ManitobaWaterStewardshipRegionalOperations

GeoffReimer,Manager,WaterRightsLicensing,RedRiverRegion
DrainageInfrastructure&
WaterRightsLicensing

RegionalOperationsHistory:
Drainage,designedtoremoveexcessrainfallfromcroplandduringthegrowingseason,isbasedonthe
productivecapabilityofthesoilandontechnical,economic,andenvironmentalfactors.Drainage,and
thelackofresourcesdedicatedtothemaintenanceandreconstructionofexistingworks,haslongbeen
anissuethroughoutagriculturalareas.Landdrainageisapartnershipbetweenlandowners,
municipalities,ConservationDistrictsandtheProvince.Directprovincialresponsibilitylieswith
ManitobaWaterStewardship(formerlyConservation)fortheProvincialWaterwaysystemandwith
TransportationandGovernmentServicesforthedrainsandditchesparallelingProvincialTrunk
HighwaysandProvincialRoads.
Basicagriculturallanddrainageworksintheprovincewerecompletedintheearly1900s,underthe
jurisdictionsofvariousmunicipallybasedentitiesknownasDrainageDistricts.Inthe1930'sand1940's
provisionsweremadeforthemaintenanceofthedrainsthroughtheestablishmentofDrainage
MaintenanceDistricts,againestablishedonmunicipalboundaries.In1965,Manitobatookaproactive
approachtoresolvingintermunicipaldrainageissuesbybeingthefirstofallsurroundingjurisdictions
totakeontheresponsibilityforProvincialWaterways(themajordrains)basedonawatershedsystems
approach.Ingeneral,municipalitiesbecameresponsibleforthosecomponentsofthetributarysystem
whichoutletintotheProvincialWaterways.
Duringthe1960sandtheperiodbetweenthelate1970sandthemid1980s,anumberofcostsharing
programsbetweenfederal,provincialandmunicipaljurisdictionsresultedinsignificanttemporary
booststodrainagesystemreconstructionanddevelopment.Thedriercycleinregionalweatherofthe
late1980s,resultedindrainageissuesbecominglessprominent.Acommensuratelossoffederal
supportsawprovincialtechnicalandfinancialresourcesdedicatedtodrainagesignificantlyreduced.
In1989,theprovincialgovernmentheldaseriesofpublicconsultationswhichresultedinthe
publicationofManitobasWaterPolicies.Drainagewasraisedasasignificantissue.Drainagepriorities
delineatedwereasfollows:maintenanceoftheexistingsystemfirstpriority,reconstructionsecond
priority,andnewconstructionthirdpriority.Thepoliciesfurtherstatedthatdrainageshouldbe
undertakenonawatershedbasisinordertoencompassissuesrelatedtowaterretention,controland
timingofrunoff.
Duringthe1990s,awetterthannormalcyclepredominated,revealingtheeffectsofthedeteriorated
drainageinfrastructureacrosstheprovince,i.e.attendantcropandotherfloodingrelateddamages.
Theincreasedprofileofdrainageissuesalsohighlightedregulatoryshortcomings.TheProvince
respondedbytransferringstafftoregionalpostingssothatdrainageregulationcouldbeadministered
atthelocallevel.EnforcementofTheWaterRightsActwasactivelypursuedforthefirsttime.The
resultofthesechangeswasquickeractiononenforcementandashorterturnaroundtimeonlicensing.
Therewasalsoasignificantincreaseindrainagelicenceapplications.

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In1997/98,apublicreviewpanelonlanddrainageclearlyheardthattheProvinceshouldmaintain
ultimatejurisdictionandauthorityoverdrainageanddrainagelicensing.Themainrecommendations
wereto: fundcapitalprojects,maintainandimprovedrainageworks,furtherimprovedrainage
licensingadministrationandenforcementoftheact.TworeviewsofTheWaterRightsActwere
conductedandalthoughdrainagewasonlyoneportionoftheact,themajorityofthecomments
receivedwereondrainageissues.Asaresultoflegalchallenges,amendmentsweremadetoThe
WaterRightsActtoclarifyprovincialjurisdictionoverdrainage.
Since1965,whentheprovincetookresponsibilityforprovincialwaterways,theprogrambudgetsfor
landdrainagehavebeeninconsistentwithanoveralltrendtodecreasingtheeffectivefundingaimed
atmaintenance.Thishasoccurreddespitethefactthatmanyhighervaluecropsaremoresensitiveto
excesswaterandrequirehigherdrainagestandards,andthatconstruction,design,andmaintenance
costshaveincreased.

