Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - May 30, 1995, Winnipeg, Manitoba Inside Story Winnipeg free press May Farmers Wrath flows Over drainage project by Tony Davis staff reporter Russell extensive flooding in the Assiniboine Valley this Spring has unleashed a fresh torrent of anger and heated up a simmering feud be tween Western Manitoba and East Ern Saskatchewan its a feud about the Way water drains off Saskatchewan to Manitoba Farmers who work the Assiniboine Valley from bran Don West to it will be a Long time before this emotionally charged Issue becomes water under the you i live with myself if i dumped All my water onto my neighbors grumbles pm of Russell Reeve and Farmer Wayne you just cant keep dumping it downstream and expect someone else to Deal with according to Collins and other Manitoba Farmers in the that just what their counterparts in neighbouring Saskatchewan Are do ing to from ditches ringing Saskatchewan water Chan sold out to water bitter Farmers blame tories for failing to Stem floods r by Tony Davis staff reporter when Farmers in Western Manitoba saw Saskatchewan Runoff water swamping their land this Many blamed the Filmon government for failing to erect a political Dike that would help Stem the since the Farmers in Eastern Saskatchewan have been digging Slit like trenches on their potholed Fields to funnel away the excessive standing water that collects each 11 those which Hook up the potholes in a connect theodot in turn Lead to ditches that As one Manitoba Farmer big enough to Swallow four wheel drive bitter Many Manitoba Farmers say the water siphoned off by those ditches contributes to flooding on their land in the Fertile Assiniboine Valley that extends from the Shell Mouth dam Down to As they look bitterly across the Saskatchewan those same see the Saskatchewan Saskatchewan water Money and support to Farmers through such projects As the Langenburg East drainage project the Manitoba government sold us out to sniped pm of Russell councillor and Farmer Gene one of the most vociferous opponents of the Langenburg Nerbas and others accuse the provinces water resources Branch and environment department of doing Little to oppose ditching projects in Eastern water has spent at least in technical support for surveys and studies related to said Al who farms just below the Shell Mouth dam on the Manitoba Side of the but what has the Manitoba government done for us when Premier Gary Filmon took a helicopter tour of the flooded Assiniboine Valley last upset Farmers from the Lazare and Shell Mouth areas were asking the same Filmon promised to take up their beef with Saskatchewan Farmers during inter provincial but so far nothing has been Manitoba environment minister Glen Cummings said his department is determined that the Lead not proceed until there has been a proper environmental that very important to us and to the people of that who Are saying right lets put a Stop to this until All the impacts Are Cummings and that what we Are this is a potentially very serious problem for and Saskatchewan cannot go ahead Kellmell without due All that Saskatchewan and the fear that More could spill into Manitoba from future ignited bitter feelings Between once Kindred Farmers on either Side of the As he took a reporter on a tour of the Valley during the worst of the flooding last Wayne Reeve of the pm of stopped by one of his own Fields along the dozens of huge round Hay Bales sat in shallow lakes that covered his the water drained on to his land from Collins not All Saskatchewan Farmers support Large drainage projects such As that planned for i think weve been draining too much said Dave Nels eastward into creeks and other natural Waterways which in turn spill into the Assiniboine Val Manitoba Farmers Are Adamant that drainage projects in their neighbouring province made the flooding now they have a focus for their a Symbol of the watery prob lems of the its called the Langenburg East drainage it is this project that perhaps Best typifies in the past two de Saskatchewan drainage projects have mutated from Hap Hazard ditches dug by individual Farmers to Large cooperative projects undertaken by so called conservation and development when and if its the Langenburg encompassing Square Kilometres Northeast of the town of will Drain about hectares of farm land into the Assiniboine Valley near the project was initiated in it be Gan More than 15 years ago when Many Saskatchewan Farmers began and and in Many Ille Gal efforts to ditch and dry their the project has created a deep rift Between once Friendly Farmers on either Side of the some of the More militant Mani Toba incensed at the sight of their soaking Fields this have even threatened some of the 100 Saskatchewan Farmers involved in the Langenburg c charged its chairman David Zerr argues that drainage projects Are an economic necessity for Eastern Saskatchewan it Tony free press Wayne Reeve of the pm of says his land was a series of shallow lakes this year due to Saskatchewan who farms 19 Kilometres South of i want to see nature take its the ducks and frogs need these conservation