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Hog Watch Manitoba News January 2003 |
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Farm
runoff fingered “Virtually all human activities can introduce new sources of nutrients to aquatic systems, can increase the rate of loss of nutrients from the landscape or can increase the rate at which nutrients become available to support nuisance algal growth,” says the executive summary. The next step is to determine how much of the N and P in surface runoff would be there anyway, even without agriculture, according to Dwight Williamson, water quality manager for Manitoba Conservation. The departmental study is the second one in two years to measure and identify nutrient enrichment in Manitoba streams. The first one determined a “fairly significant” increase of N and P at 41 monitoring stations in the Red River and Assiniboine River watersheds, said Williamson. This latest report sought to identify where those nutrients came from. Excess N and P have been blamed for an increase in serious nuisance blooms of algae, especially in Lake Winnipeg. Algae can affect water quality,as well as fish and wildlife habitat. Toxins from some algae can cause health problems in animals and humans. Until recently, it was thought that municipal sewage and industrial effluent were the main reasons for increased algae. But Williamson said 60 to 70 per cent of N and P in the Red and Assiniboine watersheds result from surface runoff. Farm fertilizer and livestock manure are believed to be the big contributors. But no one knows how much N and P the water would contain even if there were no farms and livestock, Williamson said. Water running off the nutrient-rich soils of the Red River Valley would naturally carry some N along with it. Williamson said the next step is to determine the extent to which farming does contribute to N and P buildup in the water. A provincial coalition opposed to large-scale intensive livestock production said the report is further proof that hog operations are hurting Manitoba’s environment. Hog Watch Manitoba has collected a petition with close to 5,000 signatures demanding an immediate moratorium on new hog operations in the province. The group got Manitoba Liberal leader Jon Gerrard to present the petition to the legislature last week. But Williamson said it’s premature to say that hogs are the reason for increases of N and P in surface water. “We don’t see information that singles out the hog sector,” he said. “It doesn’t finger one sector. It fingers all sectors.” A provincial discussion paper on establishing water quality objectives should be released in the next six months. But Williamson said some of the nutrients in the rivers are beyond Manitoba’s control. Between 30 and 40 per cent of nutrients in the Red River originate in North Dakota and Minnesota. About 10 per cent of nutrients in the Souris River come from North Dakota.
New
manure rules will prompt shut-downs Financial help needed for manure rules Ontario’s farmers are willing to comply with new rules on manure spreading but need financial help from the government to do so, an informal survey of livestock growers suggests. The poll by Agri Analysis of Stratford, Out, found that 90 per cent of the 2,400 respondents believe they need help to comply with the provisions of Bill 81, the Nutrient Management Act. “We’re not arguing with the necessity of (the rules),” said agronomist Dale Peters who did the survey. “The big concern is that they’re going to have to do this in order to stay in business.” However, banks are generally unwilling to lend farmers money in such situations because there is no increase in productivity that would yield a financial return, Peters said. Born out of the Walkerton water tragedy, caused when farm manure found its way into one of the town’s wells, the new law aims to protect the province’s waterways from contamination. The government has been consulting on the regulations around the storage and spreading of manure but many farmers - both large and small - felt they didn’t have an opportunity to express themselves, said Peters. The survey sought to canvas farm opinions on eight key issues related to manure management, A main concern is winter spreading, for which the rules are being tightened considerably. That means farmers are faced with building new or expanded storage facilities. “It’s going to cost some farmers a fair amount of money to comply with storage pads (and) control of any kind of liquid runoff that might come for that,” said Peters. Second
