The Manitoba Watershed District Program is a provincial-municipal partnership directed to the conservation and management of water and soil resources. There are 14 watershed districts including more than 130 municipalities covering almost all of the agricultural areas of Manitoba, Canada. The Province provides substantial funding and general guidance but the programs are developed and administered locally. The districts spend more than $8 million each year on a wide variety of conservation programs. Whitemud Watershed District The Whitemud Watershed District created in 1972 was the first district formed in Manitoba. The district covers about in south central Manitoba. It includes all or portions of 15 rural municipalities and three towns. It includes all the area that drains into the Whitemud River. The district's goal is to promote soil and water stewardship and to facilitate agricultural land drainage on a watershed basis. The District is responsible for over of drainage infrastructure and 1,200 crossings. Major activities include maintenance and replacement of infrastructure, as well as proactive soil and water conservation projects such as forage assistance, shelterbelts, grassed runways, water retention, shale traps, habitat preservation, conservation corridors, stream bank stabilization and riparian management. West Lake Watershed District The West Lake Watershed District was born in 1978 as the Alonsa Conservation District, in 2020 it expanded and the name was changed. It is on the west shore of Lake Manitoba. The beef cattle industry dominates the local economy as well as commercial fishing in the winter months. The District has been involved in soil and water management. Some of the major projects include channel construction, improvements and maintenance, water level and flood control, land drainage, forage seed assistance, waterfowl nesting grounds, waterfowl enhancement and school conservation education programs. Northeast Red Watershed District The Northeast Red Watershed District was started in 1979 as the Cooks Creek Conservation District in 2020 the name and boundaries were changed to watershed boundaries. The municipalities include Springfield, Tache, Ste. Anne, Brokenhead and Reynolds. Water management is the most important issue in the District. The District places emphasis on the maintenance and upgrading of agricultural drainage channels. Other initiatives include sealing abandoned wells, crossing replacements and repairs and public education. Pembina Watershed District The Pembina Waterhhed District was formed in 1989 as the Pembina Valley Conservation District. The name and boundaries were changed in 2020. The District includes portions of the Turtle Mountain, Pembina Valley, Tiger Hills, Red River Valley