The provincial government is giving the Saskatchewan Conservation and Development Association (SCDA) a boost to support farmers while addressing impacts on downstream communities and the environment.
SCDA is the governing body to 96 conservation area authorities and districts as well as 13 water association boards, which collectively provide flood control for about 4.5 million acres of farmland.
“Our organization is thrilled that government has recognized our long-standing role in helping producers across Saskatchewan responsibly manage water challenges and build on our organization’s more than 50-year history of successful community projects,” SCDA president Cliff Lowenberger said in a press release.
“(We) now have meaningful resources to ensure we can better use our existing expertise, while also developing new sources of strength for the future.”
The $5 million in provincial funding will also help advance the agricultural water management strategy, which focuses on responsible drainage that supports Saskatchewan producers and the environment.
“When Saskatchewan introduced its new agricultural water management strategy in 2015, the vision was to support our agriculture sector, while mitigating the negative impacts of drainage,” Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said in a press release.
“This investment will ultimately allow more local producers to take greater responsibility over local projects, providing them with the professional help and assistance they need.”
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Government officials said the Water Security Agency is currently working with landowners on over 20 organized drainage projects.
The funding was announced by Moe at the 114th annual Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) convention in Saskatoon on Wednesday.
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