We are no longer administering the Farm Stewardship Program and Farm and Ranch Water Infrastructure Program.  We are grateful for the 11 years of programming we were able to provide and all the relationships we developed along the way.  Please check out the Ministry of Agriculture Canadian Agriculture Partnership page here for more information about available programs or contact the Ag Knowledge Centre 1-866-457-2377 for any questions you may have.  Thank you. 

Invasive Species are of growing concern for Saskatchewan and the prairie provinces. The effects of these plants and animals can be detrimental to crops, lakes, watersheds, and the ecosystems within our province. Unfortunately, most of these species fit into a broad niche, meaning they will thrive in most areas they inhabit, making them even harder to extinguish. The Saskatchewan Invasive Species Council has made up some helpful fact sheets to help identify the species, the risks they pose, and effective methods of removal. Below are some fact sheets for the more problematic invasive species.

Fact Sheets | SISC (saskinvasives.ca) 

Publications Centre (saskatchewan.ca) - Weed Control Act

Publications Centre (saskatchewan.ca) - Weed Control Regulations 

Zebra and quagga mussels are a threat to our waterways and, therefore, to our economy, recreation industry, agriculture and to our environment. To monitor and raise awareness about these aquatic invasive species, the Ministry of Environment and the Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds are closely monitoring Saskatchewan lakes for zebra and quagga mussels.

So what is the big deal about invasive mussels? They are one of our biggest threats when it comes to our water. They harm fisheries, ruin beaches, and attach to boats, water intake pipes, and other structures that could cost Saskatchewan millions of dollars a year. 

Watch the video below to learn more! 

https://youtu.be/B3XCFafkLvA

One way to prevent the spread of invasive species is to report sightings. iMapInvasives is an online, GIS-based data management system used to assist citizen scientists and natural resource professionals working to protect our natural resources from the threat of invasive species (imapinvasives.org). Once an account is created, the user can submit any sightings and also view all of the other reported sightings within the province. The app prompts the user to take a photo of the species and, in doing so, will automatically tag your location to that photo. This data management system can be a useful tool to outline and monitor species dispersal, quantity, spread, and areas of high risk. This program/app is a great asset for RM’s, municipalities, industry, locals, and anyone involved with combatting the spread of infestation of an invasive species. For more information on iMapInvasives, click here. 

There is a growing concern for the prairie region regarding the threat of invasive species. One species of major concern is leafy spurge. This highly invasive noxious weed is extremely hard to eradicate once established in an area. It chokes out native species of vegetation, and most livestock will not graze it. 

There are two control methods that currently seem to work the best for combating a spurge-infected area. The first is targeted grazing. Sheep and goats will graze leafy spurge where most other livestock will not. The other control method is through the use of leafy spurge beetles. The beetles will eat only leafy spurge and effectively kill the plants they feed on. This method is a long-term management solution as it can take a few years for the beetles to establish fully. Releasing leafy spurge beetles will not completely eradicate leafy spurge from an infested area; however, it is a good management strategy to use alongside other control methods.

Many people don’t know that it is the LAW to permit your drainage works. This is important because drainage plays an important role in agriculture in Saskatchewan. Since September 2015, the Water Security Agency has been implementing the Agricultural Water Management Strategy. New regulations, legislation and policies have been implemented to support responsible drainage. Responsible drainage allows landowners to manage water while addressing the impacts on neighbours and the environment.

If producers permit their works, it will allow them to continue farming operations as usual for the term of the approval without the threat of closure.

For more information, please visit 

Agricultural Water Management Strategy - Water Security Agency (wsask.ca)

Health Canada provides funding for Indigenous communities to invest in planning for adaptation of climate change to mitigate health impacts to community members.  The NSRBC has been a successful partner in securing this funding for communities to implement adaptation plans. Click here to learn more about programming. 

Previous Source Water Protection Planning Projects:

• Muskeg Lake Cree Nation (2009 – Renewal in progress)

• Witchekan Lake First Nation (2009)

• Sweetgrass First Nation (2009)

• Thunderchild First Nation (2009)

• Mistawasis Nehiyawak (2016)

• Beardy’s and Okemasis First Nation (2016)

• Sturgeon Lake First Nation (2018)

• Onion Lake First Nation (2019)

• Mistawasis Nehiyawak (2017-2019) – Click here and here to view the community resiliency videos.

• Muskeg Lake Cree Nation (2019-2020)

The North Saskatchewan River Basin Council (NSRBC) has engaged in reserve-scale source water protection planning with indigenous communities since 2009. Through engagement with a local steering committee, the NSRBC facilitates a risk identification exercise. Each perceived threat is assessed based on impact and likelihood. Mitigation measures are outlined and assigned to various band departments, individuals, or agencies to support the implementation of these. To date, the NSRBC has assisted 8 communities in the Source Water Protection Planning process.  

Please contact the Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds if you are interested in having Source Water Protection Planning in your community.

July 2016 | Eyes wide open as to our dependency and vulnerability on the quality of our Source Waters.

Oil spill leaves Prince Albert, Sask. with 2-day water supply | CTV News