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............................................................................................................................