The Pembina Valley Watershed District is looking to expand its reach, and the Municipality of Rhineland wants to be part of the planning process.

Currently not part of any watershed district, Council has passed a resolution adding Rhineland to the list of other local municipalities wanting to get involved in developing proposals outlining future membership in the program.

Read more: Expansion Possible For Local Watersheds, Thanks To Additional Provincial Funds

"I'm hoping we can get started on a needs assessment in terms of what are the watershed issues in our area, and then look at what the program involves and of course, what we have to contribute to be part of the program," explained Reeve Don Wiebe, noting a virtual meeting is being planned to kick off the process.

"Our situation being quite unique in that we are ninety-six per cent arable land, we always felt that the program didn't match our needs," added Wiebe. "Because we can now tailor it to our needs...we think it makes sense because we do endorse the concept of water management on a watershed basis. We think that makes a lot of sense."

Wiebe explained this management strategy needs to keep Rhineland's topography in mind as well.

"We are relatively flat, and retention areas aren't easy for us to find, they tend to be a little further west," he explained. "For example, in terms of drought it would have been nice to have some strategic water storage someplace in the region. Looking back now, of course hindsight is always a little easier than looking forward, but that would have served us well right now."

Wiebe noted watershed programming would also allow Rhineland to better protect the quality and quantity of its agriculture resources, including water and soil.