A group in the Municipality of Bifrost-Riverton's receiving substantial support from two levels of government. This morning it was announced the federal and provincial governments were investing a total of $1 million in the Bifrost Agricultural Sustainability Community Service Cooperative, to focus on research and work surrounding water management. One major focus drainage, including the rehabilitation of more than 330 kilometres of drainage in the municipality.

While drainage will be a large part of their focus, Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler says they'll also be looking at other aspects of water management. He notes mitigating soil erosion, as well as introducing economically viable crops that can assist with water management are just some of those ideas.

"When you manage water, you need to do everything you can. We'll have field research for alternative crops in that region, that's really what it boils down to. The better job we can do, the better job we can do managing water as well."

While some aim to remove water as quickly as possible, Eichler says they need to find ways to tackle the issue without causing major issues down the road. He says they're hoping to identify best practices, to help improve drainage throughout the region for many years to come.

"The real question is how we keep water back long enough to let it go, and also to be able to move it out without causing someone else damage as well. I did meet with the Red River basin group, and the Assiniboine River Group as well. This is all about managing water, and you need to do it in a way to keep is sustainable."

While the cooperative's receiving a $1 million from the federal and provincial government, they're also funded through a special tax levy implemented by the Municipality of Bifrost Riverton. The million dollar investment's expected to fund the water management work over the next three years.