Project Summary: Constructed Drains

Background

Agricultural drainage is an important component of a viable and competitive agricultural industry in Ontario. "Constructed Drains" are watercourses in the form of ditches, natural watercourses that have been modified to improve drainage, or buried tile systems. Dykes and pumping stations may form a component of these constructed drains.

Objective

The objective of this project is to have OMAFRA create a spatial database of drains that can easily be updated and integrated with watercourse data from other agencies. Partner agencies, each with its own responsibility and interest in inland waters which include constructed drains, are the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Municipalities, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and Conservation Authorities.

Application

Enhanced drainage data allows users to make more knowledgeable observations and decisions about current drainage conditions, future drainage plans, and environmental conditions. When integrated with watercourse data describing fish habitat, flow direction, water quality and quantity, this project will assist future water management programs. The constructed drain data can also be used for the construction of Digital Elevation Models (DEM) and the delineation of watershed boundaries. (see Figure 1).

Figure 1. Portion of Kettle Creek watershed. 3rd order watersheds delineated from stream flow and digital elevation model.

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