shift at least a year off Steve Leblanc says wait until next year at the earliest for Maple Leaf Pork to step up production at its Brandon facility. "It's still an open-ended question, unfortunately," Leblanc, the plant's human resources director, says of a proposed second shift. "We're down to a planning and timing-type situation." The city, province and the pork processing giant are still talking about expanding a waste water treatment plant to accommodate the runoff created by a second shift. A full review on the second shift's effect on the environment, which would be conducted by the provincial conservation department, is expected to take up much of the year. As well, Leblanc says his company has to determine what demand there will be for its products before bringing in more workers. "From the company perspective, we look at our supply and demand like any other company would. We're really confident the hog supply will be there - we're just trying to figure out what the market demand will be," Leblanc says. "Then we have too the timing on the investment, so really, the only response I can give at this point is that we're going through a due diligence process with it." Mayor Dave Burgess and city manager Glen Laubenstein are anxious to see the second shift get started, but they're satisfied with the environmental process that needs to take place beforehand. The previous Progressive Conservative government did not order a Clean Environment Commission hearing before Maple Leaf started production in 1999. "What I'm really pleased with is the province this time is the conservation department is saying 'Here's the target,'" Laubenstein says. "When we did the first shift four, five years ago, we kept being told 'Go have another public meeting and see what comes out of it.' Now we're having the Clean Environment hearing, the whole nine yards." "It's a lot of work, but I think this the best way to do it." A provincial government spokesperson says the conservation department is still waiting for more information on the water quality in the Assiniboine River before proceeding with the review. The city's engineering department has researched a lot of the alternatives Maple Leaf can choose for its waste water usage. Maple Leaf is expected to come to the city with what it requires for a wastewater treatment facility sometime this month, says city engineer Ted Snure. With the city requiring an upgrade to its water treatment plant, Snure says there's a possibility Maple Leaf and the city could share a treatment facility. "If it makes better financial sense for us to get together, and build a plant that satisfies both, that might be an opportunity as well." Snure says the city may ask the province for financial help with its own treatment facility expansion or replacement. The city and province paid $12 million for a water treatment plant for Maple Leaf in 1999. How many people are hired in the second shift depends on what departments are expanded and when they start operating, Leblanc says. If there is full expansion, Leblanc predicts they could hire as many as 900 people. While the company says that about 90 per cent of the 1,500 employees currently at the hog processing plant come from the area, Leblanc says with the second shift, more people will be relocated to the city from elsewhere, either from within the province or from overseas. "We would have to relocate employees to work here if we started adding significantly to the plant's work force." There are currently about 100 workers from Mexico and El Salvador working at the Brandon plant. Mayor Dave Burgess is hopeful of the economic benefit that new jobs from a second shift could have on the city. "The jobs are the first thing you have to mention," Burgess says. "It's quite phenomenal the impact it would have financially not just on Brandon, but on the outlying areas and the province." cbrown@brandonsun.com NUTRIENT
MANAGEMENT LAW WILL REPLACE PATCHWORK OF BYLAWS: MANURE HANDLING REGULATIONS
WON'T BE AS TROUBLING AS MANY FEAR, OMAFRA EXPERT SAYS The law will be enforced by the Ministry of Environment with technical and training support by OMAFRA. Farmer Bev Watson who spoke earlier about farm safety was quoted as saying, "If we are forced into this, many small and middle farmers will go out of business. This will not be as large a change as people perceive." The proposed legislation would stop manure spreading on frozen or snow-covered fields between Dec. 1 and March 31. Snow contaminated by manure must be placed in a storage facility, but Reid added the snowmelt would be classed as "runoff" and not liquid manure. Manure storage facilities with a capacity of more than 600 cubic metres will need to be designed by a professional engineer. Outdoor feedlots will have four categories, depending on density and the manure may have to be removed if pasture does not provide one-half of the feed for the animals. For example, for 125 beef cows a minimum of 10 hectares would be needed to be classified as low density. All farmers will have to fill out a nutrient management plan by 2008, stating, among other things, how they will store manure and where they will spread it. There will be no cap on the number of animals housed in one operation, something that most municipalities in Grey and Bruce Counties have in their bylaws NEW
