please take one

A PUBLICATION BY DUCKS UNLIMITED CANADA FALL 2017

ducks.ca
Manager of Provincial Operations Report

D
epending on your perspective, the
growing season of 2017 can be described
as record wet in the northwest or
extreme drought if you live in southern
parts of the province. Regardless of current weather
conditions, waterfowl breeding numbers remained
strong due to Saskatchewans wetland resources and the
carryover conditions from last fall. What remains
concerning is the estimated 25 acres of wetlands that
are lost (on average) every day in our province. In some
areas of the province, we have lost up to 90 per cent of
our wetlands to development. Ducks Unlimited
Canadas (DUC) conservation efforts focus on
protecting and restoring wetlands in an effort to
balance generations of wetland loss, a job that never
seems to get caught up.
Did you know that by conserving wetlands, we are
also contributing to a host of other environmental
services? That is because wetlands are some of the most
productive ecosystems in the world. They reduce the
risk of downstream flooding, filter harmful nutrients
from our water sources, provide incredible habitat for
wildlife and store vast amounts of carbon that would
otherwise end up in the atmosphere. When wetlands
are lost we need to mitigate for their loss. An
appropriate mitigation sequence will ensure that all
development, industrial, residential and agricultural,
becomes more sustainable, protecting our precious
water resource for future generations.
We hope this version of the Saskatchewan Conservation
Connection illustrates for you, important milestones in
our conservation work. I hope you will join me in
celebrating these successes and in thanking our
volunteers and supporters, without whom this progress
would not be possible.
If you are able to lend a hand in protecting wetlands,
please contact us.
Every little bit counts!
Yours in conservation,
Brian Hepworth
Manager of Provincial Operations
Ducks Unlimited Canada,
Saskatchewan

Duck Population Numbers Flying High

T
he staff at DUC are impressed with the waterfowl breeding numbers released in August. Total
populations are estimated at 47.3 million breeding ducks in the traditional survey area, which is
similar to the 2016 estimate of 48.4 million and is 34 per cent above the 1955-2016 long-term
average. Canadian landscapes, particularly the key breeding grounds here in the Prairies, play a critical
role in maintaining these strong populations and our numbers remain strong due to Saskatchewans wetland
resources and the carryover conditions from last fall.

The following is a brief summary of the species estimates from

the report:
Blue-winged teal estimates are up by 18% from last year
and 57% above LTA
Northern shoveler estimates are similar to last year and
69% above LTA
Northern pintail estimates are similar to last year and 27%
below LTA
Redhead estimates are similar to last year and 55% above
LTA
Canvasback estimates are similar to last year and 25%
above LTA
LTA: Long-term average
Additional information, including the full survey report and
species-by-species breakdown can be found on the Ducks
Unlimited Inc. website.

2 | Saskatchewan Conservation Connection

Industry & Government Relations Report
I
ndustry and government relations staff continue to work with
our partners on the land to ensure that water quality and
habitat are being considered when the government implements
drainage policies on the landscape. Proper mitigation of
wetland loss will continue to be our focus with the government and
stakeholders as we believe this is a critical component to any
successful wetland policy the Saskatchewan government will
develop. Mitigation will ensure that our goods are produced in a
sustainable manner, offering protection to the agriculture sector
while keeping the sector competitive.
Wetland protection also helps Saskatchewan fight against climate
change, sequestering carbon dioxide along with other greenhouse
gases. Wetlands also trap and assimilate nutrients and sediments from
farm runoff, protecting downstream water bodies. We have been
messaging these points to the public and will continue to press for a
greater understanding of the tremendous values that wetlands
provide to society. That many in the agricultural sector are
protecting wetlands should be an area of focus and pride for our
agricultural partners on the landscape. However, we continue to lose
an estimated 25 acres of wetland each day in Saskatchewan, and we
need to address this ongoing loss.
Recently Premier Wall announced he is retiring from provincial
politics. With this announcement, there will be an election for the
Saskatchewan Conservation Connection
new leader of the Saskatchewan Party and Saskatchewans next
premier in January 2018. Over the next several months DUC will
begin reaching out to leadership candidates in an effort to continue
our education work with elected officials, ensuring that the new
premier has an understanding of the values that wetlands provide to
Saskatchewan residents.
DUC staff will continue to work with educators in both grade
school and high school, bringing wetland values messaging to our
youth. The Mossbank Wetland Centre of Excellence is now fully
operational and will be utilized by classes in the Mossbank area to
learn about the plants and animals that live in and around large
wetlands. By providing these young people an opportunity to work
in and around nature, our hope is that they will grow up to value
our natural world and actively work to protect it.
Michael Champion, PAg
Head of Industry & Government Relations
| 3
Securement Report

