About SCWMC
Our mandate
The committee is empowered to investigate and report the environmental impact on the water, soil and air arising from the intensive hog operation facility situated in the Spirit Creek Watershed.
History
In 1999 Big Sky Farms proposed for the Rama area construction of a 5,000 sow farrow-to-finish hog operation projected to produce 116,000 market hogs per year. Production was proposed to take place at six locations with three to fall within the Spirit Creek Watershed drainage basin.
The proposal resulted in local public concern regarding the long-term health of the surface and ground water, which is a scarce commodity in the upper Assiniboine River Basin. Honorable Clay Serby, Minister of Agriculture and Food, appointed the members of the SCWMC on August 29, 2000, to oversee the monitoring of the new hog operations in the Spirit Creek watershed.
About the Committee
The committee is the first of its kind for intensive livestock monitoring in Canada.
Members were selected by Minister Serby, ensuring inclusion of local residents with a wealth of diverse backgrounds and expertise. Members represent municipal and community groups, rural residents, cottage owners and farmers.
Founding members of the committee were:
- Don Walters, Chairman, Yorkton, 2000 to 2008
- Don Olson, Secretary, Sturgis, 2000 to 2008
- Adam Kosar, Buchanan, 2000 to present
- Jack Prychak, Rama, 2000 to 2008
- Florian Possberg, Big Sky Farms Inc., 2000 to 2008
- Jim Davis, Canora Beach, 2000 to 2005
- Ray Riesz, Friends of Good Spirit Lake, 2000 to 2006
- Eugene Prychak, 2000 to 2005
Current members of the committee are:
- Eugene Wiwchar, Chairman
- Ken Kowalchuk, Vice-chairman
- Adam Kosar, member
The committee has the full cooperation and support of resource personnel from the public and private sector.
Role of the Committee
The committee is focused on remaining completely non-biased and without judgment as it attempts to better understand environmental issues related to hog operations. Its goal is to recommend acceptable solutions as they direct and communicate about the monitoring of intensive hog developments to ensure the sustainability of the environment in the Spirit Creek watershed.
To achieve this, the committee:
- Communicates with watershed residents and community groups;
- Publishes results of the monitoring in a newsletter mailed to residents and community groups in the watershed;
- Advises government of any public concerns and makes recommendations to government regulatory agencies based on the results of the monitoring process.
