Nicole Hancock
Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony ...

Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.

Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony to heal Chedoke Creek

Saskatchewan government

Sask. agriculture group questions value of new water management data platform

Sask. agriculture group questions value of new water management data platform

Data for water management across sectors is now open for public use through a platform by the Water Security Agency of Saskatchewan, but at least one group is skeptical of how useful it will be for their businesses. The Saskatchewan government earlier this week announced the launch of what it calls a GeoHub portal for access to data for better water management. The portal combines geographic information systems to provide greater access to information, primarily when making decisions around agricultural operations, planning, or research in the province.

Advocates call on Sask. government to create wetland policy before agricultural water policy

Advocates call on Sask. government to create wetland policy before agricultural water policy

The Saskatchewan Alliance for Water Sustainability (SAWS) and other water advocacy groups are calling on the province to create a wetland policy. About 10,000 acres of wetlands are lost on average each year in Saskatchewan, according to Ducks Unlimited. It is the only province without a comprehensive policy to manage and preserve wetlands. Advocates said they are concerned that the province's new upcoming Agricultural Water Stewardship Policy will maintain existing drainage and create new wetland drainage projects. The policy aims to help farmers deal with occasional overland flooding.

Rural municipalities want Sask. government to speed up Lake Diefenbaker irrigation project

Rural municipalities want Sask. government to speed up Lake Diefenbaker irrigation project

The Lake Diefenbaker irrigation project is expected to double the amount of irrigable land in Saskatchewan. The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities wants to make sure it gets done — and soon. Last week, SARM called on the provincial government to provide an update on the state of the irrigation expansion works. "We want this project to go ahead as soon as possible," SARM president Ray Orb said. "We want to make sure that the province is dedicated to finishing these projects, and doing that on a timely basis."

'High quality water is important': Esterhazy begins construction on new water system for community, surrounding areas

'High quality water is important': Esterhazy begins construction on new water system for community, surrounding areas

It was almost fitting, on a soggy Tuesday morning, the Town of Esterhazy celebrated its recent start in constructing a $29.9 million regional water system. The rain didn’t damper the spirits of those in attendance, which included local dignitaries from both the municipal and provincial levels of government. The new water system got the boost it needed with funding from both provincial and federal levels within the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.

Canada, Saskatchewan governments extend application deadline for livestock water projects

Canada, Saskatchewan governments extend application deadline for livestock water projects

The deadline has been extended for livestock producers wanting to apply to the Farm and Ranch Water Infrastructure Program. The announcement for the temporary enhanced funding came Tuesday from the Canadian and Saskatchewan governments. In a release, the provincial government acknowledged that producers have experienced difficulties in sourcing materials and contractors to build water development projects following 2021’s drought conditions. The program is now adjusted to allow producers who plan to claim more than $50,000 in rebates to submit a preliminary application by Mar. 31, 2022 in order to complete their projects.

Canada and Saskatchewan invest to upgrade drinking water and wastewater infrastructure

Canada and Saskatchewan invest to upgrade drinking water and wastewater infrastructure

The governments of Canada and Saskatchewan continue to invest in infrastructure during this unprecedented time to enhance citizens' quality of life, meet the needs of communities, and create jobs to address the impact of COVID-19. Today, the Honourable Jim Carr, Minister and Special Representative for the Prairies, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities and the Honourable Don McMorris, Saskatchewan's Minister of Government Relations announced funding to upgrade drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in three provincial parks and nine Saskatchewan communities.

Sask. government announces $119 million to aid drought-affected livestock producers

Sask. government announces $119 million to aid drought-affected livestock producers

Saskatchewan's Ministry of Agriculture announced $119 million in support for cattle producers on Tuesday. The funding is intended to help producers who have faced extra costs, such as accessing water and feed, as a result of the ongoing drought. Funding will also be available to other livestock producers. The support falls under the AgriRecovery program, part of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership agreement. The province is asking the federal government to provide an additional $178 million for the program.

Buffalo Pound water treatment plant to get $222-million overhaul

Buffalo Pound water treatment plant to get $222-million overhaul

The Buffalo Pound water treatment plant, which supplies drinking water to nearly a quarter of Saskatchewan residents, is getting $222 million in upgrades to refurbish its aging infrastructure. The project is expected to start construction in early 2022, with costs being split across several levels of government. Ottawa will contribute $89 million, Saskatchewan will chip in $74 million and the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Corporation, which is owned by the cities of Regina and Moose Jaw, will contribute $59 million.

'An abomination': Sask. water expert warns of contamination following Alberta's coal policy changes

'An abomination': Sask. water expert warns of contamination following Alberta's coal policy changes

Alberta's plan to allow for open-pit coal mining in the Rocky Mountains could be a serious threat to Saskatchewan's water supply, says the director of the Global Water Futures Project at the University of Saskatchewan. "For a water scientist to see this happening, it's just an abomination to have these types of developments suggested in the headwaters of the rivers that supply drinking water and the economy for most of Saskatchewan," John Pomeroy told CBC's Blue Sky. Last spring, the Alberta government revoked a 1976 policy that blocked open-pit coal mining on the eastern slopes and peaks of the Rockies.

Sask.'s $4B irrigation plan must address changing climate, Indigenous rights: professor

Sask.'s $4B irrigation plan must address changing climate, Indigenous rights: professor

The Saskatchewan government has announced a $4-billion plan to expand irrigation out of the Lake Diefenbaker reservoir. Work is set to begin immediately, and will be completed in three phases over the next decade. CBC reporter Jason Warick spoke Friday with John Pomeroy, a Canada Research chair and director of the University of Saskatchewan's Global Water Futures program.

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