Learn tips and tricks to help manage nitrogen for optimal crop yield whilst protecting the land.
An overview of the importance of riparian restoration and information on what SAW is doing to help protect our riparian areas.
JANUARY 2025
Jan. 14 - Rotational Grazing Workshop, Maple Creek Elks Hall
Jan. 14-16 - Western Canadian Crop Production Show, WTC Saskatoon at Prairieland, Saskatoon
Jan. 22 - Northwest District Advisory Committee Meeting, Tisdale
Jan. 29 - Nitrogen Management Workshop, Grenfell Legacy Inn
FEBRUARY 2025
Feb. 6 - Nitrogen Management Workshop, Milestone Elks Hall
Feb. 12 - Southwest District Advisory Committee Meeting, Shaunavon
Feb. 25 - Northwest District Advisory Committee Meeting, Saskatoon
Feb. 26 - Nitrogen Management Workshop, Carnduff Legion Hall
Feb. 28 - Southeast District Advisory Committee Meeting, Regina
MARCH 2025
Mar. 11-13 - Annual SARM Convention, Prairieland Park, Saskatoon
APRIL 2025
April 13-16 - Annual SUMA Convention, Saskatoon
SAW, through support from Environment and Climate Change Canada, is continuing to develop watershed-based climate adaptation plans for Saskatchewan. Throughout the 3-year Watershed Stewardship for a Changing Climate project, SAW will complete 5 regional watershed district climate adaptation plans, and host six climate adaptation demonstration sites and workshops that showcase best management practices (BMPs) that can be adopted to build resiliency to the impacts and effects of climate variability and extremes, such as more frequent and severe drought or flood events.
On August 28, 2024, in partnership with ECCC, Water Security Agency (WSA), the City of Saskatoon, and Meewasin, SAW installed 12 floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) in the Kensington 1 Storm Pond in the City of Saskatoon. Employees from SAW, Meewasin, and the City of Saskatoon, as well as youth and adult volunteers from WILD Outside assisted with planting the native riparian plants on the floating platforms and launching the platforms.
FTWs are artificial platforms that float on the waterbody and facilitate the growth of native riparian vegetation, filter out pollutants, contaminants, and nutrients, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and control algae. They also provide a home for wildlife and pollinator species. The FTWs are anchored by chain and concrete weights, and they are designed to fluctuate with the changing water levels. The platforms will remain on the Kensington 1 Storm Pond indefinitely and require minimal maintenance. SAW will be testing the water annually to track the effectiveness of the FTWs on the water quality within the storm pond.
a Floating
SAW is excited to showcase our next video in our series from the FTW-Kensington 1 Storm Pond Demonstration Site and Workshop.
To watch the video on the Kensington 1 Storm Pond Demonstration site, please click the link below.
SAW will also begin the community engagement meetings in the Southwest Watershed District in April 2025. More details will be shared soon. Please contact Samantha at ccap@ saskwatersheds.ca for more information about the project.
To learn more about FTW and the Watershed Stewardship for a Changing Climate Project, please click the link below.
Algae is a natural and important part of lake ecosystems. Low flowing water, high temperatures and excessive nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) stimulate blue-green algae growth in summer months creating massive blooms. Implementing a combination of lake stewardship strategies such as these can be beneficial to ensuring healthy lake quality.
• Reducing the input of nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen is essential. This can be achieved by utilizing phosphate-free detergents, maintaining septic systems and controlling runoff discharging into the lake.
• Aeration and mixing are another option to increase oxygen levels in the water, which inhibits blue-green algae growth.
• Real-time water quality monitoring prevents algae blooms. By monitoring chlorophyll-a, phycocyanin, temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and turbidity allows you to be aware of the lake quality and forecast harmful blooms.
Lake property owners can also do their part by implementing a variety of beneficial management practices (BMPs) to help improve and maintain the water quality of their lake.
• Utilize phosphorus-free cleaning products. This prevents additional phosphorus from entering the water system.
• Ensure your septic system is properly maintained annually. Faulty septic tanks can be a significant source of phosphorus.
• Reduce grass fertilizer usage. Avoid using fertilizers that contain phosphorus and only fertilize when needed.
• Restore your shoreline. Plant native shrubs, trees and grasses along the shoreline. The vegetation acts a buffer and filters nutrients and pollutants out before they reach the water.
• Utilize rain gardens, berms and other landscaping techniques to divert runoff away from the lake. This allows water to infiltrate the ground rather than run directly into the lake.
Maintaining a healthy lake ecosystem is crucial to ensuring the safety of humans and wildlife. Over the next two years, SAW will be developing a lake stewardship strategy in the Northwest Watershed District. Two lake stewardship workshops focusing on lake stewardship BMPs and four shoreline restoration demonstration sites will be hosted at Jackfish and Murray Lake in the summer of 2025. Visit the SAW website for more information in 2025.
The Invasive Species Centre of Canada is a nation-wide organization dedicated to preventing the introduction and spread of invasive species in Canada, including aquatic invasive species. It is a not-for-profit organization that exists as a centre point for knowledge, technology, and education of invasive species in Canada. The organization’s vision is a Canada where land and water are protected from invasive species. The Invasive Species Centre values the connection with stakeholders, knowledge and technology that prevents invasive species from impairing Canada’s environment and economy.
The Invasive Species Centre of Canada will be hosting their annual virtual forum February 18-20, 2025. The theme for the forum is “Advancing Community Action”, and is an event where industry, government, non-profit and individuals learn, and talk about issues, research, prevention, and management of invasive species in Canada and the United States. The forum is open to the public, free to attend, and fully virtual, with over 40 presentations delivered by Invasive Species experts from across North America. Presentations on aquatic invasive species including Zebra and Quagga Mussels, as well as Prussian Carp, will be delivered during the forum.
