The Seine/Rat River Conservation District is keenly watching the flood waters that have developed this fall because of unusually heavy rains. District Manager Jodi Goerzen says their flood mitigation work has helped, however the ground is now so saturated, there is nowhere else for the water to go but overland.

Goerzen urges people with wells, where the well head is at or below ground level, to have their water tested to make sure it is not contaminated.

She notes the Conservation District's work is based on long-term solutions, so landowners should take notes about where water is causing them problems this fall and then contact the district to discuss programs that can help them in the future.

"We actually have an alternative land use services program that's maybe a bit timely here. The point of that is if farmers and producers want to change the production from active cropland into a marsh/wetlands and buffer strip zone, or water retention area, we're actually able to pay landowners for adopting that change on their land. We're based on long-term solutions, so we always say; take a look where the water is flowing and where the water is pooling and we can work together on implementing some long-term solutions for that."

Goerzen adds she is not surprised by all the rain this fall.

"Not really. With the way the change in climate is moving, part of the trend is a wetter fall and less snow melt and less run-off during the spring. But your run-off is going to be changing (to the fall), so we're sort of here to plan that this is the expected norm. Maybe it's a little bit extreme for this year, hopefully it won't be like this every year, but yes, this is the trend from now on."