The Municipality of Norfolk-Treherne is putting a focus on water management. Last Week's Council meeting saw a presentation on the Boyne Morris Integrated Watershed Management Plan and a request for the municipality to support the initiative. Reeve Craig Spencer says their work will expand on studies done in the past, around the Stephenfield Lake area. He feels taking a regional approach to the study is important, to help identify the best way to manage water within the watershed. 

Reeve Craig Spencer

"We have in our area Pelly's Lake, which is attached to what we've studied which is the Boyne Valley initiative, which is attached to the Stephenfield, which is attached to Morris. We need more studies of the whole integrated watershed, not just piecemeal. We see this as a positive for the future, and for covering off potential climate changes that we see apparently coming this way."

While they were unable to pass the resolution at last week's meeting due to time constraints, Spencer anticipates they'll be moving forward during their next Council meeting in September. He says they're also going to be meeting with the La Salle Redboine Conservation District for more information on past studies. Spencer says it's another step forward in the municipalities work focusing on water management, and describes the initiative as incredibly important.

"Water is water, and one of the essentials in life. This particular year we seem to have too much of it, but with these extremes of the weather, I think we need to be proactive in terms of the needs we have in the future for water. When that drought comes-- which I can't predict but in extremes, there's generally too much of one, then too much of the other-- hopefully, we'll be better prepared to handle that."

Spencer notes there's no cost associated with supporting their initiative. On top of the formal resolution to be signed next month, he says they'll also be helping collect information for the initiative, and attending public meetings to discuss the benefits of taking a regional approach to water management.