data for decison-making
The data collected by the Lake Winnipeg Community-Based Monitoring Network (LWCBMN) is both trusted and valuable. It is used to guide decisions made by land managers, academic researchers, government scientists, and policymakers.
LWCBMN data answers community questions and supports local decision-making. Our sampling methods were developed in response to concerns about harmful algae blooms, which are caused by excess phosphorus loading to Lake Winnipeg. The network was carefully designed to provide the evidence needed to identify localized phosphorus hotspots where targeted action is required to reduce phosphorus loading to Lake Winnipeg.
LWCBMN data is needed to address provincial and federal water priorities. Our community-based monitoring network fills a critical data gap by collecting frequent and responsive water samples from multiple sites, a task that would be cost-prohibitive for a single organization. LWCBMN phosphorus data is compatible with data generated by the federal and provincial monitoring programs, strengthening the evidence base for policymaking and funding decisions.
LWCBMN data is publicly available and widely shared. Every year, LWCBMN water samples are analyzed and mapped to identify phosphorus hotspots, localized areas contributing more phosphorus to waterways than other areas. Our raw data is shared with researchers and other monitoring groups through Lake Winnipeg DataStream. Our hotspot maps are available to policymakers and the public through Phosphorus Explorer, an interactive hotspot-mapping platform.
Realizing the Full Potential of Community-Based Monitoring
Submitted to the federal government, our policy brief identifies how the federal Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative (FEI) regional water programs, including the Lake Winnipeg FEI, are perfectly positioned to link community concerns and federal policy priorities. We highlight how phosphorus data generated by the Lake Winnipeg Community-Based Monitoring Network (LWCBMN) can support regional decision-making and funding allocation, and urge any renewed federal program to explicitly recognize the value of LWCBMN data in order to effectively complete the data-to-impact cycle.
data in action
stopping phosphorus at the source
Dr. Kumaragamage and her team use LWCBMN hotspot maps to select research sites for a study about the effects of flooding on phosphorus runoff. Over the next two years, in hotspots throughout the Red River Valley, this study will measure the phosphorus that runs off agricultural fields during the snowmelt, to understand which management practices and soil types are associated with higher phosphorus runoff. Dr. Kumaragamage’s team will also test different soil amendments, like gypsum and Epsom salts, to see if they improve phosphorus retention.
funding where it matters most
The federal government invests in phosphorus-reduction projects through the Lake Winnipeg Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative – a funding program that has been in place since 2008. While funding has previously been distributed across Lake Winnipeg’s vast watershed, in 2025 the program began prioritizing projects located in phosphorus hotspots identified by LWCBMN.
Community-generated data is helping us all get a bigger bang for our buck, ensuring that public funds to protect Lake Winnipeg are being directed where they are needed most.
monitoring in action
The Seine Rat Roseau Watershed District (SRRWD) promotes sustainable land and water management in the Seine, Rat, and Roseau River watersheds. SRRWD has been a valued partner of the Lake Winnipeg Community-Based Monitoring Network (LWCBMN) since the program began in 2016.
With ten years of LWCBMN data now available, SRRWD staff are using these insights to guide watershed planning. The data have identified several persistent phosphorus hotspots, including the Manning Canal watershed. As water quality remains SRRWD’s top priority, the district will prioritize phosphorus reduction projects in these areas whenever possible.
from data to impact
The Lake Winnipeg Foundation is honoured to receive the 2025 Policy Award from Water Canada, in recognition of our leadership in driving meaningful change to strengthen water-quality policy.
This award acknowledges the important contributions of the Lake Winnipeg Community-Based Monitoring Network in increasing publicly available water data, fostering collaboration with government, and advancing evidence-based water policy.
“This award is dedicated to all LWF members who have called on their elected officials for change,” said Programs Director Chelsea Lobson. “Coming up with evidence-based policy recommendations is only one part of the advocacy process – our members’ commitment to holding government accountable is what transforms our ideas into meaningful change”.
