Drainage has been an issue this season for many municipalities in the province, including Montcalm.

Robyn Copeland, an area farmer attended the November council meeting in Letellier to request help from council to control the water being drained directly onto his farmland. Water coming from the Copeland drain has been an issue for the retired farmer for a couple of years, with the wet weather we have received this year it is as bad as ever.

"There was some work done on the drains in that area a couple of years ago and not completed, causing the water to drain directly onto Mr. Copeland's land," said Reeve of Montcalm Derek Sabourin.

Sabourin told Copeland that this was the first council had heard of the issue, and that the municipality would do everything in their power to correct the situation.

"Due to the wet weather we have had this year we got a slow start on addressing drainage in the municipality, but we were able to hit our target of 25 km," explained Sabourin.

Sabourin also mentioned that the municipality is addressing as many drains annually as possible, and in the future will be putting together a better comprehensive plan to facilitate the surveys and applications that need to be submitted to the province for culvert replacement and drainage licenses.

"Hopefully this will help us meet and address drainage issues easier and faster heading into the future," noted Sabourin.

The wet weather the Pembina Valley received this season has had an impact on more than just farming, many municipalities are struggling with road maintenance, drainage, and several other issues caused by the increase in the water table.

Sabourin said even the R.M. Lagoons have been challenged to keep up.