Water management issues in the Turtle River Watershed Conservation District, from theory to practice

Abstract

After experiencing the "Flood of the Century" in 1997, government leaders, policy makers and resource managers were reminded of the importance of reliable water management. In order to develop a comprehensive, straight-forward water management plan, many factors needed to be taken into consideration. This thesis reviews important research undertaken in the field of water resource management, and applies it to a practical study area: the Turtle River Watershed Conservation District east of Riding Mountain National Park. After documenting some of the approaches others have tried, the author develops a water management plan that is sensitive to all of the groups in the District and adheres to a watershed model based on the geographic method. The thesis discusses issues such as jurisdictional confusion, the mechanics and causes of erosion and sedimentation within the District, the importance of alluvial fans for conservation, the legacy of Wilson Creek Experimental Watershed, and methods by which various groupswithin the District could work together to solve the many challenges this study area faces.