The City of Moose Jaw is trying to turn to Mother Nature to try and address the long standing issue of flooding at the Rosedale Cemetery.  In recent years, the high water table has lead delayed burials and monument installations, crews have been unable to tend to graves and roads have been ruined.

A few years ago when they realized the cost involved in some of the options and just how intrusive the process would be, they looked at some alternative solutions and trees with a high water demand came to the table.  In 2017, they planted 170 trees and will use nine different species in the attempt to control water.  The variety of trees will prevent any wide spread damage from a potential disease moving into the area.

Parks and Recreation Director Ted Schaeffer says last year's dry summer helped with some of their efforts but the issues will come back.

"The preferential way to do anything is to use a natural method and having trees that naturally have a requirement for water for their survival is a strategy that we're trying and just seeing what the impact will be."

The trees are an inexpensive solution and make the area look nicer but Schaeffer says they won't know the true impact for a few years so it's a little early to say if it's a success.