Details for ADD Board 15's Mapping Page

Description

The District 15 ADD Board, located in central Saskatchewan, faces a number of land, water, social and economic issues in moving toward adoption of more sustainable agricultural practices. There is local interest in gaining a better understanding of land and climatic limitations and adaptations for various crop types, livestock enterprises, and other land uses. There is also concern with invasion of noxious weeds, and the lack of good quality water for diversification into intensive livestock, irrigation and value added processing.

Under the Green Plan, this ADD Board was the first local producer group in the province to assemble resource information in a GIS format with the intention of assessing potential agricultural options. Satellite imagery, land cover, and soils information were compiled into databases. A survey of local producers was carried out to gain a better understanding of livestock and forage production and needs in the area. The rural municipalities of Craik (222) and Dufferin (190) set up hardware and software to utilize a GIS system. PFRA provided considerable technical expertise in these activities. Other rural municipalities within District 15 are considering GIS technology.

Under this project the ADD Board will utilize the recently acquired data plus some new data, to address the issues identified. The methodology developed will serve as a model for other rural municipalities, district or regional groups dealing with local issues.

Objectives

There are three main objectives to this project.

1. To develop improved resource information to assess land and water issues and promote sustainable cropping, livestock, and land use options within District 15, using local data analysis and GIS technology.
2. To encourage the adoption of sustainable land use practices on the most appropriate areas within District 15 through an effective extension program.
3. To assist local organizations in adopting GIS technology as an effective tool for agricultural land resource management.

Progress

The rural municipalities of Craik (RM222) and Dufferin (RM190) have incorporated GIS as a day to day tool for land ownership/assessment queries. There is also the capacity to access digital orthophotography, satellite imagery, land cover data and various other data sources which provide the basis to make more informed decisions which effect the landscape.

The goal of District 15 was to extend access to this information to the local producers and farm groups. The ADDBoard District #15 website (www.addboard15.sk.ca) was launched in the spring of 2000. This site allows local farm groups, municipalities and individuals access to pre-defined GIS based map products.

Additional development is ongoing, the ADDBoard District #15 website is utilizing the Internet Map Server technology (IMS). This IMS technology allows the user to interact with the mapping software thus allowing specific questions to be asked and answered.

Publisher / Contact

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