
For more information contact Leah at 306-291-7499 or Kerry at 306-460-4987
ARTICLES & PROGRAMS OF INTEREST
Recently 2 public meetings were held at Loreburn and Elbow with presentations and discussions on how to protect Lake Diefenbaker from aquatic invasive mussels (AIM). These meetings were very well attended, as local communities consider how best to prevent the introduction of these mussels. As a result of these meetings a Lake Diefenbaker Task Force has been put together and has been busy putting together a plan.
Your hand pushes the lever. Flush.

Water swirls around the bowl. It captures everything in its path and carries it down a series of pipes.

This is a process you, like most Canadians, will repeat approximately five times each day. And according to Home Water Works, “toilet flushing is the single highest use of water in the average home.”

But how many of us know where the wastewater we produce actually goes?
Saskatchewan has its own success in the town of Vonda, east of Saskatoon. Check out the January 2015 Western Producer article highlighting their project. Since the article was written, Ducks Unlimited Canada has handed control of the wetland over to the town.
UPCOMING EVENTS
June 20, 2018
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Title: Comparing the Population Benefits of Habitat Restoration Options: Greater Sage-grouse in Alberta

Speaker: Julie Heinrichs, Research Scientist, Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University

This presentation is FREE! Tune in from anywhere! Everyone welcome!

For more information contact SK PCAP at 306 352 0472 or pcap@sasktel.net
PCAP continues to plan the 20th Annual Native Prairie Appreciation Week 2018 (June 17th - 23rd). We plan to have the youth poster contest and a native prairie photo contest again, in addition to other activities

The 17th Society for Range Management - Prairie Parkland Chapter - Annual Tour will be held in conjunction with Saskatchewan's 20th Annual Native Prairie Appreciation Week (NPAW) on June 21 and 22. This year's topic is Range Management with Limited Time and Resources.
June 21 - 22, 2018
Beechy, SK

Registration deadline: June 14, 2018
June 26, 2018
Saskatchewan Landing, SK
This specialized course is designed specifically for reclamation and environmental assessment practitioners! This Workshop will be led by some of Saskatchewan's most experienced Ecologists and Botanists. Topics include native grass ID, upland forb ID using vegetative characteristics, invasive weed ID, building understanding of ecological sites, and more. Space is limited to 30 participants, so register early!

For more information contact the Saskatchewan Forage Council at office@saskforage.ca .
August 2, 2018
The North Watershed Advisory Committee meeting will be held August 2, 2018. Location to be determined. 

Please join us to discuss issues that you are concerned about in the northern area of the South Saskatchewan River Watershed.
OUR COMMUNITY
Have you renewed your membership for 2018?
Membership is open to Urban and Rural Municipalities, First Nations, and Special Interest Groups that are within the South Saskatchewan River Watershed.

To renew or apply for a 2018 Membership in the SSRWSI, please contact Shauna Prokopchuk, Association Manager, via email at shauna@managewise.ca.

2018 SSRWSI Members
Urban Municipalities

City of Saskatoon
Resort Village of Shields
Resort Village of Thode
Town of Cudworth
Town of Kindersley
Town of Leader
Town of Osler
Town of Rosthern
Village of Alvena
Village of Loreburn
Village of Riverhurst

Special Interest Group

Meewasin Valley Authority
Rural Municipalities

RM of Chesterfield No 261
RM of Corman Park No 344
RM of Excelsior No 166
RM of Fertile Valley No 285
RM of Fish Creek No 402
RM of Happyland No 231
RM of Hoodoo No 401
RM of Kindersley No 290
RM of Lacadena No 228
RM of Loreburn No 254
RM of Miry Creek No 229
RM of Montrose No 315
RM of Newcombe No 260
RM of Prince Albert No 461
RM of Rosthern No 403
RM of Saskatchewan Landing No 167
RM of Snipe Lake No 259
The South Saskatchewan River Watershed
The South Saskatchewan River Watershed is the second largest watershed in Saskatchewan, covering 35,000 km2. The South Saskatchewan River in Saskatchewan is 715 km long, from the Alberta border to the confluence of the North and South Saskatchewan Rivers at "The Forks" just east of Prince Albert. It supports nearly half of Saskatchewan's total population as a source for municipal and private drinking water. The Watershed includes 54 Rural Municipalities and 81 communities, including the Cities of Saskatoon, Warman and Martensville.
SSRWSI Staff
Watershed Coordinators, Agri-Environmental Technical Services

 Association Manager

Marketing Communications Manager
SSRWSI Board of Directors
West Watershed Area
Lorne Janzen, Town of Kindersley
Craig Tondevold, Town of Leader

Lake Diefenbaker Watershed Area
Harold Martens, RM of Excelsior
Coy Schellenberg, RM of Victory
Les Ferguson, Pike Lake Cottage and Watershed Association

North Watershed Area
Ben Buhler, Town of Osler
Zach Jeffries, City of Saskatoon
Debbie McGuire, City of Martensville
Wayne Acorn, RM of Prince Albert
Judy Harwood, RM of Corman Park
Renny Grilz, Meewasin Valley Authority
OTHER LINKS OF INTEREST
THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS!
Click their logo to visit their website!
Groups of Interest
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
Do you have an abandoned water well that needs to be decommissioned or source water concerns within your community? Would you like us to attend and present at a council meeting? Contact us!
T (306) 460-4987
T (306) 291-7499
CONTACT US
South Saskatchewan River Watershed Stewards Inc.
2366 Avenue C North (Norplex Business Centre), Saskatoon, SK S7L 5X5
Phone: 1 (306) 343-9549