Programs
The following is a breif summary of the various programs the district offers.
Conservation Agreements
The Whitemud Conservation District has partnered with the Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corp. to pay
landowners to set aside land for conservation purposes. Give our office a call (476-5019) for
more information.
Conservation Farm Family Award
Each year the WWCD chooses a farm family in the district that demonstrates exemplary farm
management,
making
the best use of the resources available to improve productivity using
conservation
farming
practices. The family is invited to attend the annual Manitoba Conservation
Districts Association convention.
Here the family is recognized for their dedication.
The family is presented with a gate sign installed
by the Whitemud
District. Also in recognition, the family receives a wall plaque.
Conservation Corridor
Whitemud has entered into agreements with municipalities to post undeveloped road allowances for
wildlife habitat, with signs at each end.
Landowners may apply to municipality to use road allowances for
pasture, etc. There are over
650 miles of conservation corridors protecting over 8000 acres of habitat.
Conservation Corridor Planting
In partnership with local municipalities, the Whitemud enhances or undertakes plantings to provide buffer
strips and increase habitat.
Conservation Education
A variety of programs are offered to promote conservation awareness and education to youth in the
District.
Examples include Johnny Apple seed program, tours, in-school presentations, library magazine
subscriptions,
tree planting initiatives and youth speaking competitions.
Johnny Appleseed Program
Under the conservation education program, the WWCD staff visit elementary schools in the district;
eleven schools and eighteen colonies. The program provides every grade five student with an edible appletree.
The popular program provides a living example of conservation for students. Staff visit the classroom and
present a lesson on the importance of trees and proper care and handling. The program started in 1994.
Forage Assistance
Seeding erodable lands into forage and pasture. Landowners are eligible every third year for a maximum of
50 acres.
Landowner must make application between September 15th and June 15th each year. Once an
application is approved a
purchase order is sent to the landowner. The landowners can then purchase certified
seed from a seed company of their choice.
The invoice is to be submitted for payment by June 15th. The
District will provideassistance of 25% of eligible seed costs up
to a
maximum of $250. To date the WWCD has
assisted in the establishment of over ¼ of a million acres of forage.
click here for application forms
Grassed Runway
In order to stabilize natural water courses on steep slopes and prevent soil erosion on adjacent lands
runways are
reshaped
seeded to grass so they can be easily maintained. Board covers 85% of construction costs
and landowner contributes 15%.
Over 500 miles of grassed runways have been improved by the WWCD.
click here for application forms
Gully Stabilization
Repairs to eroded areas where water has created damage to a waterway or adjacent field.
Board covers 75% of construction costs and landowner contributes 25%.
click here for application forms
Pasture Pipeline Plow
Whitemud offers to partner with producers in establishing off-site watering via buried pipeline in pastures.
Program includes use of equipment and technical support at cost of $100 per day.
click here for application forms
Ring Dyke
WWCD will construct ring dykes for yard sites adjacent to a district drains to protect them from flooding.
The landowner cost is 15% of the $3,000 maximum project assistance.
click here for application forms
Riparian Stewardship
Technical and financial assistance is available for the design and implementation
of grazing
management
systems adjacent to riparian areas as external funding allows. Call us to discuss what we can do.
Shelterbelts
In co-operation with PFRA, the WWCD offers field shelterbelts and custom plantings (minimum1/4 mile).
Plastic mulch is included in all plantings. Field shelterbelts include 3 years of weed control; planting cost of
$250 per
mile and weed control cost of $150 per mile. Custom plantings do not include any weed control
or replants and is
provided at a cost of $800 per mile. Over 1650 miles of have been established by the WWCD.
click here for application forms
Water Retention
The WWCD will assist landowners in the costruction of small water restention projects.
The
wetland or water storage area must have a surface area of no less than 1.5 acres.
Water storage
projects must have a minimum storage depth of 3 feet of water when full.
Maximum height of dam
is 7 feet, and maximum storage volume is 7 acre feet.
The periphery of the water reservoir
must be maintained in grass cover.
Cattle access to be limited to specific watering areas.
click here for application forms
Water Rights
The WWCD has partnered with Water Stewardship in the investigation and approval of drainage and
other water licencing issues.
click here for application forms
Wildlife Projects
The WWCD will assist landowners in setting aside suitable wildlife habitat areas and provide signage. The
WWCD
will also assist in establishing or enhancing wildlife areas via tree planting
and demonstrations.
The landowner agrees to notify the District if land use changes. Over 6000 acres
have been protected
under the Wildlife program in association with over 120 area landowners.
Abandoned Well Capping
The WWCD seals abandoned wells to protect ground water quality and prevent hazards to people,
livestock and equipment.
click here for application forms
