The Grand
River Conservation Authority is asking farmers drawing water from Whitemans
Creek to cut back by 20 per cent.
They have
been on a request since August to cut back by 10 per cent.
Farmers along
the Nith and Eramosa rivers have also been asked to cut back by 10 per cent.
In Brant
and Oxford counties, Whiteman Creek water levels have dropped to below half of
the average summer flow.
The
Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is also asking anglers to refrain
from fishing in Whitemans Creek. Low water levels and high water temperatures
can put the fish population under stress, which can be compounded by fishing.
Whitemans
Creek is a major source of water for farm irrigation in an area known for its
tobacco, ginseng, fruits and vegetables.
The Grand
River Low Water Response Team met in a teleconference on Wednesday, September
2, 2015, and decided to declare Whitemans creek to be in a Level 2 condition
due to the hot weather and little to no precipitation in the forecast.
The team is
made up of representatives of major water users including municipalities,
farmers, golf course operators, gravel pit businesses, Six Nations and others.
The Lower
Nith and Eramosa sub-watersheds have remained at Level 1 conditions (10 per
cent cutback) since early August, and McKenzie Creek has now moved into a Level
1 condition based on lower than average flows.
Under the
Ontario Low Water Response Plan, Level 1 results in a request for a voluntary
10 per cent reduction in water consumption by holders of Permits to Take Water.
Level 2 conditions are declared when flows in a river or stream sink to less
than 50 per cent of normal, which triggers the request for a voluntary
reduction in water use of 20 per cent.
Permits are
issued by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change to those who
withdraw more than 50,000 litres a day of water from a watercourse, pond or
well.
In the
Whitemans Creek sub-watershed, there are about 130 Permits to Take Water, most
of which are for irrigation.
The aquifer
that feeds Whitemans Creek also feeds many wells and dug ponds in the area.
Water
withdrawn from wells and ponds can reduce the amount of water that makes its
way into the creek. Therefore, it is important that all water users help to
conserve water, says the GRCA.
Farmers can
reduce consumption and the impact on the aquifer by following best practices
for irrigation, which include:
·
Arrange with their neighbours to stagger irrigation times;
·
Pump at a lower rate over a longer period of time, and store water in a pond if
possible;
·
Ensure that their equipment is running efficiently and not leaking;
·
Minimize daytime irrigation to reduce the amount of water lost to evaporation.
By
following these and other best practices for irrigation, farmers can help
ensure there is enough water available for all farmers to share during the dry
weather, says the GRCA.