S
taff have finished meeting with several local Rural
Municipalities (RMs) for this year. These
meetings provide a great opportunity for staff to
highlight the programs that we offer in their local RM
and also gives reeves and councillors the chance to meet and have
dialogue with local DUC staff.
Interest has been high for all of our securement programs
throughout the province since spring. Staff are in on-going
negotiations with landowners and will be field checking their land
between now and freeze-up to determine program eligibility and
options best suited to their farming operation. DUC offers a
variety of program options, ranging from fencing, forage
conversion, and leasing to longer term options such as conservation
easements and land purchase.
DUCs Revolving Conservation Land Program (RCLP)
continues to roll along successfully, as we have now sold 14
properties since January 1st. All parcels are sold with conservation
easements, securing the wetlands and ensuring the surrounding
uplands remain in grass, all the while allowing for agricultural use
of these lands. This program is a great opportunity for cattle
producers to purchase land at a reduced rate, utilizing the land for
their cattle operation.
Interested landowners should contact Dave Molberg (http://
www.timhammond.ca Dave_Molberg/page_2613201.html) ) with
Tim Hammond Realty to view the 14 parcels of land currently for
sale throughout Saskatchewan. In addition, we anticipate another
dozen or so properties being listed in the fall, once the land has
been converted to forage.
Andrew Hak
Head of Conservation Programs

The Bryska Project. A RLCP that was generously funded by the Agrium Wetland Legacy Program.

DUC staff observed a nationally threatened species, the bobolink, on our Oie
Project, a RLCP that is in partnership with the Agrium Legacy Wetland Program.
The bobolink was gathering food at the time of the observation which suggests
local breeding may be occurring.
Photo by M Chupik

4 | Saskatchewan Conservation Connection

Restoration Report

D
UC has been encouraging landowners to seed
forages on their cultivated land to create valuable
nesting cover for waterfowl and to provide feed for
their livestock.
The 2017 forage program has partnered with Crop Production
Services across western Canada and provides a financial rebate to
producers when they purchase forage seed and enroll into the
forage conversion program with DUC.
The forage program has changed slightly to look for new
opportunities with farmers who have not traditionally considered
seeding lands to grass on their farm. DUC has been focusing the
use of forages on farm lands which are challenging for farmers to
seed or to harvest. Rather than having these tough acres to seed to
annual crops, DUC has been working with producers to identify
these areas and provide the incentives to convert into forage.
The program continues to be a favorite with landowners, and in
2017, over 11,000 acres of land is expected to be converted and
enrolled into the program. Through the program, DUC is able to
develop a relationship with the landowners to foster other
conservation programs on their lands. Once landowners are
introduced to DUC, conservation staff are able to look for
opportunities on how conservation programs can work with their
farming operation. The 11,000 acres of land referred to the forage
conversion program is from over 85 different farming operations in
Saskatchewan.
These acres will now not only provide nesting cover in the
spring for waterfowl, but many opportunities to work with new
farmers and their land base.
Trevor Plews
Head of Conservation Programs

Whats Happening at the Ranch

Touchwood Hills Conservation
Ranch (THCR) played host to the
Back to the Field Tour on May
30th & 31st, 2017. This Society for
Range Management event had 60
participants come to the THCR and
observed DUC programming related
to Tame Pasture Management and
Riparian Health Assessments. The
guests also had fun participating in
an Escape Room themed GPS
exercise.
After three years, the THCR
4 | Saskatchewan Conservation
Grazing Response Connectionfalls Country Guide/ Forage Edition.
Index (GRI)
ADOPT trial is complete. GRI is
a practical management tool meant
to offer cattle producers a simple,
effective way to make pasture
management decisions annually. The
trial focuses on three areas- grazing
intensity, opportunity for recovery, and
frequency of grazing.
The GRI continues to provide
great insight into this developing
process as GRI remains a relevant
topic in the cattle industry. Watch for
an upcoming feature article in this

