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The 2022 Canadian Prairie Water Retention Monitoring and Modelling Workshop, hosted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), convened experts to discuss the optimization of water retention systems. Key outcomes include an agreement on the necessity for more comprehensive monitoring in the Canadian Prairies and the identification of spectral sensors as a tool for advancing monitoring and modelling. The workshop featured nine presentations, including a valuation of ecosystem services in Manitoba's Stephenfield Reservoir and Pelly's Lake, a pilot project for adaptive monitoring on the Winnipeg River using high-frequency sensors, and a demonstration of targeting 'hotspots' for environmental benefits in Manitoba's agricultural regions.

The report evaluates the financial value of nature-based infrastructure in Manitoba, Canada, specifically Pelly's Lake (a natural wetland) and Stephenfield Reservoir (a naturalized built reservoir). Using the SAVi methodology, it calculates the value of services such as irrigation, water storage, nutrient removal, and carbon sequestration. The analysis finds that both assets are significantly more cost-effective than equivalent grey infrastructure. For Stephenfield Reservoir, the cumulative discounted value of enabled economic activity is CAD 6.07 billion by 2050, while replacing its services with grey infrastructure would cost CAD 5.33 million in capital. For Pelly's Lake, ecosystem services are valued at approximately CAD 60 million, whereas equivalent grey infrastructure would cost CAD 36.99 million. The report argues that maintaining these natural assets optimizes value for money and supports climate adaptation against floods and droughts.

The SAVi assessment demonstrates that natural and nature-based infrastructure in Manitoba provide high economic value and cost-effective alternatives to built assets. For Stephenfield Reservoir, the cumulative discounted value of agriculture-related services is CAD 6.07 billion by 2050, while replacing it with grey infrastructure would require CAD 5.3 million in capital costs. Pelly's Lake provides cumulative discounted ecosystem services valued at approximately CAD 60 million between 2019 and 2050, primarily driven by nutrient removal and carbon sequestration.