Collaborative water-quality research to clean up lake to 1970s levels

Winnipeg, MB – Manitoba Water Stewardship Minister Steve Ashton has announced $150,000 for water quality research on Lake Winnipeg in collaboration with partners in the Lake Winnipeg Research Consortium.

The funds will support multi-disciplinary studies on the lake conducted off the ship Namao as well as other work necessary to restore the health of Lake Winnipeg, the world’s 10th largest freshwater lake. A share of the funds will be available for the purchase of space on the Namao for Manitoba Water Stewardship staff this summer.

One of the recommendations in the Lake Winnipeg Stewardship Board’s recent interim report recognized that “ongoing research and monitoring will be required on Lake Winnipeg.” The funding will assist in gathering essential information to better understand Lake Winnipeg’s complex ecosystem and to monitor its progress towards recovery.

Other initiatives to be supported by the funding include continuing research on E coli at Lake Winnipeg beaches, efforts to halt the Devils Lake outlet project until it can be independently reviewed by the International Joint Commission, a joint effort with Canada to form a federal/provincial Lake Winnipeg committee and the development of an improved water management and regulatory framework through the Water Protection Act.