PFRA Watrous District Office

Assistance available

PFRA staff assist communities, individuals, companies and other governments to conserve, develop and manage water, soils, plants and animals. Technical assistance is provided to clients on a daily basis dealing with a wide range of agricultural issues.

Soil conservation projects reduce soil degradation. Projects include reducing erosion using shelterbelt and forage establishment and maintenance, monitoring crop production and demonstrating good conservation methods.

Water development projects include technical assistance for well, dugout, dam or pipeline construction , monitoring water quality and developing water conservation programs. PFRA programs provide environmentally sound water supplies for agricultural activities.

District description

The Watrous District has several lakes within its boundaries that provide recreational opportunities. The South Saskatchewan River provides a natural boundary on the west side of the district. The district has one major city, Saskatoon, with a population of 186,067. Other trading centers include Watrous with population of 1,872, Lanigan with 1,397, Wynyard with 2,022, Foam Lake with 1,359, Davidson with 1,115, and Outlook with 2,091.

Watrous district includes 40 rural municipalities: Aberdeen No. 373, Arm River No. 252, Bayne No. 371, Big Arm No. 251, Big Quill No. 308, Blucher No. 343, Colonsay No. 342, Corman Park No. 344, Craik No. 222, Cupar No. 218, Dufferin No. 190, Dundurn No. 314, Elfros No. 307, Emerald No. 277, Foam Lake No. 276, Grant No. 372, Huron No. 223, Kutawa No. 278, Lakeside No. 338, Last Mountain Valley No. 250, Leroy No. 339, Longlaketon No. 219, Loreburn No. 254, Lost River No. 313, Maple Bush No. 224, McCraney No. 282, McKillop No. 220, Morris No. 312, Mount Hope No. 279, Prairie Rose No. 309, Rosedale No. 283, Rudy No. 284, Sarnia No. 221, Touchwood No. 248, Usborne No. 310, Viscount No. 341, Willner No. 253, Wolverine No. 340, Wood Creek No. 281, and Wreford No. 280.

The primary economic base of the district is agriculture. Agricultural commodities produced include cereals, oilseeds, pulse crops, specialty crops, cattle, hogs, poultry, as well as specialty enterprises such as bison, elk, and fruit production. The district has four potash mines which significantly contribute to the economic prosperity of the region.

The district has an integrated feedlot/ethanol production facility, an alfalfa dehydrating plant, a canola crushing plant, potato farms, fruit processors, grain handling facilities, and numerous manufacturing plants.

Soils vary from dark brown in the south and west to black soils in the north and east. Topographic features blend from level farm land to rolling hills to moderately deep valleys throughout the district. Vegetation ranges from grass to seeded crops to bush and trees.

Eight PFRA community pastures are managed within the Watrous district.