Comprehensive study underway

One of the most comprehensive studies underway is a four-year, $5.65 million project, including a $1.25 million contribution from DUC, led by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Called Watershed Evaluation of BMPs, it will look at the environmental and economic benefits of BMPs for water quality at seven smallscale watershed sites across the country. “We need to find out where and what activities bring the biggest environmental benefits for the least cost,” says Shane Gabor.

One site is a farm near Miami, Man., where five BMPs that impact water quality are being evaluated. Although BMPs have been evaluated previously on small test plots and individual fields, this is the first time their effectiveness is being tested in a small watershed setting over a number of years. The goal is to extrapolate the results of these small watershed studies to somewhat larger Canadian watersheds using computer modelling. “It’s our hope that this project will turn into a longterm monitoring and evaluation program,” says Henry Murkin, DUC’s director of conservation programs.

Everyone agrees that better environmental stewardship is a long-term endeavour in terms of the effort required and the payoff. “There should be good levels of participation by the end of the APF in 2008 but the job will be far from done,” says Graham. “A 10- or 20-year commitment is crucial for lasting results and to get large numbers of farmers to participate.”

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