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Manitoba conservation districts overflowing with praise for new GIS
An old Scottish proverb says, "We'll never know the worth of water till the well go dry." The West Souris River Conservation District and the Little Saskatchewan River Conservation District in southwestern Manitoba are using modern geomatics techniques to heed the proverb's wisdom.
Together, these two districts house some 13 municipalities, cover more than 10 000 square kilometres, and represent home to more than 11 000 people. Most residents are involved in livestock and crop farming.
The districts wanted to use geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, and global positioning systems (GPS) technology to better manage their watersheds. Watersheds catch rain and snow, and drain this precipitation into marshes, streams, rivers, lakes, and groundwater reserves.
These geomatics technologies will enable each conservation district to administer its water resources carefully, both today and in the future. "For instance, if we find areas with contaminated water, we can use geomatics technology to help trace the contamination's origins," says Dean Brooker, GIS Technician with the West Souris River Conservation District. "Knowing the contamination's source is the first step in stopping it and preventing future problems."
Fighting leafy spurge weeds
Under its Sustainable Communities Initiative, GeoConnections provided funding to enhance the districts' GIS programs. The districts bought new computers, upgraded their GIS software, and purchased large plotters that can print detailed 42-inch (107cm)-wide maps.
Now the districts can do more and do it faster. For instance, Mr. Brooker is also using the GIS system to detect and map leafy spurge infestations in watersheds. Originally from Europe, these noxious, hard-to-kill weeds have spread rapidly across much of North America, notably throughout the western provinces and states, threatening native species.
Traditionally, someone at the side of a road would plot such infestations by sight-a time consuming and costly process. With the GIS system, however, Mr. Brooker uses remote sensing satellite images to detect and map the spurge from his office in Reston.
John Johnston uses these maps to better understand the extent of weed growth. Mr. Johnston is Weed Supervisor of the Cameron/Glenwood/Sifton Weed District, an area covering almost 1300 square kilometres in the West Souris River Conservation District. "We're using the GIS to verify the accuracy of a visual weed survey that we conducted in 1999," says Mr. Johnston. "By comparing the results of the two surveys in a relatively small area, we'll be able to extrapolate the GIS results to verify our figures for the entire municipality."
The benefits stream in
A GIS resource technician with the Little Saskatchewan River Conservation District, Steve Hamm uses the new plotter to better manage the area's watershed. For instance, he can now print a map that shows the sizes of the watershed's streams. Regulations may permit a dam on one size of stream, but not on another. A quick look at the map can tell Mr. Hamm what restrictions should apply to which streams.
"Having that kind of instant reference simplifies my job," says Mr. Hamm. "I don't have to physically visit a site to know what it looks like."
As well, upgrading the GIS software has helped the district select conservation programs. For example, in partnership with Ducks Unlimited, the district provides farmers with financial incentives to sow forage seed in pastures. These pastures often contain wetlands, which serve as habitats for ducks and other wildlife. Retaining natural vegetation around wetlands prevents salts from forming at the soil surface, a condition that can jeopardize wetlands on agricultural landscapes.
When farmers apply for this funding, the district now uses its GIS system to assess whether their properties suit the forage-seed program. "The GIS tools enable us to better develop and deliver our programs," says Mr. Ed MacKay, a board member of the Little Saskatchewan River Conservation District. "We're getting the most efficient use of our dollars. We don't duplicate efforts or deliver programs where they're not needed. That's key to stretching our limited financial resources."
Building community capacity
As part of the project, employees of both conservation districts and the municipalities were trained how to use the GIS software for municipal planning. "I had a waiting list for the training," says Mr. Brooker. "I thought I'd have to pull teeth to get people in, but they recognize the value of GIS in sustaining the future of our districts. And once people see what the software can do, they want to use it in their jobs and communities. With the help of GeoConnections, we're developing the skills to look after our natural resources, and that's empowerment."
| GeoConnections is a national partnership initiative led by Natural Resources Canada to build the Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure (CGDI) and make Canada's geospatial databases, tools, and services readily accessible on-line. |