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Commission to hold hearings on Lake Winnipeg water levels

Manitoba's Clean Environment Commission will hold public hearings in the coming months on Manitoba Hydro's regulation of Lake Winnipeg's water levels, the province says.

Planning for the hearings starts immediately and more information on the timing and process will be posted at www.cecmanitoba.ca. Manitoba uses the lake as a reservoir to power its northern dams during with winter months.

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Critics say by keeping the lake at a static level -- anywhere between 711 and 715 feet above sea level in non-flood years -- it does not give the lake's shoreline and marshes time to repair themselves from damage caused in high-water years.

This month, the lake is forecast to crest at 717 ft. and will stay at that level until early August. Hydro is discharging as much water as possible via its Nelson River control structures to reduce water levels as quickly as possible.

Hydro says by keeping the lake at steady levels, it reduces widespread erosion as seen in the mid-1950s, late '60s and early '70s.

More information about the lake's regulation is found on Hydro's website www.hydro.mb.ca. Since the mid-'70s, Hydro has regulated the lake under an interim licence. It will soon apply for a full licence, requiring the CEC hearing.

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