G3112 - Watershed and water users association

Operational Details
The Watershed Association Act was enacted to allow those who have common problems within a watershed to act together in arriving at solutions. They operate through an Order-in-Council and they may levy special assessments to rate payers within their jurisdiction.

Basically, this operation is operated by local farmers and lay persons in rural municipalities and they are very small organizations, who may have a paid secretary-treasurer or administrative assistant. Lake stabilization is a major activity and the rural municipal associations provide financial and technical assistance in carrying out their programs.

Water users association was replaced by the 1996 Irrigation Act and this allowed local farmers in different municipalities (Saskatoon and South) to use irrigation waters on a user fee basis, with the output controlled by the irrigation districts.

Irrigation district administration is quite small, again with a secretary treasurer or business manager. However, maintenance or field operators (Ditch Riders, as they are called), do travel to the irrigation canals to open or close off valves once the allotted water has been delivered to the selected client(s).

SIC Codes
000000478 - Watershed and water users associati