Newsletter - February 20, 2024

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TOPICS INCLUDE: 

  • SAW Conference
  • CCAP Update
  • Enhancing Fish Habitat
  • Welcome to SAW - New Employees
  • February Collegial Recognition
  • Saskatchewan Tree for Life


NEWSLETTER

February - 2024

16th Annual SAW Conference

Building Resilience Through

Urban Water Systems

On January 30-31, 2024, SAW staff and other affiliates attended the 16th Annual Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds Conference in Regina. The theme this year’s conference was ‘Building Resilience Through Urban Water Systems’ and we connected with innovative minds to learn about techniques to create nature-based solutions that can be used to build resiliency to climate change. There were a wide range of speakers, including researchers and academics, engineers and technicians, municipal workers, and water stewards. 


Some of the main highlights from the conference included keynote speaker Brad Lancaster, who presented on rainwater harvesting and wastewater management. He highlighted the importance of balancing incoming rainwater with evaporation in any given city. He gave examples of how cities can better utilize stormwater instead of having it diverted quickly out to larger water bodies. Some of the techniques he touched on included creating curb cuts with trees and small gardens, harvesting household greywater for use in the yard, and the correct orientation of buildings to passively harvest solar energy.


Robb Lukes and Paul Mankiewicz, both of whom work with green infrastructure, gave examples of ways in which their respective cities (Vancouver and New York) are building bioretention implements to deal with urban increase in incoming rainwater. These included rain gardens, rainwater tree trenches, infiltration trenches, green roofs, swales, and more.


Richard Grosshans presented on urban floating wetlands and their many benefits, one being their ability to take up excessive nutrients and even antibiotics from old stormwater ponds or other water bodies.



Conference attendees were left with hope, inspiration, and many ideas of how we can better utilize and care for water resources, both in our cities and at home – increasing our communities’ resiliency to climatic change.

Climate Change Adaptation Planning (CCAP) Project Update

SAW, with support from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), is continuing to develop watershed-based climate change adaptation plans for Saskatchewan. SAW held 4 community engagement meetings in the Northwest Watershed District, with the last engagement meeting on December 15, 2023, in Saskatoon. The climate change adaptation plan for the Northwest Watershed District will be available in the spring.


Planning for the Northeast Watershed District has started. Our first meeting was on January 25, 2024, in Yorkton. There will be two additional meetings within the Northeast Watershed District on March 7 and March 28. The option to attend in person or virtually will be available for participants.



If you are interested in attending one of the meetings scheduled in the Northeast Watershed District, or have any questions related to the CCAP Project, please contact Samantha or Lydia for more information at ccap@saskwatersheds.ca.



We are excited to share the first climate change adaptation demonstration video from this series. This video showcases a regenerative agriculture demonstration workshop and field day that was held on July 19, 2023, in Langenburg, Saskatchewan with producer, Aaron Gray.

Agricultural Programming for Your Operation & Fish Species at Risk

For the next 2 years, SAW will be working with landowners in southwest Saskatchewan along Battle Creek, Lodge Creek, Morgan Creek, and Rock Creek to enhance fish habitat for Plains Sucker and Plains Minnow, two native fish species that are considered threatened and listed on the Species at Risk Act. Populations of these fish are susceptible to habitat loss or decrease in habitat quality. With funding provided by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, SAW will work with farmers and ranchers to implement projects including riparian area fencing and off-site watering systems, which will improve water quality at farm/ranch operations and protect habitat for fish.


On March 21, 2024, SAW will be hosting a catered supper and information session at the Eastend Memorial Hall Tea Room from 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM to connect with local landowners and discuss our upcoming fish species at risk program and other SAW programming available. If you are interested in attending this event, or know of someone who might be, please use the link below to register.

Click HERE to Register

For more information, please contact Ryder Rutko at r.rutko@saskwatersheds.ca

or 306-774-2136

Caring for Our Watersheds


Caring For Our Watersheds, funded by Nutrien, is a provincial-wide educational program that engages students in preserving and improving their local watersheds through student-led solutions.​Students in grades 7-12 that are looking to make a positive impact on their local watershed can take part. Students are asked to submit a grant-style proposal identifying one solution that addresses a concern they see in their local watershed. Entries must be submitted online by March 8th, 2024. The top 10 entries will move on to a final competition where finalists will pitch their idea to a panel of judges to win prizes for their team and a matching cash prize for their school or club. First place prize is $1000 for the team and $1000 for the school/club! The in-person event will take place on May 11th, 2024. Implementation funding is also available to all realistic entries to make students’ ideas a reality. For more information, reach out to Jory at education@saskwatersheds.ca or visit the Caring For Our Watersheds website. Let's work together to make a difference in our environment.


February

Collegial

Recognition!



Macey is a hard worker and is always willing to help her colleagues and answer questions. Macey’s outgoing and cheerful personality brings positivity to the SAW Team and producers alike. Macey has shown strong teamwork skills in taking on applications and whenever possible to assist SAW staff members dealing with high producer intake. Macey is always learning and developing

at every step in her professional growth.

Welcome to the Team!

Shauna Bader - Agri-Environmental Coordinator



I am pleased to join the team and looking forward to working with co-workers and landowners. Now, for a bit about myself! My formal education is from the University of Saskatchewan and includes two Bachelor of Science degrees (Land Use & Environmental Studies and Agriculture) and I am designated as a Professional Agrologist. My diverse work experience spans British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba including: 

·      Forestry

·      Retail fertilizer and pesticide sales

·      Canola agricultural research

·      Cherry (minor apple and grape) production

·      Honey bee assessments for canola pollination

For the past 33 years, I have been married to Fred and we have no children. However, our life is filled with a barking dog, 4 clucking chickens, 5 ducks, 6 noisy guinea fowl, and 30 colonies of honey bees. My passion for honey bees began in 1998 and I am currently enrolled in the Master Beekeeper Course through Cornell University. The complexity of these insects is fascinating. In addition, I have an 8-frame loom that I have been weaving multiple projects.

Click Here for More Information

Our Office Locations

Our office locations are open Monday to Friday from 9 AM to 4 PM (closed 12 PM-1 PM).


Head Office

 

817 High St. W

Moose Jaw

Office Location


Northwest District Office

 

834 #5 56th St. E

Saskatoon

Office Location

Southeast District Office


29 2nd Ave. North

Yorkton, SK S3N 1G1

Office Location

Our Funders

Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds

Mailing Address

Box 1177, Moose Jaw, SK S6H 4P9

Head Office Location 

817 High St W, Moose Jaw, SK S6H 6L7


www.saskwatersheds.ca

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info@saskwatersheds.ca