Pelican Lake protection program Balancing environmental protection with local business concerns
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
We need your support!
Local journalism needs your support!
As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed.
Now, more than ever, we need your support.
Starting at $15.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website.
Subscribe Nowor call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527.
Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community!
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Brandon Sun access to your Winnipeg Free Press subscription for only
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
*$1 will be added to your next bill. After your 4 weeks access is complete your rate will increase by $4.99 a X percent off the regular rate.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
The Rural Municipality of Prairie Lakes says its new aquatic invasive species (AIS) protection program at Pelican Lake is working, even as some local residents and businesses remain worried about the economic cost.
Reeve Darren Seymour confirmed recent testing has shown no evidence of zebra mussels in the lake, a hopeful sign for the controversial new boating bylaw that restricts watercraft to Pelican Lake unless inspected or decontaminated.
“We’ve turned away a number of boats to go get decontaminated because of the possibility of AIS on them, or because they came from control zones and had not been decontaminated,” Seymour said. “That hopefully alleviated the possibility of invasive species being brought to the lake.”
The Rural Municipality of Prairie Lakes’ new boating regulations are helping keep Pelican Lake free of invasive zebra mussels, but the rules and fees have sparked concerns among Ninette residents and businesses are already struggling with tourism declines and the temporary closure of the local Tempo gas station. (Photo by Steven Sukkau, LJI Reporter)
While environmental groups have applauded the move, some in Ninette and the surrounding area say the rules, along with fees and blocked access points, have added pressure on an already fragile local economy. The temporary closure of Ninette’s Tempo gas station earlier this summer sharpened those concerns, sparking a grassroots campaign to support small businesses.
Some visitors have also voiced frustration, with one longtime lake-goer saying they are boycotting the area altogether because of the new inspection fees.
Despite the frustrations, Seymour pointed to strong participation in the decal program: about 600 for motorboats and 500 for non-motorized craft such as kayaks and paddle boards. Provincial funding has also been announced to help offset program costs, and the RM plans to review the program’s finances and community feedback at the end of the season.
“We’ll be 100 per cent transparent with the money spent and taken in, as well as the government funding,” Seymour said. “Then we’ll sit down and make adjustments if we see fit.”
Looking ahead, the RM is considering additional inspection sites, or even a local decontamination station, in partnership with the province. Seymour stressed that the program is about protecting more than just Pelican Lake, since its waters flow into Rock Lake, Swan Lake and other downstream lakes.
“Our program is protecting numerous lakes in the area,” he said.
“We’re more than willing to share what we’ve learned with other communities who are looking at starting programs themselves.”
For now, the community finds itself in a delicate balancing act preserving the health of Pelican Lake for future generations, while keeping Ninette’s businesses afloat today.
» Winnipeg Sun