The Rat Marsh Watershed covers 2180 km2, with two main rivers. The Rat River begins in Sandilands Provincial Forest and travels West, then North West, meeting the Red River at St Agathe. The landscape is fairly flat, prone to flooding, and consists of plenty of forests, crown lands, hay and pasture.
The Marsh River begins South East of Morris and flows North, meeting the Rat River near St Agathe. This area is low lying valley, prone to flooding and consists of very productive agricultural soil.
At the time that the IWMP was written, the land use breakdown was 34% annual cropland, 33% trees, 18% grassland/pasture, 9% wetlands, and 3% urban/cultural. Another 24% of the watershed is Provincial Crown land, the majority being provincial forests and wildlife management areas.
Part of the watershed is within the Red River Valley designated flood area which has special regulations for the management of livestock manure and mortalities. This area also overlaps with an area of brakish (salty) ground water, making the water unpotable. The rest of the watershed has potable ground water which is generally available for private use.
The Rat-Marsh IWMP expresses 4 main goals, each accompanied by actions to achieve those goals.
#1: Source Water Protection – protect and conserve the quality and quantity of ground water. Some of the actions listed for this goal include sealing off abandoned wells, maintaining wetlands and water retentions to enhance ground water recharge, encouraging proper disposal of hazardous waste, ensuring wells are dug properly, and using water wisely in the home.
#2: Surface water management – adopt and integrated, watershed-based approach to surface water management. Two important actions for this goal include reducing soil erosion and managing land to encourage biodiversity. Reducing soil erosion is the responsibility of land owners, municipalities, and provincial groups, ensuring proper development of drainage and naturalizing the banks. Managing land to encourage biodiversity relates to how land use impacts the number of species living in the area.
#3: Water Quality Protection – protect and improve surface water quality in waterways. To achieve this goal, there must be proper management of waste, both in wastewater treatment plants and on farm with manure. The protection of wetlands is also key to the protection of water quality.
#4: Riparian and Aquatic Ecosystem Management – protect and restore riparian areas and aquatic ecosystems. The main action in this section is to encourage and support the enhancement of riparian areas as well as conserving the undeveloped right of ways.
