2009 Conservation Award Winners –
Annette and Paul Rheault
Annette & Paul Rheault farm west of Notre Dame de Lourdes in south central Manitoba. Paul and their son own and operate Central Dragline Ltd., a liquid manure injection system with Hutterite and other hog farm clients. Most of their cropland is rented to neighbours with alfalfa/brome hay being grown on the remainder. Annette raises 40 commercial cow/calf pairs in the ravines along the escarpment.
Annette and Paul attended Boyne River Watershed Environmental Agri-Equivalent Farm Plan meetings in 2007 where they self-assessed their operation and considered options to improve the environmental impact of their farm practices.
After consulting with PFRA advisors and engineers, three projects were initiated. An off-site watering system was installed to protect a natural spring in the hillside where cattle had previously waded in to drink. The spring was fenced and water pumped to a portable hilltop trough.
An old dugout which had been built at the edge of a wetland was refilled, planted to permanent grass cover, and fenced to keep livestock from accessing this marshy area.
A back-flood dam was constructed to hold water on an open grassland meadow. The temporary pond would slow the spring or rain-event runoff and contribute moisture and nutrients to 10 acres of dry upland pasture.
Retaining moisture by back-flooding grassland improved grass quantity and species. The exclusion of cattle from the water-hole improved herd health and allowed more animals to drink at once. Restoring the dugout back to a wetland allows run-off to slow and release nutrients and sediment as it exits the pasture, improving downstream water quality. These projects were helpful to the RM of South Norfolk by reducing spring flow and eliminating local ditch wash-outs which happened regularly prior to the dam construction. Downstream neighbours benefit from slower runoff and reduced nutrient and sediment levels.
These farm improvements have been featured in news articles in southern Manitoba farm publications and have been visited by interested groups from as far away as the Maritimes. The Rheaults are currently pursuing new projects within the new Growing Forward Plan to improve their operation and their community.
2009 Conservation District Builder Award –
Doug Dobrowolski
Doug was a leader in the formation of LSRBCD and essential in bringing together the member municipalities. Doug was elected as the first Board Chairman when the district was formed in 2002 and remained as Chairman for 5 years, before reaching for new challenges.
When municipalities were being approached with the idea of forming a Conservation District, Doug was inspired to become a part of the development process. Doug’s ability to envision and communicate the “whole picture” to other community leaders informed, educated, and encouraged many to participate. Doug recognized the value of soil and water resource management as a collective organization and helped bring the eastern Red River Valley region together with the western Tiger Hills and Escarpment. Doug was instrumental in explaining to all CD partners, that projects completed upstream and in the headwaters of watersheds benefit not only the immediate area, but downstream as well. Doug’s congenial leadership style reflected a strong belief in the watershed concept. He felt that resources did not need to be spent locally to benefit the whole watershed community.
Doug helped establish the office headquarters in Holland Manitoba and hire District Staff. He was very supportive of the CD personnel and was always accessible to provide advice or mentoring as needed. Doug encouraged and provided education and training to develop competent professional staff. He ensured that resources to improve job satisfaction and customer service were always available.
He was an advocate for integrated watershed planning, strong policy to improve CD governance, and Board Programming developed in response to community needs. Doug played a significant role in the development of LSRBCD’s program menu and providing beneficial cost share funding for projects. Doug provided leadership on various committees including LSRBCD Employee Committee, LSRBCD Financial Committee, MCDA Representative, and MCDA Convention Committee.
Doug’s tremendous leadership abilities, charisma, and presence have carried him onward and upward. Starting as a RM councilor in 1992 he has served his position for 18 years. He has been the AMM Rural Director for the Central Region for 7 years, served 2 terms as the AMM Rural Vice-President, and is currently the AMM President. As a leader, Doug represents the AMM on many committees: Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Infrastructure Council of Manitoba, CD Framework Working Group, Lake Winnipeg Stewardship Board, Federal Gas Tax Oversight Committee, and sits on all AMM internal committees.
As Chairman of LSRBCD, Doug’s leadership provided forward thinking and proper planning. His encouragement and cohesive steadiness allowed the District to mature and prosper. We are grateful, and appreciate Doug’s guidance down the path of developing a new Conservation District.
