Innovations In Agricultural Drainage June 12, 2012 Ministry of - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Stewardship Network

• f Ontario Forum

Innovations In Agricultural Drainage

June 12, 2012

Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

What is Agricultural Drainage?:

• Majority of soils in agricultural parts of the province are

poorly drained or have a confining layer

• Significantly limits crop growth
• This would be similar to a flower pot without holes in

the bottom to drain the gravitational water

• Two components:

– Private cropland drainage systems – Communal drainage system improvements

AGRICULTURAL DRAINAGE WHAT IS IT? Subsurface Drainage

• Series of pipes

installed beneath the land surface

• Minimum depth is

600mm (2 ft)

• Typical depth is

750mm (2.5 ft)

• Spacing varies

depending on crop, soil, drainage need and economics

CONTROLLED DRAINAGE

Controlled Drainage:

• Reduces outflow from the tile drainage system
• Reduces movement of nitrogen and soluble

phosphorus

BIOFILTERS

Biofilters:

• Craig Merkley, UTVCA
• Removal of nitrates - 50% +
• Doesn’t have to interfere with agricultural
• perations

COMMUNAL DRAINAGE SYSTEMS The Drainage Act

• Attributes of the Drainage Act:
• Means of solving drainage problems through the

implementation of a “drainage works”

• Design is developed through a public process

administered by local municipality

• Professionally designed
• Costs are shared among property owners
• Legal existence
• Right of use of private land
• Municipality is responsible for management

Drainage Act defines “drainage works” as:

a drain constructed by any means,

including the improving of a natural watercourse, and includes works necessary to regulate the water table or water level within or on any lands

• r to regulate the level of the waters of a drain,

reservoir, lake or pond, and includes a dam, embankment, wall, protective works or any combination thereof

“!a drain constructed by any means!”

The Historical Use of the Drainage Act

Natural Channel Design

“!a drain constructed by any means!”

Fish Habitat Considerations

“!a drain constructed by any means!”

Drainage Act defines “drainage works” as: a drain constructed by any means,

including the improving of a natural watercourse,

and includes works necessary to regulate the water table or water level within or on any lands

• r to regulate the level of the waters of a drain,

reservoir, lake or pond, and includes a dam, embankment, wall, protective works or any combination thereof

The Issues: ! Obstructions on natural watercourses - Flooding ! Complaints to CA and/or the municipality ! Who’s responsible? ! Who pays for the work? ! Right of entry onto land? ! Liability

“! including the improving

• f a natural watercourse !”

Solution:

• Drainage system under the Drainage Act
• Authority to manage obstructions/debris
• No need to channelize

Drainage Act defines “drainage works” as: a drain constructed by any means, including the improving of a natural watercourse,

and includes works necessary to regulate the water table or water level within or on any lands

• r to regulate the level of the waters of a drain,

reservoir, lake or pond, and includes a dam, embankment, wall, protective works or any combination thereof

“! and includes works necessary to regulate the water table or water level within or on any lands !”

Wetland Drain Restoration Projects

Cooperative effort between:

• Municipality
• MNR
• Stewardship Council
• Landowners
• Conservation Authority
• Other Partners

Results:

• Restored or

enhanced wetlands

• Water retained on

the landscape

• May result in farm

improvements “! and includes works necessary to regulate the water table or water level within or on any lands !”

Drainage Act defines “drainage works” as: a drain constructed by any means, including the improving of a natural watercourse, and includes works necessary to regulate the water table or water level within or on any lands

• r to regulate the level of the waters of a drain,

reservoir, lake or pond,

and includes a dam, embankment, wall, protective works or any combination thereof

THE ISSUE: URBAN DEVELOPMENT

• Development in neighbouring city; runoff increased
• Ongoing serious erosion/bank slumping
• Ongoing sediment movement downstream
• Channel 5X larger than original

WHAT ARE THE LANDOWNER’S OPTIONS?

• Legal recourse? Who is responsible/liable?
• Will the local CA assist in resolving?
• Solution will be expensive – how to share costs?
• If solution is implemented, who’s responsible to ensure

that it continues to function properly?

“! and includes a dam, embankment, wall, protective works or any combination thereof !”

“! and includes a dam, embankment, wall, protective works or any combination thereof !”

• Property owner petitioned under Drainage Act
• Project still in development
• Project is located in County of Brant, but all the

urban development is in the City of Brantford

• Working with the GRCA
• Working with Parrish Geomorphology for a

natural channel design approach

• Ability to cost-share
• Municipality responsible for future maintenance

“! and includes a dam, embankment, wall, protective works or any combination thereof !”

Buffers along drainage systems are useful for a variety of reasons The Issue: ! Private landowners have purchased land; may not want to voluntarily donate land for buffer ! Buffer agreements – ! Enforcement of agreements? ! Agreement termination? ! Who manages the buffer?

“! and includes a dam, embankment, wall, protective works or any combination thereof !”

Solution: ! Incorporate buffers as part of a project under the Drainage Act: ! Landowners are compensated ! Buffer has legal existence through a municipal by-law ! Municipality has authority to enter land to manage ! Municipality has authority to enforce ! No end date

“! and includes a dam, embankment, wall, protective works or any combination thereof !”

So, H , How Do Do W We De Develo lop Inno Innovative Us Uses O Of T The he Dr Draina nage A Act?

• Open yo

n your mi mind nd t to p possibili lities

• Id

Ident ntify p y possible le i issues w whe here i inno nnovation i n is ne needed

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Ident ntify p y partne ners t to w work w k with yo h you; d ; develo lop a a p proje ject t team; c m; cond nduct a a scoping ng e exercise

• De

Develo lop t the he c commo mmon g n goal l

• Who

ho s sho hould ld p pay f y for i it? – – b be s symp ympathe hetic t to p property o y owne ners – – L Look f k for o

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