CurrentStatus:
Excessivespringandsummerrainfallin1999,2000,2002,and2004resultedinsignificantcroplosses
andpropertydamage.DrainageissueshavebeenontheagendaatAssociationofManitoba
Municipalities(AMM)andKeystoneAgriculturalProducers(KAP)meetingsforthelastseveralyears.
ManymunicipalitiescontinuetopetitiontheProvincetoincreasefundingtoachieveappropriatelevels
ofmaintenanceandreconstructionontheProvincialWaterwaysystem.ManitobaWaterStewardship
(Conservation)hascommittedtodevelopinglongtermfundingplansfordrainageandtosharingthese
withinterestedmunicipalCouncils.Todate,however,nocomprehensiveplanshavebeenapprovedfor
distributionanddiscussion.
Thecontinuingdeclineintechnicalstaffingfordesignservices,inadequateconstructionand
maintenancefunding,andacoincidentthrusttoaddressdrainageproblemsthroughregulatorymeans,
i.e.theprohibitionofdrainageasopposedtodevelopmentofcooperativesolutionstodrainage
problems,hasproducedasignificantincreaseinlitigationagainsttheProvince,bothintermsof
challengestolegislationandclaimsfordamagesasaresultofthefailuretomaintainProvincial
Waterways.Solutionstodrainageissueshavealsobeenhinderedbyincreasedenvironmentalscrutiny
whereinalackofclearguidelinesandpolicyhavefrustratedlocalgovernments,individualproducers
andotherswhohavetakenmattersintotheirownhands.
Requireddrainagesystemcapacityhasbeenincreasingduetogreaterplantinglevelsinspecialtycrops,
improvedonfarminfrastructureandurbandevelopmentintoagriculturalareas.Ageneralincreasein
farmsizeandlandownersabilitiestoalterrunoffhasalsoaggravatedthesituation.
Planningoflanddrainageprojectsgenerallyrequiresmultiyearschedulingforsurveys,design,
environmentalapprovals,landacquisitionandconstructionoftheworks.Aspartofaproactive
approach,ManitobaWaterStewardship(Conservation)hasbeenpreparing5yearCapitalandMinor
Infrastructureplans,whichincludetherequireddrainageinfrastructureimprovements.Forthelasttwo
years,Capitalexpenditureplansbasedonannualallotmentsof$2.5million,$4.5millionand
unrestrictedfundinghavebeensubmittedforTreasuryBoardconsideration.Theplansnecessarily
includenondrainagerelatedinfrastructure(i.e.floodcontrolworks,etc.)ashighestpriority,but
includedrainageprojectprioritiesasdeterminedwithintheregions.For2000/2001to2002/2003,the
landdrainagerelatedcomponentoftheCapitalinfrastructureprogramhasbeenlimitedtoabout$2.5
million.Maintenancehasbeenrelativelyconstantovertheyearsatapresentvalueof$3.13.7million
perannum.Maintenanceandconstructionofdrainagetransportationcrossingscurrentlyinvolvesupto
50percentoftheprovincialdrainagebudgets.

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Currently,therearenodiscussionsbetweentheprovinceandthefederalgovernmentregardingcost
sharingagreementsspecifictodrainageinfrastructureintheprovince.Itisexpectedthatthroughthe
inputofinterestgroups,andcooperationfromConservationDistrictsandruralmunicipalities,processes
willcontinuetoevolvewhichwillensurewatershedbasedprojectsintegrateallresources.

