Fall 2010 THE WATERSHED OBSERVER Lake Winnipeg Foundation's 2010 Walk for Water Inside this issue: A very appreciative THANK YOU goes out to during, and after the event are varied. President’s Report 2 all those who participated in the fourth an- …thank you for preparing letters, ap- Red Zone II Forum 3 Current Achievements 4 nual Walk for Water events at Grindstone proaching sponsors, donating door Future Goals 5 Provincial Park, Matlock and Victoria Beach. prizes, putting up posters and roadside Walkathon coverage (cont’d) 6 Thank you to the 110 plus participants, who signs, carrying tables and equipment, Walkathon coverage (cont’d) 7 walked, ran, swam, biked, baked, played marshalling the event, registering the Photo Contest 2010 8 tennis, collected dona- participants, We are thrilled to announce a grand Walkathon Other Walkathon Activities 10 tions and pledges to deciphering total of $42,727.30 was raised over the summer MacRae Family Activities 11 support the projects the pledge thanks to the combined efforts of many committed Manitoba Hydro Kit 11 of the Lake Winnipeg forms, man- individuals and businesses. Reading Material Guide 12 Foundation. ning tables, The Garburator 13 feeding the Thank you to more than 30 volunteers who hordes, and handwriting hundreds of Membership Application 14 donated their time and energy to make the envelopes and tax receipts. One per- More Walkathon photos 14 event so enjoyable and successful. You are son in particular needs mention, and Storm Aftermath photos 15 too numerous to list, but your hard work that is John Heppenstall, who went and dedication behind the scenes and on above and beyond to ensure our 2010 the front lines were greatly appreciated. The numerous tasks in preparation for, (Continued on page 6) Page 2 The Watershed Observer President’s Report Thank you volunteers! It has often been stated On November in this column how important the role that our 5th I, along volunteers play is to the ongoing progress and with our VP success of our organization. It is especially obvi- Karin Boyd ous after a busy summer and fall just how de- and Secretary pendent we are on our volunteers. Catherine Thanks to Salki, at- tended a Lake all those that worked on and sang on our Winnipeg Ba- Winnipeg Beach Parade float – sorry we all sin Sympo- got so wet in the downpour but we did win sium hosted the award for Best Overall Float. by Selkirk- all those that worked on putting together our Interlake sponsorship of two films at the Gimli Film Member of Festival. Parliament, James Bezan. all those that worked on the Walkathon and It was encour- its spinoff activities. aging to see the projects that are underway un- all those that made presentations to various der the Lake Winnipeg community groups and elected officials. Basin Initiative (LWBI). All of the projects that were highlighted will in some way lead to those that are working on ongoing and nutrient loading reduction. upcoming projects like our Red Zone II Forum, and many other public presentations Although it was not on the original program, the and activities. flooding situation caused by the extreme weather was discussed at some length. Many Remember, everyone in this organization is a valid points were raised but there certainly was volunteer – including the members of the Board no consensus on the best methods to protect of Directors. We can always use more help. If against further damage from the lake. you would like to get more involved in the Lake Winnipeg Foundation, send me an email at: The Lake Winnipeg Foundation is preparing a [email protected]. proposal for submission to the LWBI program for a survey of the marshes around the South The lake has gotten more widespread attention Basin. than usual in recent months. The extensive and long-lasting algae blooms in mid-summer made Our Red Zone II Public Forum is coming up on far more people aware of the extent of the November 30 and is being held in conjunction excess nutrient problem. The wild weather of with The Winnipeg Foundation and the late October with its extensive shoreline dam- International Institute for Sustainable age and flooding has given us all a renewed re- Development. Look for details elsewhere in this spect for the power of high water driven by issue. I hope to see you there! extraordinary winds. Bruce Smith President Fall 2010 Page 3 RED ZONE II PUBLIC FORUM TO BE HELD AT IMAX THEATRE In conjunction with the Lake Winnipeg Basin Summit being organized by the Water Innovation Centre, of the International Institute for Sustainable Development, The Lake Winnipeg Foundation Inc. will host Red Zone II at IMAX Theatre Portage Place, Winnipeg Tuesday, November 30, 2010 Program at 7 PM Admission is free The evening will begin with the film premiere of “Choking Lake Winnipeg” by Jim Byrne jointly presented by Winnipeg Foundation and Lake Winnipeg Foundation Inc. FORUM will begin following the film. Forum Moderator: The Hon. Gary Filmon Forum panelists include: Dr. Gordon Goldsborough Dr. Ray Hesslein Dr. Bob Sandford Dr. Tom Simpson Dr. Hank Venema Red Zone II and the