Saskatchewan Conservation Connection | 5

Habitat Asset Management Report
T
he wide range of moisture
conditions across
Saskatchewan in 2017 have
resulted in water levels in
DUCs engineered wetland projects to
vary greatly, with southern projects
showing the effects of well below average
precipitation, while northern projects are
seeing high water levels due to above
average precipitation. By mid-summer,
northern areas like Meadow Lake were
over 180% of normal precipitation while
southern areas like Regina were at less
than 40% of normal precipitation. Staff in
the northern project areas have been kept
busy operating control structures and
working to keep the water moving while
staff in southern project areas are taking
advantage of the dry conditions to
complete project repairs, rebuilds, and
naturalizations.
The dry weather in the south has
resulted in good construction conditions
for staff to complete some significant
wetland project rebuilds ahead of normal
this summer. The Dixon and Gotzwold
projects in the Missouri Coteau and the
Black Lake project in southeastern
Saskatchewan have now been completed
and many more project rebuilds are
underway.
Staff are also busy negotiating
agreements with landowners, applying for
permits and licenses as well as working
Grazing management on DUC land near Blaine Lake, Saskatchewan
Photo: A Bryan
6 | Saskatchewan Conservation Connection
on engineering designs and surveys for
numerous project rebuilds that will
be completed during the fall construction
season.
Upland project management activities
on DUC owned properties are well
underway with over 40,000 acres of
DUC land being grazed or hayed by local
cattle producers. These acres are welcome
assistance to many producers who are
faced with shortfalls of hay and pasture
this year because of the moisture deficit
in the southern areas.
Kelly Rempel
Head of Habitat Asset Management
 project spotlight
The Missouri Coteau is known to some people as the hills of
the prairie. The dynamic landscape consists of rugged hills,
cascading grasslands, and the area is teeming with wetlands.
Due to the topography, the area also experiences a natural
wet-dry cycle. This cycle ensures that the wetlands are
abundant with plant and animal foods and makes the Coteau
one of the continents most productive areas for waterfowl.
In the summer of 2017, DUC staff finished work on the Dixon
and the Gotzwold Lake projects located in the Missouri Coteau
near Spring Valley. The original water control structures were
galvanized steel and have been in operation since 1985. The
structures were becoming rusted and had started to leak. This
caused the lake levels to lower, and left the constructed nesting
islands exposed to predators. The forecasted hot and dry
weather made DUC staff wary of the marsh running completely
dry before the work on the structures were complete. DUC
staff, led by DUC Conservation Programs Specialist Brendan
Schick, set to work immediately, and in the spring they
replaced all the old structures with new structures made mainly
from a PVC material that has more longevity than galvanized
steel.
DUC staffs premonitions were correct. The Coteau had a
very hot, and dry spring and summer but because of the DUC
Team putting in some very long days and a lot of hard work, the
marsh was restored and is beginning to replenish itself. The
Saskatchewan Conservation Connection
land surrounding Gotzwold Lake is grazed annually, so the lake
provides fresh water for the cattle, along with providing great
habitat for waterfowl.
The projects provide over 180 acres of critical habitat that is
especially beneficial to Northern Pintail. Northern Pintail are
one of the few waterfowl species that will nest in open sites
with sparse vegetation cover. This trait makes pintail nests
susceptible to predators and agriculture operations. The
species was on the decline in the 90s and is slowly garnering
positive breeding success rates, due to habitat like Dixon and
Gotzwold Lake.
The completion of Dixon and the Gotzwold Lake left Schick
with some wonderful memories from childhood. These two
projects were my first large-scale DUC projects and growing up
I rode the bus past Dixon and Gotzwold Lake every day. Stated
Schick. He said that the projects are well-known in the area and
his grandfather has told him about the history and the benefits
the projects have brought to the surrounding landowners.
Schick continued, I have taken my family and friends to the site
to show them the impressive structures and explain what I do
for work, but more importantly, what DUC does to improve
habitat.
This project was funded in partnership with the North American
Wetlands Conservation Act of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
| 7
Harvesting the Benefits of Winter Wheat
F
all is harvest time for most
producers across
Saskatchewan, but for winter
wheat growers, it is also a
time to seed next years crop. Conditions
across the province have been extreme.
From too much precipitation in the
north to too little moisture in the south,
this year held many challenges for
producers. But for those that managed
to plant winter wheat last fall, DUC
agronomist, Amanda Swanson, says the
recent crop yields are positive.
Surprisingly, despite the weather, the
yields in the dry south were better than
anticipated and the northern yields are
above average.
Paul Thoroughgood, a winter wheat
producer and regional agrologist with
DUC, knows that juggling harvest
operations with fall seeding poses
challenges, but the rewards are worth it.
Thoroughgood says in dry conditions
winter wheat that is unable to use
existing soil moisture for germination
will usually receive enough moisture
from above to get a good start in the
fall. Alternatively, when it comes to wet
conditions, winter wheat can better use
that extra moisture in the spring as its
already established whereas spring-
Back in his Natural Habitat
D
UC is pleased to announce that
Alan Smith has accepted the
position of Manager of Events and
Volunteer Relations (MEVR) in
Saskatchewan. Al is a familiar face at DUC and
he returns to the same fundraising role he held
before he briefly left us in 2012. Although he
left the staff position five years ago, Al never left
the company, and has continued to volunteer
with DUC for the past five years, including
being Chairman of The Drake for the past
two years.
Al brings experience, innovation and
excitement to the MEVR role and his return
seeded crops cannot.
No matter where you farm in the
province, Swanson says winter wheat
fields are a great addition to a growers
rotation and a great tool to increase soil
health. Her participation in the Soil
Conservation Council of Canadas Soil
Your Undies campaign proves it. We
went to a winter wheat field in one of
the driest areas of the province and
buried a pair of white 100 per cent
cotton briefs. We left them for a few
months to see how much the soil would
break down the cotton a key indicator
of healthy soil, Swanson says. If your
soil is unhealthy, the pair will be left
intact, if it is healthy then there will be
not much left, but the waistband. It was
amazing what we found, or actually
what we didnt find, exclaims Swanson.
When we went back to the field, even
under the driest conditions, microbial
activity was good enough to cause the
underwear to decompose almost
entirely.
Winter wheat wins again.
What remains of the underwear that was buried
For more information regarding winter in a WW field in May, 2017 and dug up in early
wheat, contact Amanda, Lyse, or Paul at August,2017.
1-866-252-3825 or visit Photo credit: A. Swanson
growwinterwheat.ca
to DUC solidifies the fundraising team
in Saskatchewan. Al will be working out
of Saskatoon and together, with Travis
Behning, will support the volunteer
chapters across Saskatchewan. Al will be
reaching out to his assigned chapters very
soon and is looking forward to meeting
volunteers that he has never met and
rekindling relationships with volunteers he
has worked with in the past.
To reach Al,
please call 1-866-254-3825 or
email a_smith@ducks.ca
8 | Saskatchewan Conservation Connection
We were tired of seeding
acres that were unproductive
and costing us money. Dale Rhinas
RM of oRkney faRMeR