For more information on the Invasive Species Centre and the 2025 Forum, please click the link below.
Nitrogen and other nutrients are essential in achieving optimum crop yields, however applying too much of these nutrients can be detrimental to the environment, including water quality. Excess nitrogen and phosphorous in surface water can cause excess algal growth, impacting water use for private, public and recreational use. Also, water high in nitrates can cause health problems in humans and animals that use it for drinking.
Fertilizer should be applied carefully using the 4R’s:
Right Rate – applying the right amount of fertilizer based on soil nutrient supply and plant demand.
Right Time – make decisions when to apply fertilizer based on crop uptake, available soil nutrients, risk of nutrient loss and logistics for field operations. Split applying fertilizer can increase nitrogen use efficiency by increasing the maximum daily nitrogen uptake and minimizing losses through leaching.
Right Place – by addressing soil and root dynamics, nutrient movement in the soil, and in-field variability, nutrients should be applied to meet site specific crop needs and limit nutrients losses. Surface applied nutrients are more susceptible to losses through gassing off or runoff, which can be mitigated by incorporating fertilizer into the soil.
Right Source – to ensure a balanced supply of essential nutrients, it is important to take both plant available natural and synthetic sources into account. Each nitrogen source has its own efficiencies and recommendations based on site and crop conditions.
By implementing nitrogen management beneficial management practices and following the 4R’s of nutrient management, we can optimize yields without using excess nitrogen, saving money and protecting the environment.
SAW is excited to share this announcement of a partnership with Wawanesa and the City of Yorkton. With the help of local youth organizations, SAW will be assembling and installing 24 floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) on Hopkins Storm Water Pond. FTWs are used to filter out pollutants and nutrients, control algae, and reduce sludge to improve water quality while providing a home for wildlife and pollinators.
Healthy riparian areas and shorelines are critical components of sustainable and biodiverse watersheds. The vegetation that comprises a riparian area acts as a natural buffer for a waterbody by stabilizing streambanks, minimizing erosion, reducing sedimentation, and limiting nutrient deposition, which is critical for maintaining good water quality for all users. Riparian areas also offer important habitat for many plant and animal species found in Saskatchewan. Unfortunately, some riparian areas in Saskatchewan have become degraded due to the removal or damage of their respective vegetation and soil. However, although a riparian area can be degraded, it can also be enhanced or restored.
One practice that is frequently used to restore a degraded riparian area is the planting of native trees and shrubs. By replanting native trees and shrubs in a degraded riparian area, we can reintroduce the natural buffer effect of a riparian area to a waterbody. Vegetation and root systems from planted trees and shrubs will grow to once again stabilize the streambank, limiting erosion, sedimentation, and nutrient deposition, while creating habitat, improving water quality, and restoring biodiversity. As a result, riparian area or shoreline restoration is one of the most effective tools for improving watershed health.
Planting native trees and shrubs to restore a riparian area is not possible without the help of local landowners, farmers, and ranchers. This past summer, using funding provided by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), SAW partnered with 5 different landowners in the Milk River Watershed to implement 6 riparian area restoration projects using the planting of native trees and shrubs. Projects were done along Battle Creek, Bone Creek, and Pine Cree Creek, with native trees and shrubs including yellow willow, sandbar willow, snowberry, dogwood, chokecherry, Saskatoon berry, prickly rose, beaked hazelnut, and trembling aspen planted to restore degraded riparian areas. Species of trees and shrubs planted at each restoration site were selected to match existing native vegetation found in undamaged riparian areas upstream and downstream of each project site, aiming to restore each riparian area to its original state.
With funding provided by Fisheries and Oceans Canada for the 2025 fiscal year, SAW will be looking for landowners to partner with to implement 6 more riparian area restoration sites in southeast Saskatchewan along the Qu’Appelle River. For more information, or if you are interested in participating, please contact Ryder at r.rutko@saskwatersheds.ca or 306-774-2136.
SAW, through support from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), is beginning a new project: Applying a Landscape Approach to Improve Biodiversity. Part of this project includes the establishment of eco-buffer shelterbelts in riparian areas in the North Saskatchewan River Watershed, as well as the development and delivery of education and awareness to rural, urban, and Indigenous communities about the benefits of riparian eco-buffer shelterbelts provide to aquatic, bird, pollinator, and wildlife habitat on the landscape.
Where traditional shelterbelts are composed of one or two tree or shrub species planted in a row to act as a windbreak, eco-buffers mimic natural forest communities by incorporating multiple plant species including trees, shrubs, and forbs, which have varying growth habits and bloom periods to maximize ecological benefits through the season. Eco-buffers can be designed for any landscape, accounting for variation in soil type and texture, moisture, light exposure, and climate.
Hannah is a great team player at SAW and always willing to step in and collaborate with other SAW staff. Hannah’s positive attitude and determination to solve problems doesn’t go unnoticed as she consistently delivers quality work.
Our office locations are open Monday to Friday from 9 AM to 4 PM (closed 12 PM - 1 PM).
HEAD OFFICE
300B - 99 Diefenbaker Dr., Moose Jaw, Sask.
NORTHWEST DISTRICT OFFICE
Norplex Business Center, 221 - 2366 Ave. C N, Saskatoon, Sask.
SOUTHWEST DISTRICT OFFICE 1 Airport Road, Swift Current, Sask.
MAILING ADDRESS
Box 1177, Moose Jaw, Sask., S6H 4P9
