Our 2005 Annual Meeting will be held in the Agri-Theatre (Agronomy Building) at Ridgetown College. The program will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The highlights are as follows:
Introduction to the Drainage Act
Municipal Drain Perspective
Provincial Project Perspective
Private Sector Perspective
Landowner Perspective
Conservation Authority Perspective
Lunch and Judging of Student Posters
Moderated Panel Discussion
Next Steps - Need for Action
Annual Business Meeting
The cost includes lunch and is $50 for SWCS, CFFO, OFA, and NFU members, $65 for for non-members, and $20 for students. The registration form and program are available as a PDF file here. Please respond by February 16, 2005.
For more information contact Peter Chisholm at (519)824-4120 x53872 or Moira Bloom at mbloom@uoguelph.ca.
Drainage of urban and rural land continues to be a contentious issue in Ontario. The Soil and Water Conservation Society has an interest in water conservation and maintaining natural functions, while recognizing the economic and practical need for proper land drainage. The Chapter is aware of the need to be better informed about this issue to help define what role it could play in providing a conservation perspective. There has been considerable activity in the United States to form national agricultural drainage coalitions to look at and design agricultural drainage as a conservation best management practice.
We are confronted by new legislative and scientific developments including nutrient management, source water protection, climate change and water supply. How do these existing and future requirements impact the role and design of land drainage systems? What are different organizations considering as conservation initiatives in response to these requirements? What is needed and what opportunities are there for land drainage to address these issues?
Come to the Ontario Chapter Annual Meeting to hear perspectives from those who are active in approving, installing and maintaining agricultural drains in the province. Help formulate the future role that the Society could play in this issue.