A Saskatchewan farmer warns that people should be skeptical of claims downplaying the threat posed by the drainage of wetlands for agriculture.
In other words, not draining marshes, not destroying ecosystems, not contaminating our water supplies, but just removing “excess” water from what they claim is “wet land.” Also concerning are the government ads promoting that Saskatchewan is an environmental leader and that we have lots of wetlands.
So let’s look at the facts versus the claims.
In Saskatchewan, since the 1800s the bed and bank of every water body (like wetlands) have belonged to the people. That’s why draining wetlands requires a licence.
But more and more farmers — despite education campaigns, complaints and even fines — continue to act as though this isn’t the case, draining more and more marshes.
Our Water Security Agency estimates that 50 per cent of Saskatchewan’s wetlands have already been drained, predominately for agriculture and without approvals. Losses in some areas are already as high as 90 per cent. And the losses continue, an estimated 25,000 acres of wetlands a year on the prairies.
Rather than steward the public’s wetlands, the lobbyists, working with the government, are attempting to reframe drainage as economic growth, downplaying the destruction happening, with the goal to persuade the public that destroying wetlands is OK.
For example, defining drainage as the removal of excess water, just like a homeowner’s eaves, downplays the destruction and impacts. It aims to mislead people into believing that famers aren’t doing anything different than any homeowner.
However, eaves prevent flooding of property that’s dry, while marshes are wet.
Agriculture is particularly vulnerable to severe weather events. It is vital that we safeguard the resilience that wetlands provide for our nation’s food security, environment and livelihoods.
Wetlands are also one of the best and least expensive tools available to fight floods and droughts, provide habitat for crop pollinators, and prevent fertilizers from flowing downstream and contaminating water supplies.
We need to farm better, not drain wetlands to get bigger. Sustainable agriculture includes not trying to grow a crop in a marsh and not contaminating our waterways. Supporting the farm lobby, however, gets votes.
A year ago, the provincial Water Security Agency told over 70 stakeholders, but not the public, that they plan to allow farmers to drain up to 79 per cent of the wetland area without requiring anything to prevent the significant impacts to water quality, fish and wildlife, and the environment.
A government assessment of their new drainage policy estimates it will cost society billions on top of the funding they are already providing, and not including the cost to repair washed-out highways, flooded communities, toxic algae blooms in our lakes, additional water treatment cost, or more billions in insurance claims.
Sandy Lowndes is a farmer in the Kelvington area and a member of the National Farmers Union.
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