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2018 A FOLLOW-UP REPORT ON CONVENTION 2022

PARCS UPDATE #211 - October 21, 2022

A FOLLOW-UP REPORT ON CONVENTION 2022 

SESSION 1 (10:00 am - noon) - WETLANDS TOMORROW PANEL

Panelists: 

  • Alice Davies: Mgr, Lower Qu'Appelle Watershed Stewards
  • Dr. Peter Leavitt: U of Regina         
  • Colin Whitfield, Helen Baulch: Global Institute for Water Security
  • Michael Champion: Ducks Unlimited Canada

Reply from Water Security Agency

  • Shawn Jaques, President and CEO 

Number of attendees - 104

Average rating given by attendees - 89.9 %

Comments and questions from attendees - 

  • Why is the Water Security Agency only now designing an Ag drainage policy rather than a comprehensive wetland policy that we were led to believe was the purpose of all our inputs in 2019 consultations? Both Alberta and Manitoba have wetland policies...why not Sask?
  • Who is the policy lead for WSA? What are the performance indicators that balance safer reliable water with economic growth? Is the policy agriculture biased?
  • Could Alice give a definition of the point-source nutrient loading and non-point source loading for the listeners.
  • Ag drainage has been unregulated for years. If we wait til the fall of 2023 and your mitigation policy, there will be few wetlands left, at the rate drainage is going. Will you seriously begin regulating drainage now?
  • Thank you for all the very valuable information provided this morning. We have a significant area of lakeside development for recreation purposes. We do not have a significant agriculture component. We're looking at ways to reduce the stress of recreation on our lakes. Have you heard of Haven Floating Islands and do you know the results of their impacts? thank you (not sure who this question should be directed to.)
  • Can Helen or someone expand on why cover cropping and perennial forage is bad for water quality? I think back to pre-colonization where perennial native grasslands would have dominated the landscape, from what I can tell there is no concern with nutrient transfer downstream from that landscape so why is there concern about converting marginal agricultural land to perennial coverage to get it back to a pre-colonization state?
  • Ag drainage has been unregulated for years. If we wait till the fall of 2023 and your mitigation policy, there will be fewer wetlands left, at the rate drainage is going. Will you seriously begin regulating illegal drainage now?
  • Thank you for the very valuable information provided this morning. We have significant area of lakeside development for recreation purposes. We do not have a significant agricultural component. We are looking at ways to reduce the stress of recreation on our lakes. Have you heard of Haven Floating Islands and do you know the results of their impacts?  
  • Why is WSA only now designing an AG drainage policy rather than a comprehensive wetland policy that we were led to believe was the purpose of our inputs in the 2019 consultation? Both Alberta and Manitoba have wetland policies, ... why not Sask?
  • We heard from MLAs Travis King and Don McMOrris that lakes in the Qu'Appelle have always been green. According to Dr. Leavitt's presentation, this statement by these MLAs is not correct. WSA's mandate is to protect water quality in this province. Statements that are not based on science do not set this province up for success. Do you agree with Dr. Peter Leavitt that the degredation of the lakes is due to increased nutrient loading and that a wetland policy would in fact help reduct the loading to the rivers, streams, and lakes in the province?
  • Who is the policy lead for WSA?  What are the performance indicator that balance reliable water with economic growth? Is the policy agricultura biased? Please explain what you mean by mitigation? Are you all about water or all about agriculture? 
  • Question for Helen Baulch, panelist: Can you expand on wh cover crepping and perennial forage is bad for water quality?  I think back to pre-colonixation when perennial native grasslands would have dominated the landscape and from what I can tell, there is no concern with nutrient transfer downstream from that landscape. So why is there conven about converting marginal agricultural land to perennial coverage to get back to a pre-colonial state?

SESSION 1 RECORDINGS:  Wetlands Panel: https://youtu.be/bU9AX4g8gTY

                                              WSA Policy Update: https://youtu.be/U9pDB_eOVew

SESSION 2 (1:00 - 2:30 pm) - MEMBERS FAIR

Presenters:

  • OH of Pasqua Lake
  • RV of Coteau Beach
  • RV of Lumsden Beach
  • RV of Island View
  • RM of District of Lakeland
  • RV of Manitou Beach
  • RV of Sask Beach
  • RM of McKillop

Number of attendees - 46

Average rating given by attendees - 83.7 %

Comments from attendees - 

  • The Couteau presentation was very impressive! How big is your RV? (permanent and seasonal population)?

SESSION 2 RECORDING: Members Fair: https://youtu.be/PKaAC-UEOmk

SESSION 3 (3:00 - 4:00 pm) - A PROPOSED NEW RELATIONSHIP

BETWEEN ORGANIZED HAMLETS AND THEIR RM

Presenters - Andrea Ulrich and Tobi Duck, Ministry of Government Relations

Number of attendees - 68

Average rating given by attendees - 84.7 %

Comments from attendees - none

SESSION 3 RECORDING:  Government Relations: https://youtu.be/og_V5TGjrCw

Questions directed to particular panelists will be forwarded.

IT'S TIME TO THINK ABOUT CONVENTION

August 20, 2018

The August Issues #89 of PARCS UPDATE unveils our 2018 CONVENTION agenda [Oct. 19 / 20] and includes the registration form.  Please note that:

• Fees and location are unchanged from past year.

• This year the KEYNOTE PANEL will speak on Saturday afternoon, regarding the intriguing question "Who Owns the Lake?" 

• Now's the time to send in your registration form and reserve your hotel room,   We look forward to seeing you there.

 

THE RM OF MCKILLOP SITUATION

August 16, 2018

PARCS UPDATE #90 is a special edition of our newsletter, released August 16, 2018, which summarizes the breaking story about the bizarre and devastating news facing the cottage owners in the the RM of McKillop.  The editorial calls on the province to put make provisions for enforcing the laws about ratepayer petitions to their council.

A Busy Summer preparing for a Zebra Mussel Infestation

July 6, 2018

The South West Informational Meeting on Zebra Mussels was held in Elbow on Lake Diefenbaker on Saturday April 21st.  A dedicated group of 62 participants from 20 communities on and around Lake Diefenbaker gathered to learn about mussels and to conclude with the formation of a committee which has since been implementing a made-at-home initiative to prevent an infestation in their lake.

The South East Informational Meeting was held in Fort Qu'Appelle on Saturday June 16th.  Attendees from the communities on the Qu'Appelle Lakes and neighbouring communities followed the presentation with a discussion about on their vulnerability to infestation from boats arriving on the Trans-Canada from points east in Canada and from the south-east in North Dakota.

The North West Informational Meeting was held in the RV of Aquadeo on Jackfish Lake on Saturday June 23rd.  Attendees came from from the OH of Indian Point Golden Sands, the OH of Turtle Lake Lodge and the Hamlet of Sunset View Beachon Turtle Lake, the OH of Mowry Beach on Brightsand Lake, the Resort Villages of Aquadeo and Cochin, the OH of Lakeview on Jackfish Lake, the Turtle Lake Watershed Association, and from the RV of Greig Lake.  Participants analyzed their vulnerability to infestation carried on boats from the south on highway #4 and from the east on highway #3.

The North East Informational Meeting was held  Sunday, August 12 in Candle Lake.  All attendees were from Candle Lake.  Many of the attendees expressed amazement that this meeting was their first alert to the possible devastation that could happen to their lake should there be an invasion of zebra mussels.