and environmental groups like ducks unlimited and Manitoban against the Assiniboine Well As downstream towns and cities like Brandon and Portage la water Quality could be affected by Runoff polluted with fertilizers and but Saskatchewan Farmers like Lloyd Werle see the drainage projects As their economic we cant farm this land without proper said who raises 300 head of cattle and grows crops on acres a few Kilometres Northeast of Werle said the drainage ditches in the area help Farmers like him make More efficient use of their on 160 acres of land around you might have 40 potholes full of water eating up 30 acres of David Zerr chairs the Langenburg conservation and development the organization which represents the 100 Farmers involved in the drainage he said Manitoba Farmers have exaggerated the problems Saskatchewan drainage projects cause on their it Doest have that much Impact on the amount of water coming into the Valley from this project is like a drop in the the Langenburg conservation and development area offered to compensate Manitoba Farmers for any flood damage proven to be the result of their drainage Zerr noting All authorized conservation and development areas Are required to carry liability insurance for just that Tim Ball is chairman of the Assiniboine River management advisory 12member Board established last year to advise the government on the Best ways to sustain and utilize the Ball said he understands Why Farmers Are so upset with the Manitoba if youve been Yelling about these things for 27 and nothing has you get a Little the Langenburg Issue illustrates the growing importance of water management in said a Well known University of Manitoba and it also has revealed something what we Are finding is that our legislative system is simply not geared to artificial the should be divided up by water one of the things we identified in our reports to natural resources minister Albert Driedger is a need for better review mechanisms in Cross provincial Boundary disputes like Aerial View of a water eroded Road in Western free press file scramble for ice time proposed Loop could stretch allotments thinner by Nick Martin City Hall reporter plans to establish a new Amateur hockey league could stretch the amount of ice time at Winnipeg rinks even say members of the cites Parks and culture com a request to establish an inter mediate a adult league in five local Arenas next Winter sparked the committee to ask for a review of the cites ice allocation policy for its next meeting june the league wants to play a 24 game schedule on monday and wednesday evenings with tuesdays As backup should dates conflict with Junior the big Issue who do you ice time stalls d2 bump asked Parks commissioner Loren members of the committee offered some Transcona councillor Rick boy Chuk said it May be necessary to twin some existing indoor if the City can spend up to million for a new Arena with Only one hockey the Winnipeg then the capital budget should be Able to handle some pub Lic he Bill Clement Charles Woodfort Garry said the Lack of demand for Public skating in the evening could justify reducing Public skating time to free up the ice for other but he said High school hockey teams should be the first in line if the City is willing to free up the re Quested ice time because some High school players Are leaving class Early in order to make it to late afternoon i guess we need More facile said Lillian Thomas Amaro Silva said he wont deny adults a place to play just be cause younger leagues want to practise indoors during prime our mandate As a City is to pro vide services to our regardless of the fledgling league wants to play at the following Arenas Eric Billy Terry saw Roland Michener and either York factory first nation important notice for members of York factory first nation concerning the implementation of the Northern flood agreement in april the York factory first nation signed an agreement in principle with Manitoba Hydro and Canada to implement the Northern flood negotiations have been taking place since that time to reach a final ave Mem under this Manitoba and Canada agree to provide land Money and various continuing arrangements for the York factory first in return for an undertaking from the York factory first nation to release them from most of their obligations under the Northern flood including arbitration claims which have not otherwise been this will enable the York factory first nation to control and direct implementation of the Northern flood agreement for the Benefit of present and future Public meetings will be held for members at the following times and locations May 3 Winnipeg Sheraton May 18 Thompson Meridian hotel May 25 Churchill seaport hotel june 1 York Landing band office the nature and significance of the agreement will be explained at these members will be provided with information and Given the Opportunity to ask questions or discuss these Are very important As York factory members will be asked to vote for or against the agreement in a formal referendum this t y authority of chief and Council York factory first nation ;