Saskatchewan’s provincial government is a step closer to the implementation of a comprehensive water management plan that will integrate activities that are necessary to the management and protection of water in this province, it announced yesterday.
A second phase of public consultations will be completed this summer and it is anticipated that the 25 Year Saskatchewan Water Security Plan will be announced this fall.
“Saskatchewan is a province of 100,000 lakes and rivers and the stewardship of this invaluable natural resource is paramount during this time of unprecedented population and economic growth,” Minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority Ken Cheveldayoff said. “A strategic, 25-year vision will ensure that our province’s abundant water supply is secure now and in the years to come.”
The 25 Year Saskatchewan Water Security Plan consultation document has been posted online. All members of the public are invited to provide their input until August 31. After this second round of feedback is considered, the strategic, multi-year plan will be implemented by a new water agency called Integrated Water Saskatchewan (IWS).
IWS will be a Treasury Board Crown corporation, consolidating government’s core water management expertise. It will increase water management capacity while providing individuals and businesses with a single point of contact. IWS will reduce overlaps that occurred under the current administration of provincial water through the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Health and the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority.
“Our board has called on the government to bring management of water and water related issues together in one agency,” Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) president David Marit said in a release. “We are encouraged by this announcement and look forward to participating in further consultation.”
After reviewing the 25 Year Saskatchewan Water Security Plan consultation document, residents and stakeholders are invited to provide their feedback directly to the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority at [email protected].
