Regulation of Water Levels on Lake Manitoba and Along the Fairford River, Pineimuta Lake, Lake St

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Regulation of Water Levels on Lake Manitoba and Along the Fairford River, Pineimuta Lake, Lake St Regulation of Water Levels on Lake Manitoba and along the Fairford River, Pineimuta Lake, Lake St. Martin and Dauphin River and Related Issues A Report to the Manitoba Minister of Conservation Volume 2: Main Report July 2003 The Lake Manitoba Regulation Review Advisory Committee Cover Photo: Looking west along the Fairford River from the Fairford River Water Control Structure. Lake Manitoba Regulation Review Advisory Committee, Main Report, July 2003 Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 4 1.1 Background ...................................................................................................................... 4 1.2 Establishment of the Lake Manitoba Regulation Review Advisory Committee ............. 4 1.3 Terms of Reference .......................................................................................................... 5 1.4 Overview of Committee Activities .................................................................................. 5 2.0 Lake Manitoba Drainage Basin ........................................................................................... 8 2.1 General Description.......................................................................................................... 8 2.1.1 Lake Winnipegosis.................................................................................................. 10 2.1.2 Lake Manitoba ........................................................................................................ 10 2.1.3 Fairford River, Pineimuta Lake, Lake St. Martin and Dauphin River.................... 10 2.2 Lake Manitoba – The Study Area .................................................................................. 12 2.2.1 Population and Economic Base .............................................................................. 12 2.2.2 Landforms and Soils ............................................................................................... 16 2.2.3 Climate and Vegetation........................................................................................... 16 2.2.4 Agriculture .............................................................................................................. 17 2.2.5 Recreation and Cottaging........................................................................................ 19 2.2.6 Commercial Fisheries ............................................................................................. 21 2.2.7 Wildlife ................................................................................................................... 23 3.0 Public Meetings – Summary of Presentations and Issues................................................... 25 3.1 Introduction.................................................................................................................... 25 3.2 April 2, 2002 – St. Martin .............................................................................................. 25 3.3 April 4, 2002 – Lundar................................................................................................... 28 3.4 April 9, 2002 – Eddystone.............................................................................................. 30 3.5 April 15, 2002 – Amaranth............................................................................................ 31 3.6 April 17, 2002 – Portage la Prairie................................................................................. 32 4.0 Regulation of Lake Manitoba ............................................................................................ 35 4.1 Postglacial Water Level Change on Lake Manitoba...................................................... 35 4.1.1 The Record of Water Level Measurements on Lake Manitoba.............................. 37 4.2 A Summary of Previous Reports.................................................................................... 39 4.2.1 Lakes Winnipeg and Manitoba Board – 1958 ........................................................ 39 4.2.2 Manitoba Water Commission, 1973 ....................................................................... 41 4.2.3 Manitoba Water Commission, 1978 ....................................................................... 43 4.3 Lake Manitoba Regulation.............................................................................................. 45 4.3.1 Water Budget .......................................................................................................... 45 4.3.2 Lake Manitoba – Fairford River Water Control Structure (FRWCS) .................... 46 4.3.3 The Portage Diversion............................................................................................ 48 5.0 Water Quality.................................................................................................................... 51 5.1 Introduction.................................................................................................................... 51 5.2 Report: “An Overview of Water Quality in Lake Manitoba, Manitoba, Canada”......... 51 5.2.1 Lake Manitoba ........................................................................................................ 51 5.2.2 Tributaries ............................................................................................................... 54 5.2.3 Committee evaluation of the water quality report .................................................. 55 2 Lake Manitoba Regulation Review Advisory Committee, Main Report, July 2003 5.3 Bibliography .................................................................................................................. 58 5.3.1 Committee evaluation of the water quality bibliography ............................................ 58 6.0 Interests and Affected Parties............................................................................................ 60 6.1 Agriculture ..................................................................................................................... 60 6.1.1 Introduction............................................................................................................. 60 6.1.2 Public Meetings....................................................................................................... 60 6.1.3 Discussion............................................................................................................... 61 6.2 Cottage Owners and Tourist Operators.......................................................................... 61 6.2.1 Introduction............................................................................................................. 61 6.2.2 Public Meetings....................................................................................................... 61 6.2.3 The Shoreline Erosion Process – Dr. Jay Doering.................................................. 62 6.2.4 Discussion............................................................................................................... 63 6.3 Commercial Fisheries..................................................................................................... 65 6.3.1 Introduction............................................................................................................. 65 6.3.2 Public Meetings....................................................................................................... 67 6.3.3 Manitoba Conservation – Fisheries Branch............................................................ 67 6.3.4 Fairford River Water Control Structure Fish Ladder.............................................. 70 6.3.5 Lake St. Martin/Dauphin River............................................................................... 71 6.3.6 Delta Marsh and the Fishery................................................................................... 73 6.3.7 Discussion............................................................................................................... 73 6.4 Marshlands and Wildlife..................................................................................................... 74 6.4.1 Introduction............................................................................................................. 74 6.4.2 Public Meetings....................................................................................................... 75 6.4.3 Delta Marsh Field Station Presentation Summary – Dr. Gordon Goldsborough ... 76 6.4.4 Manitoba Conservation, Wildlife & Ecosystem Protection - Summary................. 77 6.4.5 Discussion............................................................................................................... 78 6.5 First Nations ................................................................................................................... 79 6.5.1 Introduction............................................................................................................. 79 6.5.2 Public meetings....................................................................................................... 79 6.5.3 Impact of Fluctuating Water Levels........................................................................ 80 6.5.4 Summary................................................................................................................. 82 7.0 Findings............................................................................................................................
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