MANITOBAWATERSTEWARDSHIP(CONSERVATION)
(andpredecessordesignations)
DRAINAGEEXPENDITURES
ONTHEPROVINCIALWATERWAYSYSTEM
CAPITAL&MAINTENANCE
Fiscal
Year
67/68
68/69
69/70
70/71
71/72
72/73
73/74
74/75
75/76
76/77
78/79
79/80
80/81
81/82
82/83
83/84
84/85
85/86
86/87
87/88
88/89

($Ms)
~PresentValue,2002
8.5
9.3
7.1
7.0
7.2
6.5
6.5
6.1
6.1
7.9
12.0
6.3
7.1
9.7
8.2
8.3
8.5
11.5
8.4
7.4
8.8

89/90
90/91
91/92
92/93
93/94
94/95
95/96
96/97
97/98
98/99
99/00

7.3
6.8
6.7
6.4
6.0
5.9
6.1
6.4
6.1
6.0
7.3

00/01
01/02
02/03
03/04
04/05

5.2
4.9
5.2
6.1
6.3

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Notes:

Thesefiguresalsoincludethemaintenanceofwatersupplyworksbutexcludefloodcontrolworks.
Around1990/91theadministrationofthedayeliminatedfieldanddesignserviceswhichremoved$3.6
millionfromdrainageservices.Thesecostswouldbeinadditiontothatshownabove.
Theportionofthemaintenancebudgetgoingtoprojectsotherthandrainagemaintenancehasbeen
increasinginthelast10years.
Theportionofthecapitalbudgetgoingtocrossingreplacementisincreasing.
Theseexpendituresincluderegionaloperationexpensesanddepartmentalsalarycostsrelatedto
waterwaymaintenanceactivities.

DrainageDiscussionPaper

BriefHistoryofWaterStewardshipRegionalInfrastructureandOperations
TheDepartmentofWaterStewardshipsRegionalInfrastructureandOperationsDepartmenthasexisted
insomeformoranothersincethelate1950s.Theprovincialdepartmentwasformedtoundertakeall
formsofwaterresourcedevelopmentforthebenefitofManitoba.Thescopeofthisworkincludedthe
engineering,construction,designandadministrationservicesrequiredfortheconstructionofdams,
drainageditches,floodcontrolinfrastructure,reservoirs,drinkingandwastewatersystemsaswellas
manyotherwaterrelatedservicesrequiredbyruralManitobans.Atitspeak,RegionalOperationshad
over400employeesdoingwaterresourcesworkthroughouttheprovince.Thecurrentdepartmenthas
undergoneseveraladministrativechangesandhasbeenreducedtoapproximately25%ofitsoriginal
size.Thecurrentfocusofthedepartmentistoimproveexistingdrainageandfloodcontrolinfrastructure
throughreconstructionprojectsaswellasthecontinuedmaintenanceofexistinginfrastructure.
ExistingDrainageSystem.
ThedrainagesystemservicingManitobahasevolvedsignificantlyoverthepast60years.Theoriginal
landscapeconsistedofswamps,naturalstreamsandriverswhichservedastheprimarydrainagesystem
forManitoba.Aspopulationincreased,sodidtherurallandbase,andagriculturallanduseincreased
significantly.Duringthistimeofexpansion,theRedRivervalleyincludedmanyswampsandwetlands,
andhadverylimiteddrainage.Thesoilsinthisareawerefoundtobesomeofthebestagriculturally
suitedsoilsintheworld,andeffortswereundertakentomaximizetheproductivityofthisland.
TheincreaseinagriculturalproductivityanditsimportancetotheManitobaeconomydictatedthata
comprehensivedrainagenetworkstrategyhadtobedevelopedtomaximizethepotentialofagricultural
landproduction.Inthelate50sandearly60s,theprovincetookontheroleofwatermanagementand
beganahugeundertakingindevelopingoneofthemostcomprehensive,intenseandwelldeveloped
drainagesystemsinCanada.ThedrainagedesigncriteriaandmethodologydevelopedbytheProvince
hasbeenadoptedasanindustrystandardbyprivatedesignconsultants,theUnitedStatesArmyCorpsof
EngineersandisusedasateachingtoolinuniversitiesandcollegesacrossCanada.
Indevelopingaprovincialnetworkofdrains,thewatershedsofManitobahadtobeestablished,anda
classificationsystemofexistingdrainsonthelandscapehadtobedeveloped.Provincialsurveyorsand
engineersweresentouttophysicallynoteallnaturalandmanmadewaterwaysanddrainsonthe
landscape.Thesurveyinformationwasusedtoestablishwatershedboundariesanddocumentdrainage
systems.
AllofthisinformationwascombinedtodevelopprovincialDesignationsofDrainsmaps.Drainsare
classifiedintermsoforder.Drainsrangeinsizefrom1st orderto7th orderthehigherthenumber
beingthelargestsizeofdrain.Examplesoffirsttothirdorderdrainsincludesmallswales,depressionsor
manmadeditchesinwhichwaterrunsonlyinspringorafterheavyrainsthismayincludeditchesalong

