Healthy farms, healthy lakes
Government, industry and ENGOs come to the table to save Lake Winnipeg: (l to r) Gord Macintosh, Manitoba's minister of conservation and water stewardship, Doug Chorney, president of Keystone Agricultural Producers, and Alexis Kanu, executive director of the Lake Winnipeg Foundation
June 11, 2014 – The Lake Winnipeg Foundation is encouraged by today’s provincial announcement of a new surface water management strategy for Manitoba and proposed changes to drainage regulations to protect threatened seasonal wetlands.
In particular, LWF is pleased by the government’s commitment to the principle of no-net-loss of wetland benefits, whereby any future drainage of these areas will require compensatory action to replace their functions. Wetlands provide incredible ecological, social and economic benefits throughout the province. By filtering nutrients like phosphorus from the water that ends up in our lakes, they help control the growth of harmful algae blooms. They also reduce flood and drought risks, and store carbon to mitigate the effects of climate change.
“Healthy farms and healthy lakes go hand in hand,” says Alexis Kanu, LWF’s executive director. “When it comes to restoring and protecting the health of Lake Winnipeg, we’re in this together. No matter where we live in the watershed, we all have a role to play. Today’s announcement shows a commitment by government and by Manitoba’s agricultural community to do right by our lake.”
The province is seeking public comment on the proposed surface water management strategy and drainage regulations until Dec. 31, 2014. LWF encourages lake-lovers across Manitoba to take part in this process by letting decision-makers know that the future health of our precious lake requires collaborative investment and meaningful action for the protection of wetlands.
You can read the government’s press release here. To comment on the proposed strategy and drainage regulations, visit the provincial department of conservation and water stewardship, here.
For more information or to schedule interviews, contact:
Marlo Campbell, communications director, at: communications@lakewinnipegfoundation.org; 204-956-0436
