Local water users pan ahead for water shortages

News release from NVCA March 20 2012 

A pilot project to determine the best way to manage limited water supplies during a drought has been undertaken by the Innisfil Creek Water Users Association (ICWUA) in partnership with the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA).

“Drought has serious impacts on the ecosystem and agricultural production,” says the NVCA’s Hydrogeologist, Ryan Post. “When we encounter a low water situation it has to be managed carefully to ensure that protecting the natural environment is balanced with the need for agricultural and other products that depend on irrigation.”

The project will be undertaken using the best water management science, including a 3D model that simulates various water use and water shortage scenarios. The results will be used to develop a drought management plan for the Innisfil Creek area and will have the potential to be applied to other subwatersheds across the province.

The plan will also help inform decisions made under the Ontario Low Water Response program. This program is managed by the provincial government and comes into play whenever a serious low water situation occurs. The plan will make recommendations on how water might be best allocated and how water requirements should be prioritized during periods of drought.

The Innisfil Creek area in south Simcoe County is noted for its vast agricultural fields and exceptional crop production of potato, sod, carrots and onions, which require an extensive irrigation network. This area has also experienced periods of severe drought, which impacted agricultural production, ecosystem health and the local economy.

This unique and innovative pilot project is advised by a committee including representatives from the ICWUA, the NVCA, Trout Unlimited, the University of Waterloo and provincial and federal agencies. It also receives technical support from the consulting team of AquaResource – a division of Matrix Solutions and WESA – a BluMetric company. Project funding and support is being provided by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), as the project will provide insights on better ways to manage water shortages in other parts of the province.

The ICWUA represents the irrigation-dependent community in the Innisfil Creek area and promotes best management practices to local water users. The ICWUA assists the Ontario Ministries of Natural Resources, the Environment, and Agriculture and Food with identifying issues and opportunities to improve water quantity in the Innisfil Creek area. Working in partnership with the agricultural community, the NVCA provides local program coordination and technical support to the ICWUA.

“My fellow farmers and I will benefit from local-level management of limited water resources,” says Ralph MacKenzie, Chair of the ICWUA. “We must all work together to recognize the economic, social and environmental benefit of sharing water resources.”

The Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority is a public agency dedicated to the preservation of a healthy environment through specialized programs to protect, conserve and enhance our water, wetlands, forests and lands.