IISD’s Response to Manitoba’s Proposed New Water Rights Regulations to Protect Wetlands and Make Drainage More Sustainable in the Province

IISD argues that proposed drainage regulations in Manitoba would undermine the goal of no net loss of wetland benefits by enabling the drainage of permanent wetlands (Classes 3, 4, and 5) through payment or purchase options. The organization recommends legislating full protection for Class 4 and 5 wetlands, enhancing protections for Class 3 wetlands, and requiring drainage licenses for all new subsurface tile drainage. Additionally, IISD calls for public online access to drainage permit applications, mandatory downstream landowner approvals for culvert changes that increase flow, and the completion of a provincial wetland inventory to support monitoring and evaluation.

• The proposed regulations would allow the drainage of permanent wetlands (Classes 3, 4, and 5) via pay, purchase, or perform options, which IISD claims makes it impossible to achieve the goal of no net loss of wetland benefits.
• IISD recommends that Class 4 and Class 5 wetlands be legislated for full protection, asserting that proposed compensation ratios cannot replace the benefits these specific wetlands provide.
• The organization advises that all new subsurface tile drainage (Class B) should require a drainage license rather than being a registerable project, and that control structures must have stipulated closure dates to mitigate downstream spring flooding and water quality issues.
• IISD suggests that any culvert change resulting in increased flow must require approvals from downstream landowners, noting that 10 successive replacements of 15 per cent could quadruple peak flow.
• To ensure successful implementation, the Government of Manitoba should complete a provincial wetland inventory and report on the cumulative impacts of drainage and net wetland benefits every five years.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (n.d.). IISD’s Response to Manitoba’s Proposed New Water Rights Regulations to Protect Wetlands and Make Drainage More Sustainable in the Province. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/iisd-response-manitoba-regulations-drainage.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. IISD’s Response to Manitoba’s Proposed New Water Rights Regulations to Protect Wetlands and Make Drainage More Sustainable in the Province. n.d. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/iisd-response-manitoba-regulations-drainage.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=IISD’s Response to Manitoba’s Proposed New Water Rights Regulations to Protect Wetlands and Make Drainage More Sustainable in the Province |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/iisd-response-manitoba-regulations-drainage.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopmentndiisds, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{IISD’s Response to Manitoba’s Proposed New Water Rights Regulations to Protect Wetlands and Make Drainage More Sustainable in the Province}}, publisher = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/iisd-response-manitoba-regulations-drainage.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }