Services
Lower Souris River Watershed
The Lower Souris River Watershed actively promotes beneficial management
practices (BMPs) throughout the Watershed through workshops, tours, and on-
farm visits.  BMPs are implemented to improve the quality of local land and water
resources, while sustaining or improving the economic integrity of  agricultural
enterprises.  BMPs can be implemented in cropland management, grazing
systems, intensive livestock operations, proper water well decommissioning,
and water management.  Some examples of BMPs include:

Cropland Management
  • Seeding buffer strips around wetlands to maintain or improve the health
    of ground water sources
  • Forage establishment to reduce soil erosion, increase water absorption,
    and reduce soil disturbance
  • Extended crop rotations by including legumes resulting in improved soil
    fertility and stability
  • Practicing conservation fallow which reduces operating and labour costs
    and increases water retention, wildlife habitat, and farm revenues

Grazing Management
  • Promote rotational grazing by cross fencing into paddocks to facilitate a
    rest-rotation grazing system
  • Providing off site water sources for livestock via shallow buried pipeline,
    solar pumps, nose pumps and many new and innovative watering
    systems
  • Native rangeland restoration and re-establishment
  • Improved waterway crossings
  • Strategic placement of salt/minerals away from water sources to
    encourage uniform livestock distribution

Intensive Livestock Operations
  • Development of vegetative buffer strips to help filter and absorb pollutants
  • Relocate corral systems away from ground water sources
  • Divert and contain runoff from entering natural waterways
Programs Available
Click on the links below
for more information
The Lower Souris River Watershed also actively engages themselves in various
research projects that explore various land use practices and the associated
impacts on water quantity a quality.  Recently we have completed a 2 year pilot
project that was designed to explore the effects that various policy tools and
recommendations would have on acomplishing locally determined landscape
targets towards provision of acres for wildlife habitat.  Please feel free to check
out the various project reports for further details.  The FINAL PAPER is a great
overview of the entire project and is available in both English and French.
Research Projects
Inventory of Wildlife Habitat Quality
Wildlife Habitat Target Setting
Provision Costs of Wildlife Habitat
Analysis of Policy Tools