Dale knew that these less productive acres were costing him money,
so converting the area to grass made good financial sense.

With the added incentives from Ducks Unlimited Canada,

the decision was a win-win.

Call Ducks Unlimited Canada for information

about our programs at 1-866-252-3825,
or email du_regina@ducks.ca
Saskatchewans First Wetland Centre of Excellence
I was outside of town sitting in a slough in the early morning hours, and the sun was just
coming up. I remember looking around and thinking back to an article I had read that
said that Canada was rated the best country to live. I had also recently read an article that
said that Saskatchewan was the best province to live in Canada. I remember thinking to
myself how lucky am I to be here. I was in the best country in the world, in the best
province in the world and doing what I love. And thats how it began.
-G. Tod Wright
DUC past president

I
n late May 2017, Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) staff and it was a perfect fit.
joined Tod Wright, Mossbank community members, Educating youth about the value of wetlands is a
and teachers and students of Mossbank School, in the fundamental component of a DUC Wetland Centre of
Mossbank School gymnasium. They were there to share Excellence. Although it is a centre, the programs goal is to
in the excitement of announcing Mossbank School as get youth out into nature. It is so important for kids to have
Saskatchewans first Wetland Centre of Excellence, generously the opportunity to get outside and forge a relationship with
funded by Tod Wright. nature, says Rutko. Through Ducks Unlimited Canadas
Addressing the audience, Wright enthusiastically recalled Wetland Centre of Excellence program, our students are
times he has hunted ducks near Mossbank and throughout the excited to be engaged in practical, hands-on activities.
region with his friend Don Smith. His Saskatchewan hunts Teaching students about the value of habitats, and wetlands, in
gave Wright his passion for the environment and led him to particular, are valuable skills they simply cant learn from a
become an active volunteer with DUC. He served as DUCs book.
34th president from 1999 to 2001. This approach to environmental education provides unique
Although Tod and his family reside in Ontario, his heart opportunities for students to connect with nature and develop
lives in Saskatchewan. He is a strong advocate of waterfowling a sense of ownership and responsibility, says Barbara
traditions and through DUC, he quickly learned why Hanbidge, DUC Policy Specialist in Saskatchewan and
Saskatchewan was such an important area for waterfowl. coordinator of the Mossbank School Wetland Centre of
When I learned about the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) Excellence. This program is positive for the community and
and how it was the duck factory for North America, it really the local environment. Students can become advocates for the
excited me. I read about the Missouri Coteau and how its environment and wildlife, as well as build character and
location in south central Saskatchewan was critical to develop skills they will carry forward with them into their
waterfowl survival, and I knew something had to be done to lives and future careers.
preserve this landscape.
As a conservationist, Wright holds a high regard for
environmental education. He funds the Tod Wright Wetland
Scholarship, which is awarded annually to a grade 12 graduate
in Prairie South School Division who will be pursuing
post-secondary studies that will (in some way) be beneficial to
the waterfowl habitat in the Prairie Pothole Region. Some
award recipients have gone to Saskatchewan Polytechnic
Institute in Prince Albert and pursued a diploma in Integrated
Resource Management (IRM); others are attending the
University of Regina or University of Saskatchewan.
Leanne Rutko, Principal of Mossbank School is excited
about this scholarship opportunity for the School Division.
We have a Grade 11 student that has plans to attend the
Integrated Resource Management program after graduation
and plans to apply for the Tod Wright scholarship next year.
My son was the recipient of the scholarship in 2015 and went
into the IRM program. He was always obsessed with nature

