New Ag-Water Innovations at Huronview

In 2026, the HSCIA and ABCA are leveraging the water retention areas and the 22 control gates and contour drainage to demonstrate sub-irrigation. Construction will be occurring starting June 22 and will be completed this summer.  With support from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, the partnership will learn more about water resources and the agriculturally driven local economy.

Results to date

Monitoring Water Quality Results

Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority staff monitor surface and sub-surface water for flow and quality.  We know that there is more water leaving the site after tile drainage and are trying different management practices to store and recycle this water over the dry part of the year.

Agricultural Results

Monitoring shows yield improvements with tile drainage.  Ongoing measurement of how effective best management practices (BMPs) are in terms of water quality and agricultural productivity, and yields are forthcoming.

Drainage Results

Watch for details on sub-irrigation and controlled drainage to be added shortly to the Huronview.net website on the Controlled Drainage Project web page: https://www.huronview.net/stewardship-innovation 

The web page answers questions such as: Why tile drainage? Why controlled drainage? Why contoured tile installation?

Agricultural Innovation

There are many leading-edge agricultural innovations at Huronview Demon Farm.

Innovations at Huronview Demon Farm include: contour tiling; control gates; pattern tiling at different spaces; wetlands; and diversion terraces.

Innovations happening at the farm include reduced tillage; nutrient management; planting of pollinator and grass strips; constructed wetlands; terraces; and other practices that help to manage water run- off land during storm events and slowing that water down.

These include Control Gates. There are 22 control gates installed.

Reduced tillage helps to maintain soil structure and improve infiltration.

Cover crops are used to break up compaction, fix nitrogen in soil, and reduce erosion.

Vegetation strips are buffers that direct water to outlets while reducing erosion.

Wetlands capture and store water run-off from fields and help to slow stormwater down and filter that water before enters creeks, rivers and Lake Huron.

Next Steps

We keep partners informed through The View, a newsletter about progress at Huronview Demonstration Farm.

Please subscribe to the newsletter: https://www.huronview.net/newsletters 

Questions?

If you have questions, please feel free to contact Healthy Watersheds staff at Ausable Bayfield Conservation (https://www.abca.ca/contact/staff/) at 519-235-2610 or toll-free 1-888-286-2610.