Farming Along the Stream

Producers who land is crossed by a stream face interesting dilemma. One choice is to protect the stream and its adjacent riparian area, foregoing the crop production possible of the shoreland were cultivated and seeded. Another is to cultivate as much of this productive land wherever possible, sacrificing the stream's shorelands, and possibly even removing the stream itself.

Throughout much of Saskatchewan's history, the pattern has been to chose the second option, draining land, breaking willow and poplar growth along stream channels, and creating large fields with few barriers to cultivation. The prevailing logic was to maximize the acreage under cultivation and improve the ease of operation.

This approach is being challenged as producers become more aware of the inherent value of a healthy stream and the benefits it confers to the land around it. They are becoming increasingly concerned about the green zone, the ecosystem made up of the stream, the streambank, its floodplain and the entire transition area between water and uplands. For many, this concern is leading to changes in their cultivation practices and to the creation of buffer strips along streams.

Benefits of Maintaining Healthy Riparian Vegetation

A narrow, meandering stream channel with a broad flood plain and overhanging vegetation is considered healthy, particularly if the vegetation includes woody, deep-rooted plants such as willow.

Dense vegetation traps snow and slows the rate of runoff and flood water. This increases moisture infiltration into the soil and contributes to ground water recharge.

Soil moisture reserves help to maintain crop and forage yield during dry periods which often occur during the growing season in Saskatchewan. Vegetation also reduces erosion and purifies water. The roots produced by trees, shrubs and grasses stabilize streambanks. Foliage, stems and litter intercept raindrops and slow the velocity of runoff and floodwater. Vegetation also traps sediment and nutrient rich organic matter, enriching floodplain soils. There is less leaching of nitrates and heavy metals into the water system, reducing the potential for toxicity problems and algal blooms. Improved water quality also benefits livestock and aquatic organisms.

Healthy riparian plant communities reduce weed invasion and provide excellent forage for hay, livestock and wildlife.

Sediment trapping and filtration

The Value of Seasonal Flooding

A flood plain which is flooded annually is not a sign of a stream out of control or an inconvenience which is being eliminated by engineering. Rather, it is performing naturally. Flooding replenishes soil nutrients and recharges subsurface moisture. It is no accident theat flood plains are among the most fertile areas of the world.

Consequences of Removing Riparian Vegetation

Cultivated fields may have insufficient vegetation and litter cover to reduce raindrop impact or slow runoff. When cultivation is too close to streams, riparian vegetation will nit be able to trap all sediments, fertilizers, pesticides, pathogens or heavy metals before they reach a water body. Elevated levels of nitrates and phosphorus in water bodies stimulate algae growth which may result in toxic conditions later in the season. Leaching of nitrates into the ground water may also increase.

Buffer Strips: Regaining Riparian Function

Although it may be tempting to cultivate as much of the floodplain as possible, it is important to maintain streambank vegetation for bank stability and erosion control. Where cultivation has been excessive, the function of riparian vegetation may be regained by establishing buffer strips.

Buffer strips are permanent vegetation, including grasses, shrubs and trees, between riparian areas and cultivates lands. To be effective, buffer strips should be at least 10 metres wide but 30 metres is ideal. When you think about it, that's a small price t pay for protecting agricultural "black gold," the rich floodplain soil.

We gratefully acknowledge the support of the following funding partners of the Streambank Stewardship Program.

Canada - Saskatchewan Agri-food Innovation Agreement, Environment Canada, Action 21, Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration with special thanks to Bill Bristol for his assistance in technical editing, Saskatchewan Grazing and Pasture Technology Program, and to the contributions to riparian activities through support of the Saskatchewan Prairie Shores program by the California Waterfowl Association, The Nature Conservatory (US), Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, North America Wetlands Conservation Council, Pheasants Forever, Inc., Wildlife Habitat Canada and Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

The Saskatchewan Watershed Authority and its partners in the Streambank Stewardship Program have developed a planning guide to help landowners develop their own stewardship plans. The planning guide is available from the web site above.