PRAIRIE WATER CARE

Box 1088 - Swift Current - SK - S9H 3X3 - 306.778.5007

PRODUCER HIGHLIGHTS

WHO:
Joint Creek Ranch - Frantz, Mario, and Mark Dordu
WHERE:
At the Southfork junction of the Swift Current Creek and Jones Creek, RM of Arlington No. 79.
WHEN:
Spring 2002
WHY:
The creek is an unreliable water source during the summer. The Dordu's wanted to create a more reliable water source while improving grazing distribution and water use efficiency. Also, they wanted to take pressure off the creek banks and improve water quality for their cattle and downstream users.
WHAT:
A spring-fed dam was deepened to increase its storage capacity and a solar water pumping system was installed to pump water to a nearby trough. This trough was connected with an underground pipeline to another trough several hundred feet away using a gravity flow system. These two water troughs provided water to draw cattle away from the creek.
BENEFITS:
The Dordu's provided their cattle with a good water source away from the creek, improved grazing distribution and reduced livestock impact on the creek banks. The Dordu's are planning to further extend this project.
COST:
Half of the cost was paid by Saskatchewan Wetland Conservation Corporation (SWCC).

PRAIRIE WATER CARE

Before

After

WHO:
 Dwane Morvik WHERE:
Adjacent to the Frenchman River Valley, RM of White Valley, No. 49.
WHEN:
Spring 2002
WHY:
The sheep preferred to graze native grasses along the river resulting in overgrazing and trampling of the river banks, which increased erosion and sedimentation into the river. Dwane seeded tame grass on the uplands a half-mile away from the river and wanted to force the sheep to graze this grass during the spring and
summer allowing the riverbanks and lowlands to re-establish. WHAT:
A water supply was not available on the upland tame pasture, so an underground pipeline was installed. The lowlands pasture was fenced off to form a fall grazing and spring lambing paddock.
BENEFITS:
Dwane was able to control livestock access to the river, maintain good vegetation throughout his pastures, reduce erosion and sedimentation and improve water qualtiy for downstream users.
COST:
Half of the cost was paid by Saskatchewan Wetlands Conservation Corporation (SWCC).