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municipalroads.Thirdorderto7th orderstreamsarelargerinsizemanyhavebeenmanmadeincluding
municipalandhighwayroaddrains,andhavesignificantmeasurableflowsofsurfacewaterrunoffduring
springandafterheavyrains.Fifthorderandhigherstreamstypicallyhaveyearroundflows,andare
large,naturalwaterwayssuchastheAssiniboine,SourisandRedRiver.
JurisdictionOverWaterways.
Allpropertyin,andallrightstotheuse,diversionorcontrolofallwaterintheprovinceisvestedinthe
CrowninrightofManitoba.Alldrainageworks(otherthanthoseownedbytheProvince)intheprovince
aresubjecttothejurisdictionoftheWaterRightsAct.
RuralMunicipalitiesarelocaldrainageauthorities,responsiblefortheconstructionandmaintenanceof
municipaldrainageinfrastructure.Thistypicallyincludessmaller,naturalwaterwaysaswellasmunicipal
roadditches.AllmunicipaldrainageworksaresubjecttoregulationundertheWaterRightsActwhichis
administeredbytheProvinceofManitoba.
Insomeareas,ConservationDistrictshaveauthorityoverthewaterwayscontainedwithintheirdistrict.
SomeConservationDistrictshavespecialagreementsinplacewiththeProvincetomaintainandoperate
thesewaterways.TheConservationDistrictsdrainageactivityisstillregulatedbytheProvinceunderthe
jurisdictionoftheWaterRightsAct.
TheProvinceisanimportantowner/operatorofProvincialwaterways.Thesewaterwaysweredesigned
andconstructedbytheProvinceandarecurrentlymaintainedandoperatedbyRegionalOperations.
ThesedrainsareformallydesignatedasbeingunderProvincialjurisdictionthroughOrdersinCouncil.
Thereareapproximately2700miles(4500kms)ofprovincialwaterwaysinManitobaincorporating600
bridgesand1500major,multipleculvertcrossings.Existingprovincialwaterwayinfrastructurehasa
currentreplacementvalueof$1billiondollars.
DrainDesignProcess
OncetheProvincerecognizedtheagriculturalcapabilityoftheRedRiverValleyandareasoftheInterlake
andnorthernManitoba,astrategywasdevelopedtohelpmaximizethepotentialoffarmland.Drainage
oftheseareaswasidentifiedasthemajorcomponentneededtoensurethelandbasewouldbecomeand
remainsuitableforprofitableagriculturalproduction.WaterStewardship,withhelpfromother
governmentdepartmentssuchasAgriculture,developedadraindesignformulathatwouldensurethat
thesizeandtypeofdrainsconstructedwouldreflectthetypeandvalueofthelandthedrainwas
servicing.
Alldrainsurveying,drafting,design,administrationandconstructionsupervisionwasoncedonein
house.DrainsweredesignedusingcomplexengineeringtechniquesandformulaedevelopedbyWater
Stewardship.Duetothedifferentlandtypesthroughouttheprovince,differentstandardswere
developedtoensurethatthebestlandreceivedthehigheststandardofdrainage.
Fourdrainagestandardsweredeveloped,eachdesignedtoremoveapredeterminedsizerainfallevent
withinagiventimeframe.Forspecialtycrops(beans,potatoes)rainfallwasremovedwithinafewhours,
cerealcrops(canola,wheat)within36hours,foragecrops(hayland)within4days,pioneerlandwithin
10days.Thesestandardsweredevelopedwithinputfromagriculturalexpertsatthetime,andbasedon
thecroptypesandlanduseinthe60sand70s.Thetimelinecriteriawerecombinedwithotherdesign
elementswhichhelpeddictatedrainsizeandtype.Themaincriteriausedtoassesanddesignapotential
drainare: soiltype,existingtopography(slopeofland)andacostbenefitformulausingthepotential
cropvaluetotweakadraindesigntomaximizecroppotential.
Soiltypeisakey,draindesignelement.Soilcharacteristicslargelydeterminehowmuchrunoffis
occurring(eg.Onclaysoilsthereislesswaterinfiltratingdownwardthansandysoils)soifonesoiltype

