Environment

2014 items have now been archived.  The information is available at Documents/Previous Years’ Current Topics/2014.(During 2014, Environment news was combined with current Topics)

2015

• SHPOA Environment Committee Update May, 2015.  Fred Veldink on behalf of the Environment Committee

Submission to the Clean Environmment Commission Hearings on the Regulation of Lake Winnipeg by:

Frederik Veldink. Chair Environment Committee of the Silver Harbour Property Owners Association (SHPOA)

Box 59, Arnes, MB, R0C0C0. Tel 204 642 1543. email: fredveldink@hotmail.com.

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Dear CEC members,

Silver Harbour is located on the shores of Lake Winnipeg, about 25 kilometers north of Gimli. The Silver Harbour Property Owners Association (SHPOA) is strongly opposed to the granting of a permanent license to regulate Lake Winnipeg to Manitoba Hydro.

This submission will focus on the problems that SHPOA has identified and solutions to these problems.

A) Problems:

Manitoba Hydro is allowed to regulate the lake between 711 FAS and 715 FAS. At 715 FAS the lake level in the South Basin can increase as much as 3 feet as a result of sustained north winds. This occured in the fall of 2010 and in the summer of 2014.

1) At a level of 718 FAS the combined effect of waves and wind causes significant erosion and damage to the shoreline, including damage to the dikes that protect properties along the shoreline.

2) During the spring and summer of 2014 the total inflows exceeded outflows and as a result lake levels steadily increased. During periods of high winds from the north we saw the worst erosion of our shoreline in more than 20 years. EMO officials inspected the damage. Manitoba Hydro did not appear to be proactive in this situation. It waited too long before before releasing the maximum amount of water at Jenpeg.

3) SHPOA does not have confidence in the way Manitoba Hydro determines lake levels. We feel that Manitoba Hydro keeps the lake at the highest possible level to generate electricity for export.

4) When Manitoba Hydro reports on water levels, it always talks about AVERAGE water levels. This is deceiving. All the damage and erosion occurs during relatively short periods of high water levels and high winds.

B) Solutions:

a) Political/Administrative:

1) Reduction of the maximum lake level from 715 FAS to 714 FAS. This will greatly  reduce erosion and shoreline damage especially during periods of high winds.

2) The creation of a NEW independent body composed of representatives of all the stakeholders in Lake Winnipeg such as Property Owners, Commercial and Recreational Fishers, Commercial and Recreational Boaters, First Nations Communities, Municipalities, Manitoba Hydro, The Lake Winnipeg Foundation and the Provincial and Federal Governments. Such a body can administer and regulate the lake for the benefit of ALL.

b) Physical:

1) The construction of a "storm barrier" at the Narrows to prevent water from the North Basin to flow into the South Basin. Such barriers have been constructed  in Louisiana and in The Netherlands and have been very successful.

2) Increase outflow capacity by deepening and widening existing channels.

3) Increase the retention capacity in the watersheds of the rivers that flow into Lake Winnipeg.

4) Increase the level of the dikes around the South Basin.

5) Modify the shoreline where possible to reduce the eroding effect of the waves.

6) Lower and fluctuating water levels will have a positive effect on the marshes and thus on the water
quality of Lake Winnipeg.

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