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This briefing describes the use of open spatial data to identify environmental 'hotspots' in Manitoba to optimize the allocation of limited resources for water quality, sustainable agriculture, and carbon sequestration.

The report outlines a framework for an Agricultural Water Security Market (AWSM) in southwestern Manitoba, designed to mitigate the impact of the expanding oil and gas sector on regional water security. The proposed market would enable companies to achieve 'water neutrality' by purchasing offsets that fund the creation of water retention sites, which in turn support groundwater recharge and provide co-benefits like flood mitigation and nutrient retention. The document analyzes 11 national and international water trading models to inform the AWSM's design, which is intended to start as a voluntary system based on corporate social responsibility before potentially transitioning to a regulated market. It estimates a potential water storage supply of 6,287 cubic decametres against an annual oil and gas demand of 400 to 600 cubic decametres. The report identifies key potential actors, including the Oil Producing Municipalities of Manitoba and Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship, and examines the provincial and federal legislative frameworks that could support the market's operation.

The report proposes an Agricultural Water Security Market (AWSM) for southwestern Manitoba to mitigate potential water shortages caused by climate change and industrial demand. Under this model, the oil and gas sector would purchase water quantity offsets by funding the creation of water retention sites, which enhance regional water security through groundwater recharge and increased surface water access.