La Salle River Watershed ________________________________________ State of the Watershed Report May 2007 This Report Prepared by: La Salle Redboine Conservation District Staff With Technical Information Provided by: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada – Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration Building Up – Wendy Bulloch City of Winnipeg – Naturalists Services Branch Fisheries and Oceans Canada Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Manitoba Conservation – Environmental Programs Branch Manitoba Conservation – Geomatics Branch Manitoba Conservation – Wildlife and Ecosystem Protection Branch Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation Manitoba Intergovernmental Affairs and Trade – Community Planning Services Manitoba Science, Technology, Energy and Mines Manitoba Transportation and Government Services Manitoba Water Services Board Manitoba Water Stewardship – Fisheries Branch Manitoba Water Stewardship – Groundwater Management Manitoba Water Stewardship – Office of Drinking Water Manitoba Water Stewardship – Regional Water Operations Manitoba Water Stewardship – Surface Water Management Manitoba Water Stewardship – Water Licensing Manitoba Water Stewardship – Water Quality Management North – South Consultants Red River Basin Commission Disclaimer: The information in this document is provided free-of-charge to all users interested in its contents. We endeavour to ensure that the information in this report is correct, however, we do not warrant its completeness or accuracy. The information contained within is provided in coarse detail in order to delineate an over guiding view of the state of resources within the La Salle River Watershed. La Salle River State of the Watershed Report 2007 Table of Contents TAB # Contents BACKGROUND INFORMATION 1. Executive Summary 2. Official La Salle River Watershed Map 3 The Planning Process, Key Players and Terms 4. Membership list of Key Players 5. The Water Planning Authority – La Salle Redboine Conservation District Map: La Salle Redboine Conservation District Map: La Salle River Watershed with La Salle Redboine Conservation District EARTH RESOURCES 6. Geological Resources of the La Salle River Watershed (Source: Manitoba Science, Technology, Energy and Mines) Map: Surficial Geology of the La Salle River Watershed Map: Depth to Bedrock in the La Salle River Watershed 7. Soil Resources in the La Salle River Watershed (Source: Manitoba Agriculture Food and Rural Initiatives) Map: Agricultural Capability of the La Salle River Watershed Map: Surface Texture of the La Salle River Watershed Map: Soil Drainage of the La Salle River Watershed Map: Irrigation Suitability of the La Salle River Watershed Map: Water Erosion Risk of the La Salle River Watershed Map: Wind Erosion Risk of the La Salle River Watershed WATER RESOURCES 8. Waterways of the La Salle River Watershed (Source: La Salle Redboine Conservation District) Map: Surface Water Network Map: Upper La Salle River Watershed Map: Elm Creek Channel Watershed Map: Central La Salle River Watershed Map: King Drain System Watershed Map: Lower La Salle River Watershed 9. Surface Water Hydrology Report (Source: Manitoba Water Stewardship) 10. Surface Water Quality of the La Salle River (Source: Manitoba Water Stewardship) TAB # Contents 11. Ground Water Resources of the La Salle River Watershed (Source: Manitoba Water Stewardship) BIODIVERSITY 12. Wildlife Resources of the La Salle River Watershed (Source: Manitoba Conservation) 13. Protected Areas within the La Salle River Watershed (Source: Protected Area’s Initiative) Brochure: Manitoba’s Protected Areas Initiative Information Map: Protected Areas of the La Salle River Watershed 14. Rare Species and Species at Risk within the La Salle River Watershed (Source: Manitoba Conservation Data Center) 15. Fisheries Resources of the La Salle River Watershed (Source: Manitoba Water Stewardship) 16. Fish Habitat Inventory for Agricultural Manitoba with Comments on the La Salle River Watershed (Source: Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada) 17. Riparian Areas Assessment for the La Salle River (Source: Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation) WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT 18. The Watershed Community (Source: Manitoba Intergovernmental Affairs and Trade) Map: Municipalities in La Salle River Watershed Map: Planning Districts in La Salle River Watershed 19. Roadway Infrastructure Road Ways of the La Salle River Watershed (Source: Manitoba Land Initiative) Map: Road Network in La Salle River Watershed (Source: Manitoba Land Initiative) Comments from Transportation and Government Services 20. Water Management – Provincial Drainage Infrastructure and Management (Source: Manitoba Water Stewardship) Provincial Drainage Standards (Source: Manitoba Water Stewardship) Map: Provincial Drainage