Lake Winnipeg Basin Summit will discuss a range of watershed issues and management options for consideration in any plan to improve Lake Winnipeg water quality. Page 4 The Watershed Observer Current Achievements and Future Goals of the Lake Winnipeg Foundation The Lake Winnipeg Foundation recently passed the Provided funding for elementary and high school five-year mark since its inception. We put together student environmental field trips to LWRC research this list of our major achievements for the first five ship, Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre, and years and our goals for the next five years. Progress is Fort Whyte Nature Centre underway on several of the future goals listed below. Provided speakers and presentations to various 1. LWF Achievements 2005 to 2010 community groups Organized and co-hosted with the University of Lake Winnipeg and Watershed Research Winnipeg Red Zone, a free public forum to highlight Provided funding to two provincial Conservation issues affecting the lake and its watershed Districts for benthic invertebrate studies Organizing and hosting Red Zone II, a free public Provided funding for the Village of Dunnottar forum in November 2010, in collaboration with IISD sewage lagoon passive filtration system Lake Winnipeg Basin 2010 Summit. development Provided funding to Canadian Water Innovation Lab Provided funding for an aerial reconnaissance of 2010 to develop new leaders with creative solutions Lake Winnipeg South Basin to establish current state to our complex water resource management prob- of shorelines and adjacent wetlands/marshes lems Provided funding for analyses of Lake Winnipeg Funding Partnerships North Basin core to assess historical ecosystem In conjunction with nine other Foundations, change provided funding for Lake Winnipeg Research Funding for Edie Creek Retention Basin Project for Consortium research vessel operation flood peak attenuation In conjunction with Thomas Sill Foundation, provided Education and Public Awareness funding for a Peak Phosphorus study by Diane Provided classroom instruction and demonstrations Malley, PhD on Lake Winnipeg issues to Grades 4 - 6 students In conjunction with other private agencies and gov- ernment, provided funding in support of Ecole St. Avila bioretention rain garden project Advocacy Consulted with communities and conservation groups requesting input on various issues Met with government to raise issues on behalf of the Lake and watershed Provided letters of support or comments on various issues such as the nutrient position taken by the City of Winnipeg and wetland policy development Photo by Judy Wilson (Continued on page 5) Fall 2010 Page 5 2. LWF Goals 2010 to 2015 Bacteria, Nutrient, and Contaminant Loading Reduction Organization Functions and Programs Work with partners such as the Red River Strengthen LWF image as the primary grassroots Basin Commission to improve upland water source of information on Lake Winnipeg and its water- storage to attenuate flood peaks shed, by continually improving and updating informa- Work with partners to restore natural stream tion and communication links with our membership drainage and to promote ground water and the public, via website, newsletter, on-line recharging discussion forum Develop urban rain Work with Wildsight (LLN storage techniques Lake Windermere, Canada) (rain barrels, rain to organize and develop the gardens) to reduce Living Lakes Network Canada impervious surface (LLNC) by enlisting new runoff causing sew- members for this national age spills into rivers water stewardship network and streams that Communicate and coordi- flow into Lake nate with other ENGOs Winnipeg within the Lake Winnipeg Ongoing Projects watershed and across Canada to pursue standard- Continue support ized ecosystem monitoring of existing research procedures and best land projects (benthic and water stewardship Photo by Sandy Millen invertebrates and practices advocated by LLNC Namao research ship) Establish a Lake Chapala – Lake Winnipeg sister-lake Continue existing education and public partnership similar to the Lakes Windermere sister- awareness programs lake arrangement Organize continuing, consecutive Annual Maintain good governance and financial stability for “Red Zone” free public forums to seek out Lake Winnipeg Foundation Inc. solutions to the problems faced by the Lake Lake and Watershed Biodiversity Protection and its watershed Advocacy Work with partners to protect and rehabilitate at least one Lake Winnipeg shoreline marsh threatened by cot- Continue to advocate for the health and tage/urban development sustainability of Lake Winnipeg and its water- Work with partners to restore natural wetland habitats shed with government departments and the (previously drained farmland, marginal lands, marshes) public and/or develop constructed wetlands Continue to work towards establishment of Work with other LLNC grassroots partners and govern- protected areas ment agencies to organize and implement an invasive species monitoring network See you at the Red Zone II forum! Details on page 3.