Mountain Region Water Festival

The first annual Mountain Region Water Festival was held on September 30 and October 1. The Water Festival was an educational event organized by the Intermountain Conservation District (IMCD) in co-operation with the Swan Lake Watershed Conservation District (SLWCD). Approximately 340 students from Grandview, Gilbert Plains, Dauphin, Ethelbert, Winnipegosis, Minitonas and Swan River participated in the event.

The Water Festival kicked off the opening of the Shanty Creek Watershed Education Centre located at the IMCD yard site. Students rotated through educational stations which included critter dipping, water quality testing, ground water model, water conservation game, stream table, soil porosity, riparian areas, ecosystem food chain, tree identification, wildlife bingo and streambank millionaire.

We would like to thank the following agencies for assisting with or providing an educational station for the event: Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation, Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA), Manitoba Water Stewardship, Louisiana Pacific Canada Ltd., Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Swan Valley Regional Secondary School Envirothon Team, Ethelbert Credit Union and individuals from the IMCD & SWLCD who helped with the event.

We would like to acknowledge and extend a huge thank you to sponsors of the event: Ethelbert Credit Union, Louisiana Pacific Canada Ltd., Wal-Mart-Dauphin, Dean Cooley GM, Dauphin Clinic Pharmacy, Duck Mountain Auto, Swan Valley Credit Union, Reimer & Co., Marvin Kovachik – IMCD Chairman, Western Bakery for donating the cookies and Swan Valley Co-op for donating the fruit for the lunch.

Thanks to all the teachers, bus drivers and group leaders for bringing the students out to take part in the activities and making the event a great success. The Intermountain Conservation District and Swan Lake Watershed Conservation District look forward to hosting the event again next year.