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Manitoba to invest $5M in water protection projects

Winnipeg – The Manitoba government is increasing funding to local watershed-based organizations to strengthen surface water management and help restore the health of Lake Winnipeg, the Province said in a news release.

Conservation districts will see more than $5 million in provincial support this year including an increase of $150,000 to their core funding. In addition, a new Small Water Retention Infrastructure Program is being introduced in partnership with conservation districts.

“Manitobans love their lakes and beaches,” Conservation and Water Stewardship Minister Tom Nevakshonoff said in the release. “As a government, we need to do what we can to help protect and restore the health of these vital bodies of water.”

This funding will enhance the capacity of conservation districts to protect and enhance the long-term health of water quality, drinking water sources and wetlands, and to build resiliency to climate change in Manitoba’s watersheds, the minister said.

This year, districts will also have access to new funding under the Small Water Retention Infrastructure Program, a partnership between Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship, Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation, and Manitoba Municipal Government. This program will provide up to $300,000 annually to conservation districts to construct and maintain water retention structures on behalf of the province.

Last year, conservation districts used core funding provided by the Manitoba government to leverage an additional $4 million from municipal, federal, non-government and industry sources for a total investment of over $9 million in local watershed projects.

More information on the Conservation Districts Program is available at www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/waterstewardship/agencies/cd/index.html.