Abandoned Well Sealing
Sealing abandoned wells is important in preventing contamination of groundwater and can eliminate safety concerns associated with open wells to humans and livestock.
Applicants must:
- Pay $100.00 per application. Cheque payable to Northeast Red Watershed District.
- Arrange a licensed well sealer to complete the well sealing work as per The Groundwater and Water Well Act.
- Provide the Northeast Red Watershed District with a detailed quote from a licensed well sealer.
- Proceed with well sealing work after approval by the Northeast Red Watershed District.
- Provide the Northeast Red Watershed District with:
- Copy of the Well Report submitted to the Province of Manitoba, and
- Before and after pictures of the well.
The NRWD will reimburse the landowner the total invoiced amount from work completed up to a maximum of $3,000 to seal an abandoned well. There is no limit to the number of applications a landowner can submit however, one application must be submitted per well.
For more information on well sealing, including a list of licensed well sealers, please visit:
https://gov.mb.ca/sd/water/groundwater/wells_groundwater/index.html
Riparian Area Management
Riparian Fencing, Alternative Watering Systems & Livestock Crossings
Riparian areas are the vegetated (trees, shrubs and herbs) zones adjacent to rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands. A riparian area is considered a transition zone or interface between a waterbody or wetland, and the surrounding drier upland.
The purpose of Riparian Area Management is to conserve, enhance or restore riparian areas to provide:
- improvements to surface water quality, by capturing sediments, pathogens, nutrients and pesticides;
- water storage and flow reductions that reduce downstream flooding during high water events;
- greater landscape resiliency to the impacts of climate change;
- carbon storage and sequestration;
- riverbank and shoreline stabilization and erosion control; and
- wildlife habitat and continuity, and greater biodiversity through the re-establishment or rehabilitation of riparian vegetation.
Eligible Practices:
- Alternative livestock watering systems (solar, wind, grid power, pipeline)
- Riparian fencing
- Improved livestock crossings (establishment of new or improvement to existing)
Funding:
Riparian Fencing- $1.25 per foot; $90 per corner; $150 for solar electric fencer. Max of $4000 for waterway fencing and max of $1000 for dugout fencing.
Alternative Watering Systems- 75% NRWD and 25% landowner. Max of $7500 for alternate to waterway, max of $5000 for alternate to dugout, and max of $750 per trough.
Livestock Crossings- 75% NRWD and 25% landowner. Max of $1000.
Surface Water Management
Water Retention
Water retention projects increase adaptive capacity for climate change, and add to landscape and ecosystem resiliency, including reducing peak flows and enhancing water supply opportunities for agricultural use. Water retention projects should enhance water management capabilities at various scales, including on-farm and watershed scales. Projects including small dams, temporary backfloods, or on-farm water retention basins, can reduce flooding downstream, improve water quality, and provide local habitat benefits.
The purpose of the water retention activity is to build structures that improve the management of surface water throughout a watershed to protect against flooding, drought and the impacts of climate change, and provide:
- enhanced water storage;
- reduced peak flows, which can moderate the timing and volume of runoff and reduce negative impacts downstream;
- improved water quality by capturing sediments, nutrients, contaminants and pesticides;
- protection to aquifers and enhancement of recharge; and
- increased wildlife habitat, biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.
Eligible Practices:
- small dam construction
- other structures and activities for permanent or temporary water retention (ex: berms and gated culverts)
Funding:
NRWD will fund 80% if the project provides direct benefits to the landowner. The landowner pays 20%.
If the project provides multiple benefits downstream the NRWD may provide up to 100% funding.
Rain Gardens
Rain gardens are established in yards to capture run-off from downspouts, lawns, and driveways to reduce pollutants and restore natural infiltration. Rain gardens are a great addition to a households outdoor space. They provide environmental benefits and produce an aestetically pleasing view within your yard.
If you are interested in a rain garden fill out the application form below as well as the rain garden worksheet which will walk you through the design process.