CONCERN OVER PROPOSED HOG FARM The farmer and three members of HogWatch discussed details of Art Hopman's plans for the property last week. Rob Kerr, a prominent HogWatch member, was cited as saying it was a friendly meeting with a straightforward and cooperative tone, said. He declined to offer details of the discussion which was an information sharing session with the Hopmans, who run a chicken operation on Regional Road 3. However, the Hopmans were told a public meeting would be held where the proposal will be revealed. The farmer has been invited to attend. A committee of members later reviewed the proposal and decided to take it to the general membership for direction. The group decided the two barn proposal was still a concern and felt obligated to take the new proposal to the public and members, said Kerr. "Most people think the problem has gone away," he said. The building permit for the sow barn was transferred last fall to a Nanticoke property. N.B. ready to unveil Right to Farm Act DANIEL MCHARDIE Times & Transcript Staff The New Brunswick government is finally enforcing the province’s four-year-old right-to-farm law, allowing farmers to sidestep complaints from people upset with the smells and side effects of the agriculture industry. Cabinet documents show the government will proclaim the Agricultural Operation Practices Act and name the six members on the new mediation panel that will review complaints from citizens against farms. Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Rodney Weston promised the 1999 law would finally be enacted last March when the government made its decision on the future of the Metz Farm in Ste-Marie-de-Kent. The previous government had passed the act but failed to follow through with regulations to enforce the law. As of Jan. 15, the so-called right-to-farm legislation will be officially on the books. Even with this mediation process in place, the law doesn’t bar citizens from launching lawsuits against farming operations pertaining to unwelcome odours, noises, dust, vibration or other disturbances. "It gives them a body to go before and lodge their concerns and that body would determine if the concerns are valid and if the operation is complying with the regulations and the rules that are laid forward for an agriculture operation," Weston said. The new Farm Practices Review Board consists of chairman Locke Perry, Paul-Emile Soucy, Hugh Bateman, Gordon Hunter, Maarten van Oord and Dolores Poirier. Consistent with the legislation, Perry and Poirier are the two non-farming members, while the others all have an agricultural background. The agriculture minister will formally unveil the board and the new regulations at a news conference later this week in Fredericton. The move is being widely endorsed by the farming community, which had been lobbying hard for this legislation. Hans Kristensen, manager of Metz Farm, said many of the problems encountered by the controversial hog operation in the last few years could have been averted if the right-to-farm legislation had been enforced. Despite the wait, he said proclaiming the law is great news for the agriculture industry. Part of the problem facing farmers, he said, is the changing demographic in rural New Brunswick with more people moving to the areas and not being familiar with the natural and sometimes unpleasant smells of agriculture. "This will protect (farmers) from nuisance law suits," Kristensen said. The cabinet documents, which were signed in December, set forth the structure of the mediation board. Along with naming the board, they are designating the members a travel allowance and remuneration of $119.25 for each day the chairman works and $95.40 for the others.As well, complainants will have to pay a $50 application fee, but it will be refunded if the mediation settles in their favour or the complaint is not heard. The agriculture minister said ushering the regulations into force is a big victory for him. It makes me feel good because it was a commitment made and it was a commitment kept. I believe very strongly in keeping my commitments," Weston said. "I am very conservative in making commitments and I told the agriculture industry very early on that I am not the type of person that is going to make them a whole lot of promises, but when I do make them a commitment or a promise, I know I can deliver on it." Environmental data is more political than scientific In reference to the article, "Hog farm has not contaminated water: report" (Telegraph-Journal, Dec. 16), the monitoring report produced by the Department of Environment and Local Government is neither a scientific document nor an environmental report. It is simply a presentation of data. Turning this document into a scientific report would have required, at the very least, a full discussion of the results from each sampling site in the context of specific field characteristics and environmental variables. Instead, the interpretation or spin put on this data is so transparently political rather than scientific that no reasonable person reading it would make the same conclusion that the minister or the report have made. The report's authors have ignored their own warnings on page 24 where it states, "caution must be exercised when interpreting results, particularly when comparing results for specific stations and/or dates. Thus, conclusions drawn from the data must be tempered by the fact that results obtained during an event could be as much related to timing of sample collection as to the effects of manure