Lake Friendly Accord

Lake Friendly Accord • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Manitoba Water Stewardship

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •Manitoba Water Stewardship - Lake Winnipeg

• Water Quality Challenges• Action Underway• Lake Friendly Accord and the Lake Friendly

Stewards Alliance• Update on zebra mussels

Presentation Overview



Algal Blooms - Not Just a Lake Winnipeg Issue

Pigeon LakeCTV News Edmonton

Nakamun LakeUniversity of Alberta

Stump Lake, North Dakota

Minnesota

http://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=Q6VHofe6A__xQM&tbnid=IFqlAsdcTa8OqM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://news.ualberta.ca/newsarticles/2012/08/toxicalgaeinlakesacrosscanada&ei=H3ATU5bdHuzy2gXL3YDYBA&bvm=bv.62286460,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNFgeJPR1_JR23uMD_Kxi22j8grjlw&ust=1393869100614403



Why are algal blooms an issue?• Reduced recreational appeal

• Economic and social impacts

• Degraded aquatic habitat - low dissolved oxygen

• Clog fishing nets• Drinking water problems -

taste and odour• Toxic algae



Action is Underway to Reduce Nutrients• Manitoba – Lake Winnipeg Action Plan, Lake

Friendly in 50 Ways• Canadian Federal Government – Lake

Winnipeg Basin Initiative• Minnesota – Nutrient Reduction Strategy

released• North Dakota – Developing a Nutrient

Reduction Strategy• Local watershed boards, municipalities, CDs• Transboundary efforts



What else is Manitoba doing to reduce nutrients?

• Action across sectors and the watershed

• Standards and legislation• Investments• Managing water on the land• Supporting science• Incentives and education• Leadership, coordination

and cooperation



Lake Winnipeg - Total Phosphorus

South Basin - Average open water season

Baseline 1800 - 1900

1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 20130

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

0.1

0.12

0.14

0.16

To

tal P

ho

sp

ho

rou

s

(mg

/L)

Phosphorus Objective – South Basin



• The Accord is a commitment to the shared goal of improving water quality by reducing nutrients in waterways through the engagement of all.

• Intended to inspire action, coordinate our efforts, and promote leadership to ensure the protection of water quality for all, in all waterways.

• The Accord will provide a framework for all stakeholders to identify actions that they can take to reduce nutrient loading and to improve water quality.

• No duplication of effort.

Shared Solution? Lake Friendly Accord



Lake Friendly Accord

• Broad, general document• Sets out goal and eight

objectives• Pledge to meet goal and

objectives• No reference to Lake

Winnipeg in main text of Accord – applicable to all waterways

• Recognizes existing work underway



• Commit to develop specific actions with timelines

• Commitments will form an Annex to the Accord

• Signatories will agree to report on progress at least on an annual basis

• Target audience includes general public, stakeholders, governments, etc.



• Intended to support the Lake Friendly Accord• The Alliance provides one of the key forums

needed to:– facilitate information sharing;– enhance collaboration and coordination; – improve reporting and accountability; – increase efficiencies and technology transfer; and – enhance stewardship and economic opportunities.

• Broad representation from federal, provincial, municipal, First Nations and Métis governments, conservation districts, agriculture, business and industry, cottage associations, and environmental non-governmental organizations.

Lake Friendly Stewards Alliance



Alliance Working GroupsRural

Landscapes

Community Landscapes

Outreach, Communications and Education

Science, Research and Traditional

Knowledge

Innovation, Economic

Development and Technology Application

Governance



• Canada, Manitoba and South Basin Mayors and Reeves (municipal government) signed the Accord on March 21, 2014.

Interest in the Accord and Alliance



• Canada’s western Premiers specifically referenced the Manitoba-led Lake Friendly Accord.

• 68th Annual Meeting of the Midwestern Legislative Conference of the Council of State - legislators resolved to improve cross border water quality including implementing common goals for better and broader management of nutrients.

• Provincial and State jurisdictions

• Transboundary agencies

Interest in the Accord and Alliance



• October 11, 2013• Zebra mussels were

found at Gimli Harbour, Willow Point, Boundary Creek Marina/Winnipeg Beach Harbour, Balsam Bay Harbour.

• This is an early stage of infestation, low density

• Evidence suggests the zebra mussels are from this year

• No zebra mussels were found at greater depths

Discovery of Zebra Mussels



What are Zebra Mussels?

• Fingernail-sized bivalve mollusks

• D-shaped shells with light and dark brown stripes

• Adults are usually 1-3 cm long (range 0.6-4.5 cm)

• Microscopic larvae and juveniles

• Byssal threads • Tuft of hair-like filaments at hinge • Used to attach to underwater surfaces

• Grow in clusters, firmly attached to submerged surfaces (like barnacles)

http://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=3yYZOK454LiJnM&tbnid=tAUBVzFpVDvRAM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://www.clr.pdx.edu/projects/volunteer/zebra.php&ei=wpgOU4PPAues2wWq1YHYAw&bvm=bv.61965928,d.aWM&psig=AFQjCNHKkLrfPtaSm69mz93PtQ8ip-Ldzg&ust=1393551916366237



Why are zebra mussels a concern?

• Water quality impacts• Increase in toxic algal blooms• Reduced recreational potential• Shift in the food web• Economic impacts – property values,

infrastructure, boaters, commercial fisheries• Maintaining infrastructure such as

clogged intake structures



Provincial Zebra Mussel Treatment

• Based on advice of a Science Advisory Committee, a treatment program was completed at the four infested harbours

• The harbours were curtained and liquid potash was applied at concentrations lethal to zebra mussels but not harmful to fin fish

• Next steps include: enhanced communication; additional monitoring; more decontamination units; and stronger regulation to reduce the risk.



Thank You

Documents

Lake Friendly Accord