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ispredominantitwillaffecttherunoffrateandthereforedraincapacity.Soiltypeandslopeoftheland
determinesifthespeedofwaterinthedrainneedstobecontrolled.Throughaseriesofcomprehensive
tests,allowabledrainslopesandinchannelvelocitieswereestablishedandincorporatedintoalldrain
designs.Addedtothesespecificengineeringcriteriaisacostbenefitvaluewhichreflectsthevalueofthe
landandcroptypethatthepotentialdrainwillservice.Drainsweredesignedspecificallyfortheareathey
service.ThissamedesignprocessisusedcurrentlybyRegionalOperationswhenundertakingdrain
reconstructionprojects.
CurrentOperationofDrainageSystem
Thedrainageinfrastructureonthelandscapewasdesignedandconstructedtoserviceanagricultural
landbaseandpracticesestablishedinthelate60sandearly70s.Astechnologyandagricultural
researchadvanced,sohasthecapabilityoftheagriculturallandbasetohandleincreasinglyspecialized
crops.Landpreviouslyclassifiedasmarginalornonproductivehasbecomesomeofthemostprofitable
andexpensivelandinagroManitoba.AnexampleofthisisthesandysoilinsouthcentralManitoba.
Inthelate60s,thislandwasdeterminedtobenonprofitableandwasdeemedinadequateforcereal
cropproduction.Itwasseenasnotbeingimportant(bylocalgovernmentandproducers)toserviceviaa
complexdrainagenetwork.Today,thislandisideallysuitedforspecialtypotatoproduction,andis
classifiedasthemostvaluableagriculturallandinManitobawithsalepricesbeinginexcessof$3,500per
acre.Thisexampleisspecifictothislandtype,butdifferentscalesofthisincreaseinlandvalueand
productivityarecommonthroughoutagroManitoba.
Thedrainagestandardthattheprovincialnetworkofdrainswasdesignedandconstructedto,nolonger
exists.Landonceconsideredmarginalisnolongerso,andtheopeningupofpreviouslyundeveloped
landhasincreasedtheareadrainingintoProvincialInfrastructuresubstantially.Previouslymarginalland
isnowsomeofthemostvaluablelandintheprovincebutatthetime,theservicingofthislandbya
drainagenetworkwasnotconsideredeconomicallyviable.

PrioritizingofWorkMaintenanceandReconstruction

ReconstructionofExistingInfrastructure
Theincreaseinlandvalueandchanginglandusepracticeshavemademostofourprovincialdrainage
networkobsolete.Ourdrainsarenowsimplynotlargeenoughtoservicethecurrentlandbase
adequatelyandredesignandreconstructionofthesewaterwaysisrequired.Theredesignand
reconstructionofwaterwaysisundertakenandadministeredbyWaterStewardship.Individualfarmers,
farmlobbygroupsaswellasmunicipalitieslobbyWaterStewardshiptoimproveourexisting
infrastructuretoreflectcurrentlandvalues.Thislobbyingisnotlimitedtooneparticulararea,butis
spreadoutacrosstheprovince.Duetothesystemwidedegradationofourdrainagesystem,Water
Stewardshiphastoprioritizeitsworktoaddressareasofhighestconcern.
Inordertoprioritize,WaterStewardshipincorporatescurrentlandvalues,existinginfrastructure
conditionandpublicdemandtodeterminewhichwaterwaysrequireimmediateimprovement.Inorderto
ensureprioritiesareactedupon,andthattheworstproblemsarebeingaddressedassoonaspossible,5
yearplansaredevelopedtoaddressinfrastructurepriorities.Anannualbudgetofapproximately$1.9
millionisprovidedtoundertakereconstructionprojectsthroughouttheprovince.Forsimplereference,
theaveragecostofreconstructionofaprovincialdrainis$200250,000permile.Anumberofother
factorscandrivethiscostupconsiderably.Thedemandsforimprovementsfaroutweighourcurrent
abilitytodeliver.Amapshowingthelast5yearsofreconstructionprojectshasbeenprovided.

