Alonsa Conservation District Programs

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" background="043085a3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Alonsa Conservation District</B></FONT><B>    </B><B> |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Alonsa Conservation District"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is a Conservation District?"><U>What is a Conservation District?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is a Conservation Districts Act?"><U>What is a Conservation Districts Act?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="All about a Watershed"><U>All about a Watershed</U></A>   |   <B>Alonsa Conservation District Programs</B>   |   <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U>Contact Us</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="History of the conservation district"><U>History of the conservation district</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Summary of the District"><U>Summary of the District</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Wildlife/Fisheries"><U>Wildlife/Fisheries</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Recreation"><U>Recreation</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Public Education"><U>Public Education</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lonely Lake Drain Spawning Project 2003"><U>Lonely Lake Drain Spawning Project 2003</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Water Management"><U>Water Management</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Crossing Repair and Replacement"><U>Crossing Repair and Replacement</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Heritage"><U>Heritage</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Soils/Forestry"><U>Soils/Forestry</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Board members"><U>Board members</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="044d2e83.jpg"> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Alonsa Conservation District Programs</I></div> <div> <I><B><U>Crossing Program</U></B></I></div> <div> The repair, replacement, upgrading and maintenance of crossings within the district continues to be part of our water management program each year.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B><U>Drain Maintenance</U></B></I></div> <div> The district continues to maintain all existing drainage channels within the district by clean-outs, brushing programs and spraying projects, and removal of beaver dams and debris.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B><U>Fish Spawning Project</U></B></I></div> <div> Each spring the district and local fishermen cooperate to carrying out one of the largest pickerel spawning projects in Manitoba.  A permanent site has been established at Lonely Lake, with all facets of the operation from catching, fertilization of eggs and hatching taking place there.  The "fry" are then distributed, also by local fishermen, along the shores of Lake Manitoba.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B><U>Forage Seed Assistance</U></B></I></div> <div> Landowners are eligible for seed available from a list of five different combinations of pasture or hay varieties to a maximum of 50 acres each year.  Cost is shared by the province and landowners at varying percentages, depending on seed prices, number of applicants and district budget.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B><U>Habitat Preservation Programs</U></B></I></div> <div> The district continues to expend a small portion of the budget on a yearly basis to establish or preserve natural wildlife management areas, and to construct ponds, bluebird house trails, and winter bird feeding sites.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B><U>Heritage Preservation </U></B></I></div> <div> The district cooperates with the local museum board to upgrade and maintain the Alex Robertson Museum and very recently has taken over the management of the old Bluff Creek St. James Church, next door to the Bluff Creek Nature Trail, to coordinate maintenance and upgrading efforts.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B><U>Infrared Arial Photos Program</U></B></I></div> <div> The district will provide landowners with air photos of any property to assist in the designing of fencing, shelterbelt and farm planning projects, field measurement for seed, fertilizer and acreage calculation, at nominal cost.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B><U>Public Relations, Education and Recreation</U></B></I></div> <div> Considerable effort is expended to promote conservation and wise resource management by the district and its habitants.  The development of multi-use sites such as Bacon Ridge Ecological Center, Jackpine Wayside Park, Portia Marsh Interpretive Center, Lady Slipper Viewing Site, Thunderbird Nest Site, Alonsa School Tree Plot Trail, and Tobacco Rock, which are used by schools, local residents and visitors are all part of this promotion.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B><U>Rotational Grazing Program</U></B></I></div> <div> Applicants may apply for a cost share of 50% of total cost to a maximum of $500 for costs incurred to establish Rotational Grazing such as fencing, solar panels, etc.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B><U>School Programs</U></B></I></div> <div> The Alonsa Conservation District has a variety of educational programs designed to promote awareness of conservation within the schools.  These include guiding interpretive tours mainly of Portia Marsh Interpretive Center, sponsoring library magazine subscriptions; tree planting projects, youth speaking competitions, and in-school presentations which include the usage of birding software.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B><U>Surveying and Technical Assistance</U></B></I></div> <div> Surveying equipment was purchased by the district several years ago, and the manager provides the expertise for surveying, plotting and planning various drainage, shelterbelt, & crossing works, and provides this assistance in planning and field assessment for local landowners as well.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B><U>Well Capping Program</U></B></I></div> <div> The Alonsa Conservation District partners with landowners to carry out well capping of old abandoned wells, for the purpose of protecting the aquifer from contamination.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B><U>Geographical Information System Assistance</U></B></I></div> <div> The Alonsa Conservation District now has an information system called the GIS System, which provides satellite information covering the entire District.  This information system has been plotted with culvert locations and sizes, bridge location and sizes, drains, watercourses, etc.  More information is added as available.  This information is available to any landowners making an inquiry.</div> </td> </tr></table></body>