NEWSLETTER

July - 2024

Summer has arrived across Saskatchewan, which means our lakes and rivers will be bustling with recreation – boating, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, fishing…. This also means that the threat of invasive quagga and zebra mussels has arrived. SAW has partnered with the Saskatchewan Fish and Wildlife Development Fund and the Water Security Agency to monitor over 40 lakes across Saskatchewan for invasive mussels.  

Both zebra and quagga mussels are native to southeastern Europe, and it is believed that they arrived in North America through the Great Lakes in the ballast water of large ships sometime in the late 1980s, with zebra mussels arriving in North America first. Since their introduction to the eastern part of North America, both species have been moving east, and they are considered invasive in all of Canada. As of 2020, Manitoba is the furthest west in Canada that zebra mussels have been found.  

Zebra and quagga mussels are freshwater species, and they can also survive out of water for up to 18 days* when there is high humidity. At various stages of life, both types of mussels can range in size from microscopic to the size of a fingernail. When the mussels invade a body of water, they voraciously feed on phytoplankton and zooplankton, removing an important food source for native species. They also attach to and incapacitate native muscles. Large colonies can take over important habitat for spawning fish, beaches, clog water intake lines and can reduce water quality. Once established in a body of water, they are nearly impossible to get rid of.  

Members of the SAW team will be collecting samples this summer to test for the presence of veligers. Veligers are the free-swimming larval form of mussels and are not visible to the naked eye. Preventing the spread of zebra and quagga mussels also comes from carefully cleaning and drying all water recreation equipment – including fishing line, nets, buckets, and even snorkeling gear. Cleaning, draining, drying your boat, trailer and all gear is essential to keeping Saskatchewan waters mussel-free. The Ministry of Environment is working hard to prevent invasive mussels from entering Saskatchewan waters. “Pull the Plug” is a campaign, that follows the law of removing the drain plug while transporting watercraft. For more information, visit their website.

Robb Lukes, P.Eng., and branch manager for Green Infrastructure Implementation in Vancouver, presented at SAW’s 16th Annual Conference on advancing green infrastructure (GI) from pilot projects to mainstream adoption. The concept of GI has evolved significantly since the 1970s, especially in stormwater management. GI has now become integral to urban planning, addressing the challenges posed by climate change and urbanization. 

GI aims to aid natural hydrological processes, primarily through sustainable drainage systems. With changing climate conditions and extremes, researchers have observed increased rainfall intensity and frequency, which raises the risk of flooding and overwhelms combined sewage systems. By integrating natural elements into urban landscapes, GI helps manage stormwater more effectively, while improving the pre-treatment water quality and ecosystem health by increasing canopy coverage.

Lukes and his team have developed several innovative GI assets in Vancouver to improve water retention and urban landscaping. These include bioretention areas that transform sidewalks, meridians, and parking lot islands into multifunctional spaces, using features such as corner bulges to manage stormwater and protect trees. They have also implemented infiltration trenches with catch basin inserts and perform cleanouts and well monitoring to improve water pre-treatment. Permeable pavements are another asset used throughout the city, made of pervious concrete, porous asphalt, and gravel mixed with polymer to allow water infiltration. Additionally, rainwater tree trenches use permeable pavement, curb cuts, and catch basins to redirect water into distribution pipes, while also irrigating the trees and soil. 

Lukes suggests several strategies to bring Green Infrastructure (GI) to your area. These include gaining support from local leaders, adhering to regulations, and emphasizing that GI enhances local ecosystems and urban atmospheres. Integrating GI with park designs can improve public spaces and fund park renewals without compromising recreational value. Additionally, utilizing GI guides, certifications, and inspections, along with proper education and separation of civil and planting contracts, is essential for successful construction and maintenance. 

Green Infrastructure represents a critical evolution in urban planning, offering sustainable solutions to modern environmental challenges. By integrating natural processes into the urban landscape, cities can better manage stormwater, enhance ecosystems, and improve resilience to climate change. 

To view Robb Lukes presentation, please click the link.



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.

Many livestock producers are utilizing remote winter, summer, and year-round watering systems, but there can be significant up-front costs to set up these systems. Does it pay off? 



Direct watering from streams, creeks, or dugouts can lead to various environmental and herd health issues. These include loss of riparian habitat and vegetation, damage to stream and dugout banks, reduction in water storage in dugouts, siltation problems in fish spawning areas, nutrient buildup in source and downstream water bodies, and a general reduction in water quality. Overgrazing near the water source can also occur, leading to livestock deaths from drowning, foot rot, and exposure to blue-green algae toxins, bacteria, viruses, and other water-transmitted diseases. 

Providing a remote watering system offers numerous benefits, including improved herd health, extended water source lifespan, better pasture utilization, reduced manure buildup in corrals, and lower manure spreading costs. These systems protect riparian areas, allow water placement where needed, reduce electricity costs, and spread manure nutrients on pastures or hay fields during winter livestock management. They also minimize dugout maintenance costs, improve the rate of gain, facilitate rotational grazing, and ensure cattle have access to clean water. Additionally, potential rebate programs in Saskatchewan can help offset the costs. 

Research shows that cattle prefer clean water and will typically use a trough instead of going to the creek or dugout. Cattle drinking clean water from a trough can experience a 3-20% improvement in the rate of gain due to the increased palatability, leading to faster intake and more time spent grazing. 

Various off-site watering systems, including solar-powered, wind-powered, and pipeline options, cater to different goals, landscapes, and water sources. Recent technological advancements have made these systems more convenient, with wind chargers for cloudy days, monitoring systems for low water levels or malfunctions, and satellite systems for areas with poor cell coverage. 

Considering the benefits to animal health, productivity, and the environment, off-site watering can be a practical choice for many situations. 

Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds

Mailing Address

Box 1177, Moose Jaw, SK S6H 4P9

Head Office Location 

300B - 99 Diefenbaker Dr., Moose Jaw, SK

www.saskwatersheds.ca