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Maintenance
WaterStewardshipiscontinuallymaintainingitswaterways.Thisactivityincludesbridgereconstruction,
culvertreplacement,vegetationremovalandrelatedactivities.Ourmaintenanceactivitiesaremainly
fixingbrokenordamagedinfrastructure,andrespondingtocomplaintsbymunicipalitiesorlandowners
beingservicedbyourinfrastructure.
Theannualmaintenancebudgetfortheentireprovinceis$2.0million,outofwhichalldepartmental
maintenanceemployeesarepaid.Bridgesandcrossingreceivetheirownbudgetof$1.3millionannually,
butthecosttoreplaceonebridgecrossingaprovincialwaterwaycanbe$350,000.With600bridge
crossingsand1,500culvertcrossings,repairandreplacementactivitiesareseverelylimited.
ProvincialDrainageInfrastructurewithintheSeineRiverWatershed
The agricultural land base within the Seine River Watershed is substantial, and is serviced by
approximately370milesofprovincialwaterwaysusedforagriculturallanddrainageaswellassomeflood
protection(SeineRiverDiversion).Thesewaterwaysaresupplementedbyamunicipaldrainagenetwork
whichissubjecttolicensingundertheWaterRightsAct.
WaterRights(Drainage)Licensing
WaterStewardshipsRegionalOperationsisresponsibleforadministeringandenforcingtheWaterRights
Act. The Water Rights Act is used to govern drainage and water diversion or control activities on the
landscape.Typically,proponentsofdrainagerelatedprojectsapplytoWaterStewardshipforapprovalof
their projects. Water Stewardship staff inspect the proposed project and either approve the project as
applied for, approve with conditions and changes or reject the proposal. The role of the province in
regulation is to ensure that any proposed project does not have a negative impact on upstream or
downstreamwaterusers.
TheSeineRiverWatershedhasoneofthebetterratesofdrainagelicensingintheprovince.Licencesare
usually applied for by municipalities, with a smattering of individual landowners applying as well. A
breakdown(approx.)oflicencesappliedforbymunicipalityinthepast5yearsisasfollows:

R.M.ofHanover7585applicationsbymunicipality,15applicationsbyindividuals
R.M.ofSte.Anne5565applicationsbymunicipality,10applicationsbyindividuals
R.M.ofLaBroquerie58applicationsbymunicipality,4applicationsbyindividuals
R.M.ofRitchot2022applicationsbymunicipality,69byindividuals
R.M.ofTache5560applicationsbymunicipality,1013byindividuals

Thisaveragesouttoapproximately58applicationsinthewatershedperyear,withanaverageof12per
municipality (including individuals). If we look at each municipality separately, an average yearly
breakdownofapplicationsis:

R.M.ofHanover 20applicationsperyear
R.M.ofSte.Anne15applicationsperyear
R.M.ofLaBroquerie2applicationsperyear
R.M.ofRitchot6applicationsperyear
R.M.ofTache14applicationsperyear

Thenumberofapplicationsandlicencesarenotdirectlyreflectiveoftheamountofdrainageoccurringon
thelandscape.Itisrecognizedthatsomemunicipalitieshavegreaterdrainagebudgetsthanothers,and
thosewithsmallerbudgetsdonotundertakemuchdrainagework,andthatisreflectedinthenumberof
applications. As well, many municipalities are not undertaking new drainage works, and are simply
maintaining an existing system. However, there are municipalities and individuals in the Seine River