Network of La Salle River Watershed Map: La Salle River Dams & Pump Stations 21. Water Development - Water Use Allocations of the La Salle River Watershed (Source: Manitoba Water Stewardship) Water Treatment Plants (Source: Office of Drinking Water) Rural Water Pipelines (Source: Manitoba Water Services Board) Brochure: Rural Water Pipeline Program Map: Rural Water Pipelines of La Salle River Watershed TAB # Contents Community Water Source Information (Source: Manitoba Water Services Board) Brochure: Community Water Source Development Program 22. Land Development Landcover Summary of the La Salle River Watershed 2001 (Source: Manitoba Conservation – Remote Sensing Branch) Map: Landuse/Landcover of the La Salle River Watershed 2001 Presentation: Manitoba Conservation – Gerry Lux Map: La Salle River Watershed Landcover 1870 (Source: Land cover and climate for part of southern Manitoba : a reconstruction from Dominion Land Survey maps and historical records of the 1870s – Thesis: Irene Hanuta, 2006) 23. Environmental Licensing (Source: Manitoba Conservation, Regional Operations, Portage la Prairie District) Chart: Licensed Animal Unit Manure Storage Map: Licensed Manure Storage Facilities by Township Map: Licensed Pesticide Container Storage Sites Map: Licensed Petroleum Storage Sites Map: Licensed Solid and Liquid Waste Storage Sites Map: Contaminated and Impacted Sites within the La Salle River Watershed 24. Agricultural Activities and Resources of the La Salle River Watershed (Source: Joint Report from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada – Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration and Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives) SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION Available at http://www.lasalleredboine.com/images/LaSalle%20River%20S%20of%20W/Stat e_of_the_Watershed.htm 8.1 La Salle River Watershed Assessment Survey – With Emphasis on La Salle River, Elm River, Elm Creek Channel and the King Drain – 2005 (Source: Prepared for La Salle Redboine Conservation District by North-South Consultants 2005) 8.2 Summary of Resources and Land Use Issues Related to Riparian Areas in the La Salle River Watershed Study Area (Source: Agriculture and Agri- Food Canada - Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration 2005) 8.3 Red River Basin Natural Resources Framework Plan (Source: Red River Basin Commission May 2005) 8.4 Community Feedback on La Salle Watershed Issues 2007 (Source: Wendy Bulloch, Building Up 2007) 8.5 La Salle River in Winnipeg (Source: Presentation by City of Winnipeg Naturalists Services Branch 2007) Section 1 – Executive Summary Section 1 – Executive Summary Acknowledgements: This document was prepared as a planning tool for use in the development of the La Salle River Integrated Watershed Management Plan. Documents have been pooled together from multiple sources in order to provide a holistic view of the condition of the La Salle River Watershed as of 2007. This represents the first time that information about the La Salle River has been gathered together and presented to the public to raise awareness about watershed issues. The La Salle Redboine Conservation District would like to acknowledge the efforts and support of Mr. Barry Oswald, Manager, Water Planning Branch of Manitoba Water Stewardship in assisting in the preparation of this document and assistance in developing the La Salle River Watershed Management Plan. Special thanks is also extended to all the civil servants from various Federal and Provincial departments and Non- governmental Agencies who supported the planning process by collecting and presenting watershed information to the Water Planning Advisory Team. The Watershed Plan: Flooding, declining water quality, soil erosion, loss of wildlife habitat, stream bank erosion, wetland drainage, lack of drought protection and increasing water demand. These are all common concerns for many watersheds in southern Manitoba. The La Salle River is no different. A recently completed Provincial water quality study identifies that nutrient loading to the La Salle River, which many experts consider the greatest threat to water quality, has nearly doubled in the past 30 years. Spring and summer flooding of farm land and private property have increased in frequency and cost of damages. As populations increase, so are demands for access to potable water. Development and intense use of areas near watercourses contribute to water contamination and reduce the stability of sensitive river banks. Uncontrolled drainage of fields and wetlands can increase runoff intensity and reduce base flows of streams in dryer months. These things all occur in the La Salle River Watershed but to what extent? How concerned should we be? What can we do about it? The issues identified above are not singular unrelated problems. They cannot be fixed in isolation.