Saskatchewan close to new regulations on agriculture draining

Watch above: Province looking to change outdated regulations governing agriculture water drainage in Saskatchewan.

SASKATOON – Illegal agriculture draining has been an ongoing issue in Saskatchewan.

While it was a summer like no other for the south and southeast parts of Saskatchewan with areas still feeling the affects of massive flooding, agriculture draining is part of the problem and it’s one that’s affected all areas of the province for years.

“There’s people on all sides of the drainage discussion that are looking for clarity in the regulations that have been around for quite some time,” said Environment Minister Scott Moe.

Thursday, the Water Security Agency released it’s results from public consultations on agricultural drainage, from October 2013 to this April.

“At one point in the report it said I think 44 percent of people didn’t realize you needed a permit to conduct drainage so we intend to bring some clarity to that,” said Moe.

Of 500 participants, 87 per cent of respondents support draining water. Four-in-10 say they already drain water off their land and 28 per cent of those surveyed have been involved in a drainage complaint.

“These are exactly the questions that have been asked for 30 years now with the set of regulations we have which is why we need to update these regulations and why before we do that have a good set of consultations with all of those involved, we need to bring clarity to these regulations and we’re committed to doing that,” said Moe.

That sentiment was echoed at the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) midterm convention.

“I hope the government will come out with … give the Water Security Agency some teeth to go after farmers that are illegal draining or give the RM’s the ability to mitigate some of the damage that’s going to be caused,” said RM of Argyle No.1 Coun. John Ryckman.

“If people are not following the rules it does affect their neighbours and it does put their neighbours and municipalities under duress at sometime and we just don’t think that should be happening,” said Ray Orb, SARM’s acting president.

Current drainage rules have been in place since the 1980’s. Updated regulations are expected in the spring.

Consultations with stakeholders are the next step.

The Water Security Agency released Saskatchewan’s 25 Year Water Security Plan in 2012, a key component of which was the commitment to addressing the challenges posed by unauthorized agricultural drainage.