Environment committee  We try to use data that's open source wherever possible. Then we'll clean it and reissue it as cleaned open source data. With Canada1Water, for example, we spent the better part of three years, in a team of probably five people, cleaning national-scale data. It will be reissued as open source, readily accessible, clean data for hydrologic modelling.

Environment committee  That's a good point. That's actually the next generation of hydrologic prediction. Not only do models and prediction tools ingest raw data from real-time sensors that are run by the respective groups; they also use that data to make decisions and issue alarms in real time. South Nation watershed, almost where we are, is an example.

Environment committee  I'll make a quick comment and then I'll pass it on to Duncan. At this point, I don't think it's targeted for individual producer subscriptions. It's more if you're a watershed district then you could use this tool and then have your producers access the tool through the watershed district's account.

Environment committee  That's exactly where they're going. One of the strengths of that development we did collaboratively with MFGA was that it was a model designed with the producers in mind. They actually had a seat at the table. When we designed the model, we designed the interface. How are they going to use it?

Environment committee  Absolutely. Don't try to duplicate them.

Environment committee  That's a good question. Critically, groundwater has to be considered. I haven't seen a lot of groundwater language within the mandate of the Canadian water agency. That may be a limiting factor. I would recommend that groundwater takes a role in the front seat of that conversation.

Environment committee  The national water model is a federal initiative in the U.S., but to a certain extent it's actually a private-public partnership. A lot of the technology is being executed by entities in the private sector. Lynker technologies, for instance, has a large role to play within the U.S. national water model.

Environment committee  When we model the hydrologic system, we start in the groundwater system and work our way up. Our approach is to look at groundwater and surface water in a holistic manner, fully coupled. Across Canada, groundwater makes up anywhere from 30% to 100% of the water that you see in rivers.

Environment committee  Good afternoon, Mr. Chair and other members of the committee. Thank you for the privilege of participating here today. Land management in our agricultural regions governs hydrologic response to extreme weather and will play a critical role in ensuring Canadian agriculture and ecosystem sustainability under a changing climate.