January Newsletter

Newsletter - January 15, 2024

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TOPICS INCLUDE:

SAW Conference Speakers
CCAP Update
Enhancing Fish Habitat
Cover Cropping Conference
January Collegial Recognition

NEWSLETTER

January - 2024

Wishing you a Happy New Year!

16th Annual SAW Conference

Building Resilience Through

Urban Water Systems

The 16^th Annual Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds (SAW) Conference is this month – January 30 & 31, 2024 in Regina! Join us to connect with innovative minds as we learn about techniques to create nature-based solutions that can be used to build resiliency to climate change.

We are pleased to have Dr. Paul Mankiewicz, Co-Founder and Chief Scientist at Leaf Island, joining us as a keynote speaker. Dr. Mankiewicz will share his expertise on green infrastructure, helping to restore ecosystem functions to cityscapes, streets, and coastlines. Leaf Island uses methods and technologies that add leafy green plant structures in appropriately designed layers that will decrease the effects of urban heat islands. Their work around the world has had proven benefits!

Brad Lancaster, award-winning author, and expert in the field of rainwater harvesting and water management, will be joining us as another keynote speaker. Mr. Lancaster is a designer of regenerative systems that harvest rainwater. He also helps his clients with beautifying neighborhoods, emphasizing the planting of native food forests.

Our exciting lineup of speakers does not end there! We have many people joining us to talk about their projects of increasing communities’ resiliency to climatic change. On the opening day of the conference, we will hear from Shawn Jacques, President of the Water Security Agency (WSA), Corinne Schuster-Wallace, Chair of the Global Institute of Water and Ruth Seime, Chair of the SAW Board. The day will end with the SAW banquet featuring entertainment by Joel Jeffrey Comedy. On day two, January 31, Mitch McMann, from the City of Saskatoon will be sharing information on the city’s multi-year project that will aid in flood prevention. Dr. Ryan Prosser will share how microplastics are impacting Canadian ecosystems. We will also hear from Dr. Richard Grosshans on how utilizing floating wetlands will improve the quality of water in urban-area ponds. SAW’s Water Resource Manager, Dr. Samantha Kerr, will discuss how SAW is working in the province, with urban communities to build resiliency to climate extremes. The presentations will conclude with Shayne McDonald, Flood Mitigation Specialist with the WSA discussing flood hazard programs.

Click Here for More Information

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 engagement meetings in the Northwest watershed district, with the last community engagement meeting on December 15, 2023, in Saskatoon. The climate adaptation plan for the Northwest watershed district will be available in the spring.

Planning for the Northeast watershed district has started, and our first meeting will be held on January 25, 2024, at the Gallagher Centre in Yorkton. We will also have an online attendance option. If you are interested in attending one of the meetings scheduled in the Northeast watershed district, please contact Samantha or Lydia 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.

Enhancing the Habitat of

Fish Species at Risk

In Saskatchewan, there are fish species whose populations are facing a decrease. One species, the Plains Minnow (Hybognathus plactitus), is found only in a few small creeks, including Rock Creek and Morgan Creek. The Plains Minnow was discovered to be living in Saskatchewan only 20 years ago. Another species, the Mountain Sucker (Catostomus platyrhynchus), is found in the Milk River basin within the southwest part of the province.

Both species of fish are considered threatened and are listed on the Species At Risk Act. Their populations are threatened due to the loss of habitat or decrease in habitat quality. However, using Best Management Practices, or BMPs, provides opportunity to ensure habitat is ideal, which will increase the resiliency of these fish.

SAW is looking for landowners and producers whose land overlaps within the known range of the Plains Minnow and Mountain Sucker fish species. Projects such as spawning habitat restoration, shoreline restoration, offsite watering for livestock and fencing off riparian areas are ways that will benefit these species of fish, as well as producers. BMPs help to protect the quality of water we use in our everyday lives.

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

or 306-774-2136

Cover Cropping Conference

During the second week of February, SAW will be hosting four Cover Crop Conferences across the province. Join us as we hear from experts! Please see the information below, or click on the link for more information!

Click Here for More Information

January

Collegial

Recognition!

Nicole loves to learn and takes any opportunity to read articles, participate in webinars, and attend events when she can to expand her knowledge base. The love of learning and willingness to ask questions has helped to expand her knowledge base about the ag industry leaps and bounds in the past year, leading to being able to have meaningful conversations with producers about our programs and BMPs. Her attention to detail leads to very well done PWCP applications. When she is tasked, it is done quickly, efficiently and high-quality work. Nicole is one of those people who will excel in whatever she puts her mind to, is dependable and takes great pride in her work.

ClimateWest Calls for Proposals

ClimateWest has launched the Adaptation in Action Program, a call for project proposals that advance climate adaptation in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Project proposals are due by February 20, 2024. ClimateWest has a total of $300,000 in funding available to support approved projects. Up to $50,000 may be awarded per project proposal. Find out more at https://bit.ly/482L4HL.