Conservation Coordinating Committee activities

Summer 2007 Workshop

Final Report -Conservation Workshop and Tour, June 6-7, 2007

Presentations:

Red Lake River Farm to Stream Tile Drainage Study - Red Lake Watershed District

Agricutlural Drainage Management Coalition

Aquatic Ecosystem Implications of Subsurface Drainage for the RRB - Kristen Blann

Tile Drainage in Manitoba - Bruce Shewfelt

Drainage Research Update - Craig Shrader
 

Buffer Strips Handout

Background
The topic of conservation covers a wide variety of interrelated issues and is defined as sustainable development within the Red River Basin through the management and  maintenance of resources in order to assure their use by future generations.  In an attempt to gain an understanding of conservation issues of local significance, various types of local plans have been identified  and reviewed.  Examples of these types of plans are county comprehensive water plans, soil conservation district plans, and watershed district plans.  Relevant state and provincial materials were also reviewed to identify conservation issues of a broader nature and the administrative focus of each jurisdiction.  In reviewing the plans, the objective was to identify conservation issues, problems and conflicts addressed, as well as solutions proposed or actions taken.

The inventory reveals that the issues in the states and province are similar.  The major concerns are soil erosion, water quality, flooding and land use  conflicts.  The solutions vary a bit primarily due to land use.  The level of planning varies greatly.  Minnesota has the greatest level of local planning followed by North Dakota, then South Dakota, with  Manitoba having limited local planning efforts.