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Lake Winnipeg conservation projects get $600-K boost

By: Staff Writer

Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013 at 8:01 AM | Comments: 1

THE health of Lake Winnipeg got a $600,000 boost Monday from the Selinger government.

Conservation and Water Stewardship Minister Gord Mackintosh said eight projects will split the money for reducing the amount of algae-producing nutrients entering the lake from Manitoba sources and beyond.

Mackintosh said the money and work by the recipients help dispel the belief of some that the lake is dying.

Recently, German-based environmental group Global Nature Fund said Lake Winnipeg was in the running for Threatened Lake of the Year 2013. The nomination was made by its affiliate, Living Lakes Canada. The Threatened Lake of the Year will be chosen Feb. 2 on World Wetland Day.

Mackintosh said the focus should be on what's being done to reduce the amount of phosphorus and other contaminants entering the lake's watershed. It's phosphorus that contributes to the growth of thick, green algae blooms during the summer months.

The groups who will get funding include Lake Friendly, which will receive more than $75,000 for its ongoing public awareness campaign telling Manitobans how they can reduce phosphorus entering the lake. The program is run by a partnership of nine municipalities along Lake Winnipeg's south basin.

Mackintosh also announced $100,000 for an ongoing grant to support the Red River Basin Commission and its efforts to improve cross-border nutrient management.

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Posted by:JOHN FEFCHAK

January 22, 2013 at 8:37 PM

Lake Winnipeg and many of our Manitoba water sources have been used as toilets
and dumping areas for far too long.
The province knows this, the bureaucrats know this, and the people of Manitoba know this also.
Doling out $$ to deal with the symptoms and not seriously taking the proverbial bull
by the horns, and dealing with the "causes" WILL NOT help our waters one bit.
The Lake has been studied to death; but studies without action, will not help in recovery of these waters.
One thing we all know for certain. Lake Winnipeg and our Manitoba waters are not polluting themselves.
Six years have past since the Lake Winnipeg Stewardship Board released their findings…has anything changed?
Yes , I believe the lake waters have not improved, in fact they have drastically worsened.

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