PUBLIC MEETING SCHEDULED TO REVIEW DRAINAGE ASSESSMENT

The Saskatchewan Watershed Authority has scheduled a public meeting to review its recently-completed assessment of agricultural drainage in the Waldsea, Deadmoose, Houghton and Fishing Lake basins.

"Farmland drainage was identified as one contributing factor to the high water levels and flooding we experienced at Waldsea, Deadmoose, Houghton and Fishing lakes in 2007," Minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority Nancy Heppner said. "This assessment thoroughly examines the impact of wetland drainage on water levels in these lakes, using the best technology and data currently available."

The public meeting will give residents in the Waldsea Lake basin an opportunity to review the findings from the assessment, and discuss options for mitigating the impact of agricultural drainage on water levels within the basin. The authority will consider the input gathered from the meeting when determining which mitigation option(s) will be implemented.

The meeting will be held:

Wednesday, December 3, 2008
7 - 9 p.m.
Humboldt Uniplex
Corner of Highway #5 and 17th Street

"This assessment is one part of our plan to address extraordinary high water levels and flooding in these basins. Our government is committed to finding a long-term solution to these problems," Heppner said.

Copies of the assessment are available on the authority's website at www.swa.ca.

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For more information, contact:

Dwayne Rowlett
Saskatchewan Watershed Authority
Nipawin
Phone: 306-862-1754