NETWORKS AND ORGANIZED DRAINAGE

In Saskatchewan, most agricultural drainage is interconnected from many pieces of land until the water reaches a natural creek, river or lake.

This is why when applying for drainage works, most landowners are encouraged to work with their neighbours to identify a drainage network and create an organized drainage project. Working together allows landowners to coordinate land control, construction and other activities such as flow controls. This creates efficiencies for both effectively draining land and reducing impacts.

DRAINAGE NETWORK

A ‘network’ is all the drainage works that drain to the point of adequate outlet, which is usually a natural creek or a large approved drainage ditch constructed by a Conservation and Development Area Authority or C&D (see below).

 
 
 
 
 

Joint Applications

A joint application means landowners can apply together for a drainage approval without creating a formal organization such as a Conservation and Development Area Authority or Watershed Association.

This approach allows both coordination of drainage and can serve as a form of land control, ensuring drainage projects can be approved when they have downstream landowner permission to drain into an adequate outlet.

Contact your nearest Water Security Agency Regional Office if you need more information about joint-applications.

Download Land Control Requirements Fact Sheet

CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT AREA AUTHORITY

Conservation and Development Area Authorities (C&Ds) are a form of local government, acting with the legal authority of The Conservation and Development Act. Made up of landowners, a C&D can fund projects by levying landowners who will benefit. Establishing a C&D is a way for landowners to work together to respond to water management issues or resolve soil erosion. There are more than 90 active C&Ds in Saskatchewan.

A C&D takes a minimum of three to six months to establish – this does not include the preliminary stage of defining the project that the C&D will undertake, or obtaining land control for network projects.

Download Conservation Development Area Authority: The Guide

Watershed Association

Watershed Associations are a form of local government acting with the legal authority of The Watershed Associations Act. This gives them similar powers to a C&D (levy taxes, for instance) but their membership is different.

Watershed Associations are made up of agencies such as Rural and Urban Municipalities, C&Ds and Irrigation Districts. Watershed Associations provide a means for agencies to work together on issues like water management, flooding and irrigation.

Watershed Associations can own, operate and maintain projects. They raise funds from the member agencies, can borrow funds, and expropriate land.

Steps to form a Watershed Association

  1. A group of agencies interested in forming a Watershed Association contacts a Water Security Agency Regional Office for assistance in defining their project, plan, potential costs and resources.
  2. The agencies prepare:
    • a Council or Board resolution (to show their support and agreement);
    • an Application for Establishment of a Watershed Association; and,
    • a map to show the area of the Watershed Association.
  3. The Minister Responsible for the Water Security Agency puts forward an Order in Council, to be signed by the Lieutenant Governor, which creates the Watershed Association.
  4. The agencies appoint members to the Board and the Board elects the Chair and Vice-Chair.