Keep water on the land

Henry David Venema in the Winnipeg Free Press: We ignore the lessons of the 2009 Red River flood at our peril. It reveals another reason why urban taxpayers should take an interest in what happens on the rural landscape. Well-managed agriculture can help keep your basement dry, your tax bill lower and give us an edge in adapting to climate change.

Agricultural water management has always been a difficult issue in Manitoba where floods and droughts are common. The mile-section quilt that defines southern Manitoba's landscape replaced natural features, such as sloughs, wetlands, and creeks with straight-line drains. Modern drainage succeeded in speeding runoff from fields, but also increased downstream flooding. And it wasn't long before serious problems arose.

…We need to prepare for more years like 2009. With the operational limitations of the floodway now better understood, we need agricultural water- management options that provide rural as well as urban benefits. This is where the next increment of flood protection must come.

Fortunately, excellent examples of improved management already exist within Manitoba and the Red River Valley, including the Alternative Land Use Services pilot project. Participating farmers receive compensation for maintaining ecological features on their farms, such as wetlands and riparian areas that can help reduce flooding.

…The real challenge lies in changing the traditional practice of clearing and draining land of excess water. Farmers must be convinced that storing spring runoff is in their interest. Overturning traditional practice is difficult but not impossible as the great success with minimum tillage demonstrates. …

Red River in Winnipeg during 2009 flood, shot by J Hazard, Wikimedia Commons