Algae storms Grand Beach

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/07/2010 (5779 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

blue-green algae piled up on the white sand left some swimmers at Grand Beach high and dry last weekend.

Scientist Al Kristofferson said 11 years after the MV Namao first set sail collecting data for the Lake Winnipeg Research Consortium, Lake Winnipeg isn’t getting any better.

“It’s still getting worse,” the consortium’s managing director admitted Tuesday. “We haven’t stopped the speeding train.”

Kristofferson said satellite photographs show the large green mass in the lake’s south basin stretches in a U shape from Grand Beach at the east right across to a few kilometres off the shore from Gimli.

To see what the mass looked like on July 24, go to: www.lakewinnipegresearch.org/pdf%20files/satellite%20images_2010/LWMod100724crefl1_143-A20102051750_sb.jpg

Kristofferson said for algae to grow, it needs water, warm temperatures — and light. “The north basin of the lake is clear, so algae grows there every summer,” he said. “But usually the south basin is muddy, so the light doesn’t go down too far and the algae’s growth is inhibited. But if we get calm water, and the sediments sink to the bottom, the surface water becomes clear and that’s all the algae needs — a little bit of sunshine.”

Kristofferson said the satellite photographs show a large plume of clear water pouring into the lake from the Winnipeg River.

While he never wants to see algae on the lake, Kristofferson said there is one advantage. “It’s a warning to the people that the problem still exists on the lake.”

“When people don’t see algae, they shouldn’t say it’s an indicator the lake’s water quality is getting better. We can’t be complacent. We haven’t solved the problem yet. There’s still a high concentration of nutrients getting in from runoff and from the watershed.”

Nicole Armstrong of Manitoba Water Stewardship, said the algae that washed up on Grand Beach is the first algae seen in the south basin since 2008.

She doesn’t know if the algae contained toxins because it washed away before scientists could get a sample.

Armstrong said when people see algae, they should not go into the water and they should prevent pets from drinking it.

Terry Duguid, the federal Liberal candidate in Winnipeg South and former co-chairman of the Lake Winnipeg Implementation Committee, said in an open letter to Public Safety Minister Vic Toews that he wants to know how much of the $18 million committed to help save the lake by the Harper government has been spent.

“We need an aware and educated public, but we need a federal government to act,” Duguid said. “We have money for a fake lake for the G20, but not for a real lake.”

Before being defeated, Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin had committed $120 million over 10 years to help Lake Winnipeg. “If this was happening in the Great Lakes, there would be much more money being allocated,” Duguid said.

In an email, Toews said the lake the federal government built in Toronto cost $57,000, while its commitment to Lake Winnipeg is $18 million. “…Lake Winnipeg is an important environmental, economic and recreational resource for our province.”

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca