Local

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

ELA program cuts protested at Forks

By: Melissa Martin

Posted: 09/17/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

The next phase of the fight to save the Experimental Lakes Area took shape Sunday, as supporters gathered at The Forks to protest cuts to the long-standing program.

Dozens of researchers and their allies rallied to talk about the science at stake if the government goes through with its plan to shutter the federally funded ELA program, which encompasses 58 pristine lakes in northwestern Ontario, in March 2013.

"The reason we were there is to find things out that were useful to the Canadian public," said Ray Hesslein, a geochemist who first arrived at the ELA as a grad student in 1971 and retired in 2009. "It was a public service, and staff took that very seriously."

To get that message across, Hesslein and other ELA supporters took to the podium, while families were invited to look at lake plankton through microscopes and check out some of the specialized equipment in use at the lakes.

NDP MP Niki Ashton and Liberal MP Jon Gerrard stepped up to call for the program to be saved. Two of Gerrard's children studied at the lakes in university. "I've seen first-hand how amazing it can be," he said. "ELA has nurtured so many who are making a difference around the world."

Over more than four decades, data gathered from the lakes has shed light on the health of freshwater lakes, including how environmental pollution can threaten ecosystems. Scientists at the ELA have studied issues such as mercury contamination and how phosphates spur the spread of blue-green algae, which chokes ecosystems and can pose a health risk to humans.

Scientists said the ELA facility is unique because it helps researchers trace the health of lakes over long time periods. "When you're trying to sort out challenges to species like the lake trout, that live 20 to 40 years... without a long-term record, you just can't get an insight into that," Hesslein said.

melissa.martin@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 17, 2012 B3

Fact Check

Have you found an error, or know of something we’ve missed in one of our stories? Please use the form below and let us know.

* Required

In which story did you find the error? *
Please post the headline of the story or the title of the video with the error.
What was the error? *
Please post exactly what was wrong with the story.
What should we have written?
Please indicate your source for the correct information.
Who else should we interview to improve this story?
Please include any contact information you may have.
Can we contact you in the future for advice on stories about this topic?
Yes

No
First Name: *
Last Name: *
E–mail Address: *
This will only be used to contact you if we have a question about your submission, it will not be used to identify you or be published.
Phone: *
This will only be used to contact you if we have a question about your submission, it will not be used to identify you or be published.
Colour:
Are you blue? If you can see this, leave it blank and get some CSS support.
Enter the words that you see: * This is to prevent our forms from being filled out automatically.
You have failed to correctly identify the words in the box above. Please try again.

More Local

Undock

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

Have Your Say

New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.