Seine Rat Roseau Watershed District receives funding for trail system

Seine Rat Roseau Watershed District received funding of $11,000 to repair and enhance the trail system at the Tourond Creek Discovery Centre as part of a $658,000 grant that went to 12 organizations.

“The whole property is 80 acres and we have about 10 kilometres of trails there and it’s very important because it’s used as an educational facility in the spring and fall time…and we also have a lot of the local community (who) use it as a walking path to go for a walk at night or during the day to get connected with nature,” said SRWD district manager Joey Pankiw.

The money from the province will be used by SRWD to repair damage to the trails by ATVs on the south end of the property. Work was completed a couple of weeks ago.

“The reason why ATVs and motorized vehicles are prohibited, not just the damage of the trails, but it’s a safety concern because we have a lot of people walking and we don’t want anyone to be hit. Another concern is during a very dry season, ATVs have been known to start fires when their exhaust spits out embers onto the grass and we don’t want a fire there,” said Pankiw, noting part of the money went to erecting signs on the property to keep motorized vehicles away.

Money for the grant was collected by an annual fee for registered off road vehicles collected by Manitoba Public Insurance during its annual registration.

The SRWD also received a grant from Trails Manitoba this year and were able to put a more permanent path at the discovery centre from the bus loop all the way around the pond.

“We put a gravel path in that makes a little bit more accessible for people with mobility issues or young families with strollers. We always look to make improvements there,” said Pankiw.

It costs the SRWD about $4,000 a year to maintain the trail system at the discovery centre.

Manitoba Winter Trail Day is Feb. 8.