10 | Saskatchewan Conservation Connection

More about DUCs Wetland
Centres of Excellence

A
s Saskatchewans first Wetland Centre
of Excellence, Mossbank School is
now part of a national network of
schools and community partners that
engage young people in wetland conservation.
DUC Wetland Centres of Excellence are large and
small, rural and urban, and each is unique. Centres
offer many different programs and activities
designed to help students learn about our valuable
wetlands, what lives in them, how they function
and about the important natural capital they
provide. Students get hands-on opportunities
through participation in field trips to nearby
wetlands.
Thanks to the generous support from organizations
and private donors like Tod Wright, DUC
programs have helped more than 1.5 million
students across Canada learn about the importance
of wetlands and conservation. Together, these
students and teachers have accomplished many
remarkable things such as planting over 196,000
trees, banding more than 70,000 birds and
constructing, installing and monitoring waterfowl
and songbird nest boxes on a long-term basis.
The future of our environment depends on
educating our youth to protect wetlands and other
habitats. Wetlands are one of the most diverse
ecosystems on earth second only to rainforests,
says Hanbidge. Besides providing habitat for
hundreds of wildlife species, they naturally filter
and store water, mitigate floods and droughts, and
slow the effects of climate change. Without
educating the youth about the value of wetlands,
wetlands will continue to be lost on our
landscape.

Mr. Wright is also an accomplished culinary author, and his
book Prairie Birds: Hunt, Cook, Celebrate, shares his passion
for storytelling, waterfowling and cooking. Wright a prairie
hunting veteran and amateur chef relives memorable
moments, many of them humourous, from his annual
Saskatchewan bird hunts and then provides step-by-step
instructions for preparing a game dish for the table.
The book is an entertaining, thoughtful and respectful tribute
to the wetland and waterfowl resources
Mr. Wright loves and supports.

We deserve clean Water.

Wetlands filter pollutants from our water sources.
Protect wetlands. Visit ducks.ca.
Saskatchewan Conservation Connection | 11
 Join the flock.

Moose Jaw - October 5th, 2017 East Central Flyway November 3rd, 2017
Wadena October 7th, 2017 Regina Ladies November 3rd, 2017
Kindersley October 14th, 2017 Weyburn November 3rd, 2017
La Ronge October 14th, 2017 Duval November 4th, 2017
Sask Valley October 14th, 2017 Abbey November 4th, 2017
Richmound October 20th, 2017 Tisdale November 4th, 2017
Nipawin October 20th, 2017 Dundurn November 4th, 2017
Melville October 21st, 2017 Saskatoon Ladies November 10th, 2017
Gull Lake October 21st, 2017 Yorkton Ladies November 17th, 2017
Spiritwood October 21st, 2017 Melfort November 18th, 2017
Lloydminster October 21st, 2017 The Drake November 23rd, 2017
Meadow Lake Ladies October 27th, 2017 Kindersley Sponsor December 6th, 2017
Saskatchewan Volunteer Workshop January 27th, 2018

ever wanted to be up close to

the power of Mother nature?
You could win a once-in-a-lifetiMe
trip with the tornado hunters!
Attend a DUC banquet in Saskatchewan in fall
2017 or spring 2018. If youre the raffle winner of
a select Tornado Hunters acrylic print, youll be
entered into the main draw: a trip for two on
a storm chase with the Tornado Hunters crew!
* Terms and condiTions apply

Ducks Unlimited Canada 306-569-0424

Editor: Chelsea Manz
Design: Kaylin Springer &
Jeope Wolfe
Printed by: Impact Printers
Saskatchewan Provincial Office 1-866-252-3825
P.O. Box 4465 du_regina@ducks.ca
1030 Winnipeg Street ducks.ca/saskatchewan
Regina, Saskatchewan DUCSaskatchewan
S4R 8P8 @DUCSask

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