The Evolution of our Relationship with our Lakes

Are our Lakes Being Protected? PART ONE

In 2001, 5,800 to 7,100 people in North Battleford and district became ill or were hospitalized with “Crypto” (Cryptosporidiosis), an infectious parasite that seeped into their drinking water. In 2002, the Government of Saskatchewan ordered a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the outbreak and concluded that the City of North Battleford failed to recognize its responsibilities for the water supply. The report also alleged that the province’s Environment Department was an “inadequate and ineffective” regulator. 

Subsequent to the North Battleford infection, there was general agreement that three things would have helped to prevent the event:

1.  A source water [1] protection plan,

2.  Ongoing monitoring of recreational water quality, and

3.  A proper waste treatment plan.

In 2002 the provincial government created the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority, currently called the Water Security Agency (WSA), to manage and protect Source Water in Saskatchewan. A healthy and sustainable water resource is a critical issue for all communities and Source Water Protection is a land use management process aimed at protecting surface waters (lakes) and groundwater sources from contamination.

To protect source water, WSA focused its efforts on geographically defined watersheds. Each watershed was assessed as to the condition of its source water, plus the existing and potential threats to it. WSA then created and funded the creation of the Watershed Stewardship Groups for these watersheds. These groups, made up of Rural and Urban Municipalities, First Nations, Conservation Area Authorities, NGO’s, producer groups, and other locally based organizations, were then lead by a Watershed Coordinator hired to develop and implement Source Water protection plans for their watershed. The Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds consisted of 10 watersheds:

§ Assiniboine Watershed Stewardship Association

§ Carrot River Watershed Association

§ Lower Souris River Watershed

§ Moose Jaw River Watershed

§ North Saskatchewan River Basin Council

§ South Saskatchewan River Watershed

§ Swift Current Creek Watershed Stewards

§ Upper Qu’Appelle River and Wascana Creek Watershed

§ Upper Souris River Watershed

§ Lower Qu’Appelle Watershed Stewards

Over the next decade, with a coordinator and funding in place, these Watershed Stewardship Groups began educating their residents about source water protection, the threats to their watersheds, and provided funding for various projects aimed at improving source water and lessening the threats to it.

Despite having plans and program in place, threats to our source water continued. This is especially true for the threat of wetland drainage, which has continued to occur mostly unregulated and uncontrolled by WSA. Wetlands play a pivotal role in protecting and improving source water quality by acting as a natural filter and preventing pollution from reaching our lakes, rivers, streams, groundwater and consequently the water we drink from our tap at home. Wetland drainage is therefore a threat that can lead to the contamination of our lakes.

While there has been no official announcement from WSA or the Government, as of the spring of 2023, PARCS has learned that the province will have withdrawn its funding and support for the 10 watershed stewardship groups. A few of the associations have claimed that they will continue in a limited stewardship role, funded by their own local initiatives – but this remains to be seen. With the loss of these stewardship groups, who will watch over our watersheds and protect our lakes from contamination?

While WSA was originally deemed responsible for protecting our watersheds and our lakes, it has instead focused now on Ag Water Management (farmland drainage) rather than Source Water Protection. WSA is currently developing a new policy with the goal of protecting water quantity, water quality, and habitat, all while retaining existing wetland drainage and allowing for new drainage. How this can be achieved remains to be seen. PARCS is one of the 70 stakeholders discussing these issues with WSA.

The Provincial Association of Resort Communities of Saskatchewan represents 124 cottage communities in Saskatchewan. These communities are situated on dozens of source-water lakes, lakes that are a source: of recreation, of drinking water, of tourism, of pleasure and fun. These 23 rural municipalities, 42 resort villages, and 59 organized hamlets[2], hope to continue to continue to be situated alongside waters that are clean and protected. How this will be achieved remains to be seen.

[1] The lakes that are used as a sources of community drinking water are known as source water. During the next decade, the call went out about the NEED FOR SOURCE WATER PROTECTION PLANS. 

[2] The 124 cottage communities that are represented by PARCS.

The WSA introduces a new Operational Model - PART TWO

Earlier in March of 2023, PARCS received a copy of a document sent from the Water Security Agency, titled Client Service Model. The illustrated 3-pages announce that the WSA is creating a better way of providing service to their clients.

Shortly after the release of the document, the WSA staff assigned to implementing this model requested a virtual meeting with PARCS executive. President Garry Dixon, 1^st Vice-President Doug Allan, and Coordinator Lynne Saas, met virtually on March 20^th with WSA staff including Tamara Wolfe (Director of Client Services) and Patrick Boyle (Director of Communications)[1]. The staff began by stating that their goal in rearranging the duties of their staff, was to improve service to clients[2]. They pointed out changes they were implementing, such as a single point of contact and no more than 2 transfers per call. They stated that calls would be taken from Monday to Friday (from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm), that they were committed to being available to callers and that, although they were starting with 3 employees, there could be an increase in staff should that prove necessary. 

Subsequent to the meeting, Lynne consulted the following information in the provincial auditor’s 2017 report[3] which recommended that the WSA needed to act to:

• Finalize, approve, and follow its policies for bringing unapproved drainage works into compliance.
• Have robust policies for assessing water quality and wetland retention when assessing risks resulting from drainage works, 
• Better document the results of its assessments.
• Have a plan that states by when high-risk existing unapproved drainage works will be in compliance or closed.
• Report its progress in regulating drainage on agricultural land.

Reading the outstanding Auditor's Report provides dramatic proof that the changes being proposed to WSA’s mode of dealing with enquiries and complaints are long overdue.

• The WSA website states that there are 421 employees in Saskatchewan’s Water Security Agency.
• Their added goal, no doubt, was to respond to the recommendations in the 2018 Auditors’ Report (see link below).

https://auditor.sk.ca/pub/publications/public_reports/2018/12_Water%20Security%20Agency%E2%80%94Regulating%20Drainage.pdf

Check out the map in the auditor’s report (link above), alongside the following quote: “Saskatchewan Watershed Vulnerability Map at April 2018 Source: Water Security Agency. While drainage increases arable land for farmers, inappropriate and unauthorized drainage can affect neighboring landowners and bodies of water and have unintended downstream impact. Without proper regulation of drainage, drainage works may flood neighbors’ land or add water to a lake that cannot accept further water flows without causing downstream water quality issues or damage.”

WHAT'S NEXT?

At our next meeting of the PARCS Board of Director (Thursday, March 30^th), PARCS Directors will discuss including a session with the WSA at our upcoming 2023 PARCS Fall Convention (regarding their implementation of an improved communication strategy with our local lakeshore communities). 

• Watch our next newsletter for convention details.
• Meanwhile, send your cheque to renew your PARCS membership to:

        Attn: Lynne Saas, 425 4^th Ave. NW (suite 129), Moose Jaw, SK, S6H 8B7

        [306-630-9698]

Membership rates are unchanged from previous years:

• $60 for 1-30 cottages
• $150 for 31-49 cottages
• $225 for 50-149 cottages
•  $295 for 150-249 cottages
• $425 for 250-499 cottages
•  $600 for 500+ cottages
• $40 for a single person membership
• $100 for associate community membership (non-voting).