By Jennifer Paige
A computer program capable of analyzing the effects of land use and simulating mitigation strategies of an entire river basin seems like a concept stolen from a futuristic movie.
However, a $1.1-million investment from the federal government has put the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA) on track for developing just that — a multi-faceted modelling platform to predict and monitor the hydrological sensitivity of the Assiniboine River Basin (ARB).
“We believe grasslands and forage crops are a critical part of the solution for future flood- and drought-ravaged areas of the ARB,” said Henry Nelson, MFGA vice-chair and project manager of the hydrology model project. “The hydrology model will showcase proactive solutions for many stakeholders across the ARB for flood and drought mitigation.”