The 77-page policy paper and literature review, The Manitoba Challenge: Linking Water and Land Management for Climate Adaptation states southern Manitoba can expect more spring flooding and summer dry spells as spring runoff occurs earlier in the year.

Floods and droughts compound deterioration of Lake Winnipeg by increasing flow of nutrients into the over-fertilized body of water, the report states.

The largely illegal practice of cutting new drains into agricultural land is making the new wet-spring/dry summer precipitation pattern even worse, according to the report. Early spring drainage reduces groundwater levels in southern Manitoba, rendering vast areas of farmland unprepared to deal with droughts.

Hank Venema, IISD researcher, said the Manitoba government must offer more incentives to farmers to protect existing wetlands and restore old marshes. The province must move quickly to modernize its water-conservation policy and redirect existing funds to conservation programs, he adds.