Churchill River Water Trail Legacy Project Continues

The next phase of the Churchill River Water Trail Legacy Project is now under way. Following generous donations from volunteers, three more composting toilets have been purchased for sites along the Churchill River and construction planning has begun for next spring.
Pristine lakes in northern Saskatchewan are connected by countless falls, rapids, and ledges as the Churchill River courses through the rugged landscape on its 1,600-km journey to the Hudson Bay. Throw in huge areas of spectacular boreal wilderness with a rich and storied history, and it’s easy to see how the Churchill River system enthralls thousands of canoeists, kayakers, and anglers who return year after year. It is also home to multiple Indigenous communities whose people continue to use the land and waterways.
Since much of the river system is in the Canadian shield, with all this activity, one of the biggest challenges in backcountry sites is dealing with human waste. In 2019, the STA partnered with the Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport, Churchill River Outfitters, volunteers and the local community to launch the Churchill River Water Trail Legacy Project. This project aims to remedy the lack of toilet facilities which lead to human waste and remnants of toilet paper being scattered throughout the landscape causing long-term environmental consequences and negative visitor experiences.
After extensive research into this challenge, a realistic and cost-effective solution was found in using a Urine Diverting Vermicomposting Toilets (UDVT), manufactured by Toilet Tech Solutions (TTS). The technology separates the waste streams to allow for successful composting and has been proven to work through peer-reviewed academic research and in the field experiences. The system is innovative, leading-edge, and reliable.
These systems are expensive and the STA has been leading the project to make these toilets a reality in northern Saskatchewan. Our initial efforts have been to raise funds to install a UDVT on Barker Island. We raised the funds through donations, raffle tickets, and a special fundraiser call the Give a Sh*! Event. After enough funds were raised, volunteers installed the toilet in 2021.
Since that time, the project has continued and now we are planning to install three toilets in spring 2023. Funds are still required to cover shipping and handling, and building materials to house the structures. if you are interested in donating, visit: https://sasktrails.ca/getinvolved/#donate.
We believe that the Churchill River Water Legacy Project is an initiative that will facilitate stewardship and lead to a cleaner environment along with providing an enhanced visitor experience. This project is a wonderful opportunity to promote trail development in the north and showcase how important trails are in every community to both the natural environment, its inhabitants, and travelers.
Although human waste is rarely spoken of, the problem of dealing with it is a serious issue in the backcountry and in remote sites. Compounded by increased visitation, the problem can have lasting negative impacts on the environment and create very poor visiting experiences.