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New report high on wetlands
Regina, Sask., November 5, 2009 — The Saskatchewan River Basin is a big deal for Duck Unlimited Canada (DUC). For starters, more than half of the waterfowl surveyed within the Canadian prairie pothole region are in this basin.
The importance of the Saskatchewan River Basin was highlighted in a recently-released report, From Mountains to the Sea – State of the Saskatchewan River Basin. Commissioned by the Partners FOR the Saskatchewan River Basin, this comprehensive status report outlines the overall condition of the basin with a focus on hydrology, water use, water quality and biodiversity. The report also provides an assessment of the vulnerability of the basin and associated threats including those that are human-induced, and other environmental changes. DUC was instrumental in the development of the report with DUC staff Bob Grant, manager of provincial operations for Manitoba, on the board of directors and Mark Kornder, conservation program specialist, on the advisory committee.
Of considerable importance to DUC is the high value the report places on wetlands and their role in providing wildlife values and in retaining nutrients and contaminants, moderating flood events, providing erosion control and recharging groundwater systems. The report documents the continued threat of wetland drainage, noting that 66 per cent of wetlands have been drained in the Saskatchewan River Basin of Alberta and that Saskatchewan statistics are similar. Documented vulnerabilities within the basin include landscape modification due to agricultural development, forestry, oil and gas, and dams and diversions, which lead to fragmented landscapes and stream flow modifications. These vulnerabilities can go beyond the basin and ultimately affect other areas downstream, such as Lake Winnipeg.
The report also outlines the need for and effectiveness of legislation and various programs related to water management, but emphasizes the need for multi-sector integrated water resources management planning.
The full report can be found at www.saskriverbasin.ca.
For more information, contact:
Lori Gasper, l_gasper@ducks.ca
Marketing and Communications
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Phone: 306-665-7356
