Better approaches to water management are needed in Manitoba - an example along the Oak River

A few days ago, Reed Wolfe (with me in the top photo) sent me an email about the problems he is having on his land along the Oak River south-west of Rivers in western Manitoba. He had heard me talking on Brandon radio and felt I should learn about what was happening on his land.

This week, yesterday, I went out to see for myself. In the last few years Reed and his wife have had much more problems with water on their land, and coming up close to their home than they have ever had before. They showed me a video with some fairly dramatic footage of the water in the creek near where they live breaking out of its banks and coming very close to their home. Reed also showed me a site (bottom photo) along the Oak River where the increased water flow has created a large washout or caved-in area. Three years ago, Reed was farming the land where there is now a big hole. This is a troubling example of the problems with increased water flows in the Oak River.

Reed has been watching what has happening in the area, and it is very cleear that major increases in drainage upstream from his home are resulting in the water coming off the land much more rapidly than before. The increase in water at peak runoff created by the big increase in drainage is creating problems.

This increased peak runoff is also one of the big reasons for increased phosphorous in Manitoba waterways. Phosphorous is a sediment associated nutrient, and with faster current, there is increased erosion, increased sediment and increased phosphorous in the water. At the same time, the increased flooding of farmland which results is likely picking up more phosphorous from the farmland and also increases phosphorous in the water. If we are going to help Lake Winnipeg and decrease the phosphorous going into our rivers and lakes, we need to change our approach to water management.

My view is that we need to start with a goal of no net loss of wetlands. This means we need to create new wetlands in a similar extent to what we drain. A helpful example along the South Tobacco Creek shows how 26 small dams have created new wetlands and dramatically reduced the peak runoff. The result is much less flooded farmland, much less damage to culverts and roads, and less phosphorous in the water of South Tobacco Creek. It is a win-win for all. The newly created wetlands also help to recharge the aquifer and provide protection against periods when it is very dry.

Creating new wetlands using small dams upstream would do the same along the Oak River and along the creek near Reed Wolfe's home. It will need a change in how we approach water management in Manitoba. It will need appropriate incentives and support for such small dams, which balance the incentives for more drainage.