The Value of Water Retention Beneficial Management Practices to Farmers and Landowners in the Seine Rat Roseau Watershed District

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) evaluates the costs and economic benefits of 10 water retention projects implemented between 2014 and 2020 in the Seine Rat Roseau Watershed District of Manitoba. The analysis finds that for livestock producers, the average benefit-cost ratio is 3.16, with benefits including improved water quality, extended grazing, and reduced operational costs. While most projects showed a positive return on investment, those on crop-only farms were more likely to have costs outweighing benefits due to high upfront construction expenses.

• Water retention projects in the Seine Rat Roseau Watershed District (SRRWD) generally provide a positive economic return, particularly for livestock farms. The average benefit-cost ratio (BCR) for livestock producers is 3.16, meaning every dollar invested yields CAD 3.16 in water quality and other co-benefits over 20 years.
• The primary motivation for producers to install water retention projects was to reduce downstream flooding, with 9 out of 10 projects citing this as a main driver. Other motivations included creating wildlife habitat, protecting against drought, and ensuring water for livestock.
• Upfront construction costs are the dominant expense for these projects, accounting for 53% to 100% of lifetime project costs. Total project costs per acre-foot of water storage averaged CAD 2,748.30, ranging from CAD 287.74 to CAD 12,837.70.
• Livestock producers experienced significant operational co-benefits, including extended grazing periods because vegetation in back-flooded areas stays green longer into the summer, and reduced costs and time associated with hauling water for cattle during droughts.
• Water quality improvements are a significant but often unmeasured benefit for farmers. Modelled data for the 10 projects indicates an average annual removal of 74.37 kg of total phosphorus (TP), 689.93 kg of total nitrogen (TN), and 12.46 tonnes of total suspended sediments (TSS). Total nitrogen reductions accounted for 72% to 89% of the water quality benefits across all sites.
• Projects on crop-only operations were more likely to be economically unsuccessful in the short term. Of the three projects where costs outweighed benefits, two were crop-only operations, with losses driven by high upfront costs and insufficient modelled water quality benefits to offset them.
• Financial assistance is critical for the adoption of these practices. The SRRWD, through the GROW program, funds 80% to 100% of the cost of water retention structures and provides annual compensation of CAD 15 to CAD 30 per acre for back-flooded land.

APA

Puzyreva, M., Zhao, J., Patel, B., Simoes, J., & Rawluk, A. (2022). The Value of Water Retention Beneficial Management Practices to Farmers and Landowners in the Seine Rat Roseau Watershed District. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2022-12/water-retention-practices-seine-rat-roseau-watershed-district.pdf

Chicago

Puzyreva, Marina, Jun Zhao, Bijal Patel, Joey Simoes, and Ashley Rawluk. The Value of Water Retention Beneficial Management Practices to Farmers and Landowners in the Seine Rat Roseau Watershed District. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2022. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2022-12/water-retention-practices-seine-rat-roseau-watershed-district.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Puzyreva |first1=Marina |last2=Zhao |first2=Jun |last3=Patel |first3=Bijal |last4=Simoes |first4=Joey |last5=Rawluk |first5=Ashley |title=The Value of Water Retention Beneficial Management Practices to Farmers and Landowners in the Seine Rat Roseau Watershed District |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=November 2022 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2022-12/water-retention-practices-seine-rat-roseau-watershed-district.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{puzyreva2022value, author = {Puzyreva, Marina and Zhao, Jun and Patel, Bijal and Simoes, Joey and Rawluk, Ashley}, title = {{The Value of Water Retention Beneficial Management Practices to Farmers and Landowners in the Seine Rat Roseau Watershed District}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2022}, month = nov, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2022-12/water-retention-practices-seine-rat-roseau-watershed-district.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }