Project Helps Farmers Use Water Efficiently

A surface-water monitoring project in the Annapolis Valley is allowing farmers to better manage water use and protect the resource.

The Pereau River Project will use in-stream gauges to continuously measure water volume and collect data. Farmers will use up-to-the-minute data to make decisions about how much water to withdraw for irrigation, and how often, without threatening the sustainability of the watershed.

"Projects that enhance our ability to manage water as an important provincial resource will supplement the development of the provincial water strategy," said Brooke Taylor, acting Minister of Environment and Labour. "Environment Week, and Canada Rivers Day in particular, is an excellent time to showcase technology and co-operation between resource-users and government that protect the environment the way this project does."

Preliminary work began in the Pereau River watershed in 2006. With more than $34,000 in funding from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the 2007 growing season will find the project in full force, and expanded to include the North Brook watershed.

Farmers who will use the water gauges are looking forward to ensuring water is managed and used efficiently.

"Until now, not knowing how much water was available affected our ability to use the water sustainably," said Richard Melvin, Valley farmer and member of the Pereau Water Club. "The Pereau Project bridges this gap and will allow us to effectively manage the resource."

The project is expected to demonstrate how surface water can be better managed using good data, and the technique can be transferred to other watersheds and streams. Proving the benefits will encourage farmers to access available funding and buy water metres.

The Pereau River project is a partnership between Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture, Nova Scotia departments of Environment and Labour, and Agriculture, and the Pereau Water Club.