WATER SECURITY AGENCY ADDS MORE FUNDING FOR WATER CONTROL

Today, Minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency Ken Cheveldayoff announced an additional $500,000 for the Water Control Assistance Program, increasing funding for 2012-13 to more than $1.2 million.

"Some areas of the province continue to deal with water-related issues as a result of record amounts of precipitation from the last few years," Cheveldayoff said. "This additional funding will help communities and municipalities install and maintain infrastructure important to protecting peoples' homes, livelihoods and the infrastructure that Saskatchewan people depend on every day."

"The Water Control Program provides up to 50 per cent of the costs of maintenance of flood control channels as well as of the cost of channel clearing," Saskatchewan Conservation and Development Association Executive Director Merlin MacFarlane said. "This additional $500,000 will go a long way to assist conservation and development associations and rural municipalities across the province ensure their works and channels are in good order."

One hundred and fourteen rural municipalities, nine conservation and development area authorities and one watershed association have been approved to share almost $700,000 in provincial grant funding for channel clearing in 2012. The majority of these associations were on the eastern half of the province, in the area hardest hit by the 2011 flood. The Water Control Program also provides support for maintenance of ditches and other flood control infrastructure. Approximately $520,000 from the Water Security Agency will support maintenance work by 72 conservation and development area authorities, four watershed associations and one urban municipality.

Since 2007, the Water Security Agency has provided more than $5 million in funding to 180 rural municipalities, conservation area authorities and watershed associations for channel clearing and maintenance of flood control works. The program also has funding available for individuals to deal with erosion control.

The Water Security Agency was created to lead implementation of the 25 Year Saskatchewan Water Security Plan. It will improve water management capacity and service to individuals, businesses and communities across Saskatchewan. This new agency brings together, for the first time, all of the major responsibilities related to water quality and quantity.

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For more information, contact:

Dale Hjertaas
Water Security Agency
Regina
Phone: 306-787-2892