Action Alert: Winnipeg, Manitoba, August 5, 2010

Environmentalists Call on Premiers to Address the Health of Lake Winnipeg 

Toxic algae blooms have erupted once again this year on Lake Winnipeg. Horrifying pictures on several media websites have frightened away tourists, but for the area’s year round residents as much as for the region’s wildlife, there is nowhere to retreat.  Premiers gathering in Winnipeg for the meeting of the Council of the Federation, August 5-6, 2010, should take the opportunity to implement solutions for this fragile but globally significant eco-system.

14 organizations and six individuals from across Canada and have joined the call for action to protect Lake Winnipeg.  “Lake Winnipeg is sick, but it’s not just a Manitoba concern.  The Lake Winnipeg watershed stretches one million square kilometres across four provinces.  No one jurisdiction can tackle this problem alone. We need the Provinces to come together to save our lake,” said Josh Brandon, water caucus coordinator with the Manitoba Eco-Network. 

Scientists have found levels of algae have been increasing in both the North and South basins of Lake Winnipeg over the past ten years. Warm temperatures combined with high levels of nutrients in the water lead to rapid growth of algae choking off other life forms in Manitoba’s lakes and rivers.  Worse still, under some conditions, toxic cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) can form, harming wildlife and endangering both humans and their pets. Scientists and environmental groups have been warning about the problem for years, but the lake’s water quality continues to degenerate.

An action plan was created by the Lake Winnipeg Stewardship board in 2006. Since then, there have been improvements in some areas, but on several important items there has been little progress.    

Priority action items that should top the premiers’ agenda include:

• protection and restoration of wetlands;
• implementing strategies to reduce excess phosphorus and nitrogen fertilizer usage on cropland;
• addressing nutrient build-up in livestock facilities;
• better management of nutrients from municipal wastewater;
• securing funding from the federal government to see that all levels of government share these responsibilities.

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For information contact: Josh Brandon, water caucus coordinator, Manitoba Eco-Network, (204) 943-0318, josh@mbeconetwork.org

Groups joining the call for premiers to address Lake Winnipeg include:

Vicki Burns, Community Foundations of Canada
Cathy Holtslander, Beyond Factory Farming
Cheryl Kennedy Courcelles, Spirit of the Red River
Lindy Clubb, Mixedwood Forest Society
Mo Tipples, Save Our Lake (Grindstone Owners Cottage Association)
Shiela Muxlow, Sierra Club, Prairie Chapter
Chanda Hunnie, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Manitoba Chapter
(Rev.) Ted Chell,co-Chair, Regional Cambrian Agassiz Kairos Committee
Dr. Mary LeMaître, Chair, Development & Peace, Archdiocese of Winnipeg, and Water Watch
Mike Bray, Regina-Qu’Appelle Federal Green Party Association
Bruce Smith, Lake Winnipeg Foundation Inc.

Dave Crabb President,Manitoba Association of Cottage Owners Inc.(MACO)

Jack Thornburgh, The Eco-Cell at St. John's, North Saanich, BC  

Ian L. Robson, Coordinator,
Region 5, National Farmers Union

Debby Coombs, Protecting Prairie Waters Committee, Brandon, Manitoba

Individuals signing on include:

Heather Souter, Commercial Fisher
Fiona Muldrew, Cottager
Donna & Don Winstone
Gil & Marcella Pedersen