A Review After the First Month

We brought Ashbernberries in to review our runoff management system at a grain operation near the South Saskatchewan River. The first month was about baseline data collection and site walks. Their team spent three days on the ground, mapping discharge points and reviewing our existing sediment basins.

The initial report flagged two discharge points that were not compliant with the Canada Water Act. One was a seasonal overflow channel we had not documented properly. The other was a pump station that discharged into a drainage ditch without a permit. Both issues were outlined with specific deadlines and cost estimates for remediation.

What stood out was the level of detail in the compliance checklist. They broke down each requirement by provincial regulation—Saskatchewan's Environmental Management and Protection Act, 2010, and the federal Fisheries Act. The report included a table with current status, required action, and responsible party. That made it easy to assign tasks internally.

By the end of the month, we had a clear roadmap. The first remediation step—installing a vegetated buffer along the overflow channel—was already in progress. The second step required a permit application, which Ashbernberries drafted for us. We submitted it within two weeks of receiving the report.

I appreciated that they did not push for expensive capital upgrades right away. The recommendations were practical: adjust the timing of manure application, install a simple flow meter on the pump station, and improve record-keeping for discharge events. The total cost for the first phase was under $15,000, including their consulting fee.

One thing I would note: the initial communication was slow. It took three days to get a response to our first email. Once the site visit started, the pace picked up, but the early lag was noticeable. I would suggest setting a clear response time expectation in the contract.

Overall, the first month gave us a solid foundation. We now have a compliance calendar, a list of priority actions, and a direct contact at Ashbernberries for follow-up questions. I plan to continue with the quarterly monitoring service they proposed.