WHEREAS some rural municipalities are experiencing flooding of land and roads near lakes, due to the natural flow being impeded by obstructions, such as beaver dams and/or natural obstructions, on private lands, where the land owner refuses to remove the obstruction or allow access and these obstructions are causing hardship to farmers due to lost acres as well as threatening the integrity of the RM infrastructure; and

WHEREAS the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency’s purpose is to manage water, watersheds and related land resources in Saskatchewan, has been contacted to assess and assist municipalities in dealing with these issues, is only advising municipalities to deal with it, on their own, by enacting their own local bylaws; and

WHEREAS The Water Security Agency Act states, in Section 93(1) the corporation, (being that Agency) or any person acting under the corporation’s instructions, has the power to enter on any land, to remove or destroy any beaver dam or natural obstruction;

BE IT RESOLVED that SARM lobby the Ministry of Environment to ensure the Water Security Agency fulfills its legislated duties by supporting the municipalities that are faced with the natural flow of water being impeded by obstructions and take the lead role is ensuring obstructions are dealt with in a safe and effective manner.

View the response from the Ministry of Environment