Backflood
The backflood was identified in a GENIVAR Water Needs Assessment and Surface Water Management Assessment Study in the East Souris River Watershed. The backflood allows water to be temporarily stored on the property which assists to slow the water down and relieve downstream flooding along the Medora Creek, including flood protection for the Town of Deloraine.
Burrowing Owl Project
The Burrowing Owl has been on a steady decline in the province since the 70’s due to loss of habitat, unstable burrows and increased predation.
Turtle Mountain Conservation District along with West Souris River CD and the Endangered Species Fund decided to partner together to create stable nesting sites for the owls throughout their once inhabited range.
The dens were made out corrugated plastic pipe with a five gallon pale attached to the end, then buried below ground. Sand and a stake were place outside the den to help improve the owls line of site. The dens were place in opportunistic place for owls to utilize them.
The long term goal is to have the owls utilize the dens year to year and have an increase in population as well as landowner awareness of the importance of the owls and native grasslands.
The Souris River Riparian Enhancement Program
This project was designed to identify negatively impacted riparian areas along the Souris River. TMCD identified targeted land managers and provided an incentive based funding to help practise BMP’s including riparian fencing and offsite watering systems
Outcomes from this project are to see decreased nutrient loading, decreased sediment loading, increased riparian health and improved habitat and water quality.
MRAC Project
Protecting the riparian area of creeks and streams in Manitoba to improve water quality is a key focus for many Conservation Districts. Several government and non government programs are aimed at this topic as well.
Manitoba Conservation Districts Association (MCDA) received funding to study two of the more popular tools thought to be effective in addressing the areas of concern. The study assesses two BMP’s (Beneficial Management Practices): Grassed Buffer Strips adjacent to cultivated cropland and Off –Stream Watering Systems for beef cattle with the help of several Conservation Districts in the province.
Cattle producers face constant changes to their industry, through legislation, regulation or new management information. Implementation of these changes must be weighed against the never ending effort to make it economically and environmentally sustainable. The Off -Stream Watering Study, organized as one of two studies undertaken by Manitoba Conservation Districts Association, has completed the field portion for this two year study. The study expects to provide credible evidence on whether you can reduce the amount of time cattle spend in and around the water with the use of off-stream watering systems. The study is funded by Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council, Manitoba Water Stewardship Fund, PFRA (formally known as) and Sustainable Development Innovation Fund.
Two pastures in Southwest Manitoba with creeks meandering through the centers were selected and divided into three paddocks of similar size and make up. Approximately 25 cow calf (cc) pairs in each paddock were studied using GPS Collars and visual monitoring. In each location, Paddock 1 provided a water system using water out of the same stream and unlimited access to the stream; Paddock 2 provided the same type of water system but the access to the stream was limited by natural barriers (piled deadfall from nearby); Paddock 3 gave cattle unlimited access to the stream as the only water source. In order to study the groups in various weather conditions the monitoring was rotated from one location to the other every two weeks. As well as cattle behaviour and movement, some of the other data collected was: body weight, body condition scoring, riparian health, forage availability, water quality and temperature, and weather. In hindsight we should have measured stress levels, not of the animals but of the volunteers and producers. A big thank you to all those involved in the field work for your dedication; you put in some tough hours.
Other Projects
Deloraine Community Orchard
On June 6, 2005 there were 11 students from the Deloraine Collegiate grade 8 class who assisted the TMCD and Town of Deloraine in planting the Deloraine Orchard. A total of 483 fruit bearing trees were planted through a grant provided by the Manitoba Hydro Forest Enhancement Program. The trees included Nanking, Mongolian and Plum Cherry trees, Saskatoon, Highbush Cranberry and a variety of apple trees. There will also be several more rows added next spring, once the area is prepared. The trees from PFRA will include buffaloberry, chokecherry, green ash, lilac and dogwood.
Volunteer Stream Watch Monitoring Program
The objective of this program is to involve members of the community in monitoring the quality of the surface water in their area. Volunteers are supplied with water quality monitoring equipment that they take out to selected locations throughout the TMCD once a month from spring to fall. The results from each year are recorded so that changes in water quality can be monitored throughout the years.
Boissevain Aboretorium
Grazing Tour
Killarney Lake Interpretive Signs
Water Quality Monitoring for Manitoba Water Stewardship
Backflood
Burrowing Owl Project
MRAC Project