Eligible Practices:
- construction and design of a rain garden within residential property
Funding:
NRWD funds 75% and landowner provides 25%
Up to a maximum of $750
Habitat Conservation & Enhancement
Wetland Conservation, Enhancement, or Restoration
A wetland is a permanently or temporarily water-saturated area characterized by distinct plant and soil types. The benefits derived from wetlands are extensive: wetlands help to prevent flooding, filter and purify water, recharge groundwater, maintain baseflow to waterways (especially important during dry periods), reduce erosion and provide extensive habitat to support biodiversity.
The Water Rights Act, regulation, and policies govern drainage practices in Manitoba. Under this regime, Class 4 and 5 wetlands are protected outright from drainage. Class 3 wetland loss requires compensation if licensed for drainage. Drainage of Class 1 and 2 wetlands can proceed through a new registration approach. As a result, valuable Class 1 and 2 wetlands across Agro-Manitoba are vulnerable to drainage.
The purpose of the Wetland Activity is to conserve, enhance and/or restore wetlands to provide ecological goods and services that include:
- Enhanced water storage;
- Reduced peak flows, which can moderate the timing and volume of runoff and reduce negative impacts downstream;
- Improved water quality by capturing sediments, nutrients, and contaminants;
- Protection to aquifers and enhancement of recharge;
- Improved wildlife habitat and biodiversity; and
- Increased carbon sequestration.
Eligible Practices:
- Conservation of an at risk Class 1 or 2 wetland
- Restoring a previously drained wetland or enhancing an existing wetland
- Construction of water level controls for wetland restoration
Funding:
NRWD funds 75% and lanowner provides 25%
Buffer Zones
Shelterbelts and Perennial Grassed Zones
Buffers are natural or engineered transitions between landscape features managed for different outcomes.
• shelterbelts associated with annual cropland to reduce wind-based soil erosion
• perennial cover buffers between field edges and riparian areas to provide protection from nutrients, chemicals and mechanical disturbance
Planting shelterbelts in fields, around livestock facilities, and near dugouts offers many benefits, from minimizing the impacts of wind, to creating habitat, and providing shelter to farmyards and livestock. Shelterbelts planted near annually cropped fields also reduce wind erosion, while providing yield benefits to adjacent crops.
Eco-buffers are made up of multiple rows, using a variety of native trees and shrubs in a mixed planting
arrangement. Unlike most traditional single or limited species shelterbelts, there is a much higher variety of woody plants in an eco-buffer. The plants are predominantly native trees and shrubs, chosen from the local ecozone.
Buffers and grassed waterways are areas of permanent vegetation in low or highly sloped areas that have
water flow in spring runoff or during heavy rain events. They are designed to convey concentrated runoff while
preventing soil erosion, flood effects, the formation of gullies, and nutrient and pesticide to waterways and
waterbodies.
The purpose of the Buffer Establishment Activity is to establish, enhance or restore shelterbelts or buffers that
provide:
- reduced soil erosion
- reduced surface runoff and enhanced water quality
- improved water conservation efforts
- improved wildlife and pollinator habitat
- increased crop yields
- increased carbon sequestration
- thermal protection for livestock
- stabilized stream banks
Eligable Activities:
- Establishment or Creation of new buffers
(shelterbelts, perennial cover buffers, or grassed waterways) on working lands. - Enhancement of existing buffers on working lands that result in measurable incremental benefits. For example, expanding existing buffers by adding new rows or inter-planting to increase species diversity within existing buffers.
- Restoration of degraded buffers. For example, this may include re-establishment of buffer vegetation, pruning and removal of dead or diseased trees.
Funding:
Shelterbelt: Landowner must provide a $100 application fee and is reponsible for the site preperation, purchasing, planting, watering and additional maintenance.
NRWD will cover an average of $5 per tree up to a maximum of $3000.
Perennial Grassed Strips/Waterways: NRWD will fund 100% of seed costs.
Possible incentive conservation agreement at $25-$100 an acre.