ALUS SAW-WUQWATR is an exciting collaboration between the Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds (SAW) and ALUS. SAW is a non-profit organization partnering with ALUS to work towards their organizational mandate of protecting and conserving Saskatchewan’s natural water resources, improving species diversity and habitats, and creating a resilient landscape through programming and education.

The geographic scope of the ALUS SAW-WUQWATR program includes four watershed areas: the Lanigan-Manitou sub-watershed, the Last Mountain Lake sub-watershed, the Qu’Appelle sub-watershed and the Wascana sub-watershed. In addition, the program is home to the original ALUS Saskatchewan pilot area offered in the rural municipalities of Francis (RM#127), Lajord (RM#128), Indian Head (RM#156) and South Qu’Appelle (RM#157) since being launched in 2013. In 2024 SAW adopted the WUQWATR program with the goal of bringing the ALUS model to farming and ranching communities across Saskatchewan in the coming years.

ALUS SAW-WUQWATR supports a variety of nature-based projects in the community, including perennial forage establishment, exclusion fencing, alternative watering systems, enhanced wetlands and riparian areas, as well as shelterbelts and tree planting. Farmers and ranchers are stewards of the land and are making decisions to benefit the environment, their communities and future generations. With the help of ALUS and SAW, these farmers and ranchers will be able to develop more projects that generate ecosystem services and build economic and environmental resilience, while showcase their production practices to others within the community.

Get in touch with ALUS SAW-WUQWATR’s program coordinator to find out more.