Foundations in the Lake Winnipeg Watershed Initiative

WHAT IS AILING OUR RIVERS AND LAKES?

WATEROur Future Depends

On It

Blue Green Algae Lake WinnipegAugust 18, 2008

Lake Winnipeg Watershed

Lake Winnipeg WatershedPartners for the Saskatchewan River Basin Map

Eutrophication in Manitoba

Lakes

August 8, 2008

•

• Satellite

• Image

• Sept. 9

• 2009

Saskatchewan Watershed Health

RED DEER RIVER WATERSHED HEALTH

Fish with LesionBeaver River Alberta

Fish from Beaver River

Lake Winnipeg Water Sources

• Winnipeg River (northwestern Ontario) 39.6% • Saskatchewan River (southern Alberta and

Saskatchewan) 22.1%

• Red River (Manitoba, North Dakota and northern Minnesota) 8.2%

• Rain and snowfall 12.1%• Smaller rivers, Fisher, Manigotogan, Poplar,

Dauphin, etc. 9.6%

• Streams 8.4 %

Phosphorus and Nitrogen Sources

• Red River 54% P 30%N

• Assiniboine River 8% P 4%N

• Saskatchewan River 4% P 8% N

• Winnipeg River 11% P 18% N

Lake Winnipeg Water Sources

• Winnipeg River (northwestern Ontario) 39.6% • Saskatchewan River (southern Alberta and

Saskatchewan) 22.1%

• Red River (Manitoba, North Dakota and northern Minnesota) 8.2%

• Rain and snowfall 12.1%• Smaller rivers, Fisher, Manigotogan, Poplar,

Dauphin, etc. 9.6%

• Streams 8.4 %

Water Quality and Quantity Issues Across the PrairiesContributing Factors • Climate Change

• Urban Development

1974 – 2.5 million people

2007 – 6.6 million people

• Agricultural Development

1971 – 7.4 million cattle 4 million pigs

2006 – 11.5 million cattle 14.3 million pigs

• Loss of Wetlands

70%loss of wetlands across some of the Prairies

• Industrial Development

Forestry, Mining, Tar Sands

69% of wetland basins have been lost or degraded

2005200519681968

Blue Green AlgaeLake WinnipegAugust 18, 2008

Blue Green AlgaeLake Winnipeg

Water Quality and Quantity Issues Across the Prairies

Resulting Problems

• Blue-Green Algae Blooms (cyanobacteria)

• Boil Water Advisories

• Water Quantity Problems, Scarcity, Droughts and Floods

Canadian Water Attitudes 2009

• 53% of Canadians rank freshwater as our most important natural resource

• 80% of Canadians think water shortage will become a problem if conservation practices not prioritized

• Gap between attitudes and knowledge

• Majority of Canadians think they are using only 66 litres of water per day – in reality average use is 329 litres

• On average Canadians using more than twice as much water per day as average European

WHAT CAN WE DO TO RESTORE HEALTH TO OUR WATERSHEDS?

• Decrease Nutrients ( Phosphorus and Nitrogen) and Pollutants Getting Into the Water

• Practise Water Conservation (Dual Flush Toilets, Low Flow Showerheads, Rain Barrel Use, Xeriscaping)

• Careful & Informed Land Use Planning

What You Can Do to Help Protect Water

1. Reduce your use of phosphorus by making sure that your dishwasher detergent and any other household cleaners contain no phosphorus.

2. Create an environmentally friendly lawn and garden. Do not use lawn fertilizers that contain phosphorus. (xeriscaping, rain gardens, rain barrels)

3. Restore your shoreline to a more natural state.

(willows, bullrushes)

4. Ensure that your septic system is in good shape, with no leaks.

What You Can Do to Help Protect Water

5. Do not flush anything down the toilet that shouldn’t traditionally go down the toilet. (eg. old prescription drugs, paints)

6. Practice water conservation. Install dual flush toilets and low flow showerheads.

7. Preserve or reconstruct wetlands.

8. Spread the word! Tell your family and friends about these ideas to encourage more people to become responsible stewards of our precious water and lakes.

9. Let your elected officials from municipal to provincial to federal know that you care about the state of lakes and rivers and that you expect them to demonstrate political will to take action where it is required.

Grey-water Recycling System

COMMUNITY PROJECT EXAMPLESEcole St. Avila Ground Greening ProjectEnvironmental Drainage

COMMUNITY PROJECT EXAMPLES

Village of DunnottarWastewater Treatment Pilot Passive Filtration Project

Solar Powered Irrigation System

COMMUNITY PROJECT EXAMPLES

Sunshine Coast Regional District Bathroom Fixture Program

Two Dual Flush Toilets Installed at No Cost to Homeowners

Next Step

Start with one action you can take to protect water.

Contact Vicki Burns to arrange for a presentation in your community.

Ph: 204-489-3852

Email: vickiburns@mts.net

Together We Can Make a Difference!

Please join our Foundations in the Lake Winnipeg Watershed Initiative.

Together we can help to eliminate the YUK ( blue green algae) and secure clean and safe water for the future!

Foundations Supporting Lake Winnipeg Watershed Work

Funders of the Foundations in the Lake Winnipeg Watershed Initiative• J.W. McConnell Family Foundation through Community Foundations of Canada• The Winnipeg Foundation• The Edmonton Community Foundation• Thomas Sill Foundation• Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation

Foundations Supporting CHOKING LAKE WINNIPEG being developed by Dr.James Byrne • The Calgary Foundation• The Edmonton Community Foundation• The Winnipeg Foundation• Red Deer & District Community Foundation• Community Foundation of Medicine Hat and Southeastern Alberta• Battle River Community Foundation• The Banff Community Foundation

Foundations Supporting the Lake Winnipeg Research Consortium• The Thomas Sill Foundation• The Brandon Area Foundation• The Community Foundation of Portage and District• The Winnipeg Foundation• The Lake Winnipeg Foundation• The Dauphin and District Community Foundation• The Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation• The Morden Area Foundation• The Selkirk and District Community Foundation• The Westshore Community Foundation

Thank You!