Saskatoon river valley at risk, warns stewardship group

The Meewasin Valley Authority, charged with keeping the South Saskatchewan River healthy, says recent budget cuts threaten its ability to protect the valley.

We are in some trouble.- Lloyd Isaak 

The Saskatchewan Party's recent budget cut $409,000 from the Meewasin Valley Authority, roughly half of the provincial government's annual contribution of $909,000.

"It creates uncertainty," the MVA's Lloyd Isaak said in an interview with CBC Radio's Saskatoon Morning. "Our financial reality is diminishing our capacity to the point where we are in some trouble."

To achieve a balanced budget, the MVA has been forced to make cutbacks in a number of areas.

• Meewasin Valley Authority closing river access sites, reducing staff after budget cuts

"What we've tried to do with this budget is to, I think, allow some time for our participating partners to come up with a sustainable funding model," said Isaak.

Will the valley be protected for future generations?

The question now, he said is to look to the future to figure out how keep the MVA whole, so that it can live up to its mandate to ensure a healthy river valley with a good balance between human use and conservation of the ecosystem.  

"Our financial reality is diminishing our capacity to the point where we are in some trouble."

One of the concerns that Isaak has are changes to the Meewasin Valley Authority Act. No longer will it be mandatory for the provincial government and the University of Saskatchewan to fund the group.

Isaak said that to be able to protect the river valley for future generations to enjoy, the MVA will have to find new sources of revenue.