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Watershed that are undertaking extensive, unlicensed drainage works.This does not necessarily mean
thatallunlicensedworkisdetrimentaltothelandscape,butsomeoftheworkISharmfulandleadsto
thebiggestissuefacingdrainagelicensingenforcementundertheWaterRightsAct.
EnforcementoftheWaterRightsAct
Historically,enforcementundertheWaterRightsActhasbeensporadicandlargelyineffectivepartially
duetoprocess,butlargelyduetoweaknessintheActandreluctancetoprosecute.
Historically, if a person or municipality performed illegal drainage works, a drainage officer would
investigate,andifaviolationoftheWaterRightsActhadoccurred,aletternotifyingthelandowneror
proponent of the work would be sent informing them of their violation. The letter would outline the
actionsrequiredtomitigatetheproblem,beitclosingintheworks,modifyingthemtosomedegree,or
alteringtheprojectentirely.Theoffenderwouldthenhaveacertainamountoftimetocomplywiththe
letter. In some cases, compliance was undertaken quickly, often as a result of the offender not being
awarealicencewasrequiredetc.Insomecases,offendersundertooktheremedialworkreluctantlydue
tomisinformation(theywerereportedlytoldthatnoapprovalwasrequired).
Inmostothercases,theoffenderdoesnotcomplywiththeletterfromWaterStewardship,andharsher
measuresarerequired.ThenextstepinthisprocessistheissuingofaMinisterialOrderwhichisan
order signed by the Minister of Water Stewardship ordering the offending party to modify the illegal
drainageworkstotheconditionsoutlinedintheOrderinarequiredamountoftime.Iftheoffenderdoes
notcomply,theprovincecanorderathirdpartytoundertaketherequiredwork,andallcostsincurred
aretheresponsibilityoftheoffendertopay.
Previously,undertheWaterRightsAct,anoffendercouldappealthisordertotheMunicipalBoard,and
any appeal stayed the order meaning that until the matter was heard before the board, the illegal
works could remain open until found illegal. This has led to further noncompliance and ultimately
litigation against the province for nonenforcement. The result is essentially a beauracratic nightmare
whichleavestheinitialissueultimatelyunresolved.
EnforcementundertheWaterRightsActhasbeenbroughtuprepeatedlyasamainissueofconcernby
entitiessuchasAMMandtheConservationDistrictAssociation. Recently,areviewoftheWaterRights
Act has been undertaken by Water Stewardship and Provincial Cabinet, resulting in the formation and
passing of the Water Right Amendment Act. This Act is intended to give more enforcement powers to
Water Stewardshipstaff and effectively deal with drainage offenses as theyoccur. The new legislation
willgiveofficerstheabilitytoissueonthespotfines,enforcementnotices,andinextremecasesallow
forequipmentseizureallwiththelegislativeabilitytolegallysupporttheseactions.Thesechangeshave
been welcomed by most municipalities and Conservation District Boards. The changes in legislation
requiretheappropriatetrainingofWaterStewardshipstaff.Itislikelythatenforcementabilitywillnotbe
availableuntilthespringof2007.
Inconclusion,theroleofWaterStewardshipsRegionalOperationswithintheSeineRiverWatershedis
variedandquitecomplex.Historically,theprovincehasundertakenalargeamountofwork,asthisis
one of the predominant agricultural areas in the Province. Being primarilyagricultural, thisareais also
rifewithdrainagecomplaintsarisingfromindividualandmunicipalactivities.WaterStewardshipRegional
Operations is a strong proponent of the IWMP as it will help address longstanding water issues
throughouttheCD.Aswell,itwillbeausefultoolinlongandshorttermplanningrespectingpotential
drainageprojectsandtheirlongtermfeasibility.
IfyouhaveanyfurtherquestionsorrequireanyadditionalinformationpleasecontactGeoffReimerat
(204)4674725oremailatgereimer@gov.mb.caIncludedortofollowthisdocumentarescanned,
watershed maps showing the provincial drain network within each municipality in the SRWS and a
documententitledDrainagePrimerwhichwassubmittedasinformationtotheTreasuryBoard.