Ten Year Report presented to government
The report is available as a PDF file, which are large and may take several minutes to open or download, depending on your Internet connection speed. We appreciate your patience.
The 10-Year Report
26 pages, 4.3 Mb
The Spirit Creek Watershed Monitoring Committee (SCWMC) was formed in 2000 as a response to proposed hog barn development in the Assiniboine River Watershed. Many concerns were voiced in the area regarding the potential environmental impact of-the project. The development of the committee was the first of its kind in Canada to address local concerns The committee worked in cooperation with Big Sky Farms and various levels of government. The committee was given authorization to contract consulting services at its discretion.
The SCWMC mandate is to direct and communicate the monitoring of three hog barn sites to ensure the sustainability of the environment in the Spirit Creek Watershed. As a result of this mandate, the SCWMC is able to collect and present to the public current, sitespecific information regarding the environmental impacts of this hog barn development. There were three key areas studied by the SCWMC -- water, soil and air/odour.
Water monitoring has occurred annually from 2000 to 2010. Samples have been collected and analyzed from both surface and groundwater sources. The results of water quality monitoring of private wells was a valuable tool to increase the awareness among residents of the importance of protecting source water. The surface water sampling program has shown no measurable impact of the hog barns and manure spreading activities on area water quality.
Soil monitoring began in 2001 and is scheduled to end with the fall 2012 sampling event. The Five-Year Report stated: "At this point it is safe to say that manure application to the test fields has improved the fertility status of the soils while maintaining nutrient levels well within accepted environmental guidelines." Of note, since issuance of the Five-Year Report, is the fact the manure application rate and timing of applications were adjusted based on the past years of soil sampling analyses. In most cases the adjustments that Big Sky made to its manure management plan have resulted in a better balance between manure application rates and crop removal of soil nitrates. Continued soil sampling to the fall of 2009 has shown the nutrient level of the soil continues to be within accepted environmental guidelines. Odour monitoring took place from 2001 to 2004. The number and intensity of odour occurrences varied with the season, time of day, distance and direction from barns, weather conditions and the sensitivity of each individual observer. The highest odour rates occurred during May through October. Odour emissions were attributed to both the barn and the earthen manure storage (EMS) for each site.
The SCWMC members believe they have been successful in alleviating local fears and concerns about the hog barn development. Using a unique, transparent, unbiased approach and collaborating with contracted consulting services has given credibility to the committee's studies and findings. The committee has been accepted as a sounding board for concerns, and is seen as beneficial by many local residents.