application." In other words, if manure was spread on a dry field on Monday, fecal coliforms or nutrients would likely not be detected the same day, or even the same week, in a stream 500 or even 50 metres away. In this case, the province would have concluded no effect. However, this would have been incorrect. The report fails to discuss in any detail the influence of factors such as soil type and permeability, distance between manure spreading and sampling sites, slope of the land and many other sampling and environmental variables on the detection of effects. The most important factor the report fails to discuss is that fecal coliforms can persist many weeks in water, soil and sediments and, therefore, there could be a delay between the time of spreading manure and the detection of fecal coliforms. This delay in detecting fecal coliforms was identified at many sampling sites in the report. But, rather than acknowledge there could be a delay, the report emphatically concludes there was no impact on water quality from manure spreading. When the results do show a direct relationships between manure spreading and high fecal coliform levels at several sites, these results are understated. While the focus of media and public attention has been on fecal coliforms, the report actually confirms the finding of a recent study examining the impact of manure spreading on nutrient (nitrogen) levels in surface waters. The study done by researchers at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College examined the levels of nutrients in surface waters after spring and fall manure spreading. The results consistently showed that nutrient levels in surface waters following manure application were three times higher in the fall versus the spring. The Department of Environment and Local Government's monitoring report also examined nutrient levels and found the same results. The report, however, was silent on the interpretation of these results. While the five million gallons of manure from the hog operation is not the only source of nutrient releases into surface waters in the Bouctouche watershed, it's certainly one of the largest sources. According to the results of a recent study done by the Conservation Council of New Brunswick that assessed the impacts of nutrient loading in 10 estuaries in northern and eastern New Brunswick, the Bouctouche estuary exhibited severe symptoms of nutrient pollution. Nutrients have been called the most damaging class of contaminants to the marine environment by the United Nations Group of Experts on Marine Pollution. The ecological health of our watersheds has deteriorated significantly as a result of a broad range of human activities, including the land application of large volumes of manure. If the province believes that good public policy should be underpinned by good science, then it should immediately convene a public forum to examine the science associated with these impacts and to explore new, or amend old, policies and regulations to prevent further impacts. The conservation council, for one, would welcome this public debate and would be pleased to participate. INKA MILEWSKI Sewage legacy stinks: outfitter Critics say
Red River spill's effects linger People who work and play on the Red River and Lake Winnipeg fear their grandchildren won't be able to. They say ongoing pollution and last summer's massive sewage spill into the river are killing the world-renowned fishery and its reputation. "When the sewage came down, my phone was ringing off the hook with people from the U.S. who were planning to come," said Selkirk outfitter and guide Bob Check. "Some guys cancelled," said the owner of Mr. Walleye Taxidermy and Outfitters. Nearly one million cubic metres of untreated sewage -- the equivalent of 228 Olympic-size swimming pools -- poured into the Red River during the four days the north-end sewage plant was down in September. After the spill, the Clean Environment Commission scheduled public hearings on Winnipeg's wastewater collection and treatment systems in Winnipeg on Jan. 20 and 21 and in Selkirk on Jan. 28. "It has cost me a few thousand dollars in bookings," Check said of the bad advertising that resulted from the sewage spill.
"Right now you can't even buy a walleye," Check said. In a typical winter, the 56-year-old hosts 100 American ice fishers. In the 10 years he's been a guide, he's never seen the fishing so bad, he said. "It's the first year the walleye catch was terrible," said Check who's been fishing on the river since he was eight years old. "In the last seven weeks, you could probably put all the walleyes we caught in half a bathtub." He and fellow sport fishing guide Al Roschuk say the city and the province have to launch a clean-up and restocking program as well as come up with stricter pollution controls and fishing limits. "When I went to Lockport, I saw many dead fish floating in stagnant ponds (after the sewage spill)," said Roschuk, who speaks for 30 Selkirk business owners and residents who rely on the Red. "I caught fish north of Selkirk and seven of the fish had open sores on the sides of them. The damage is starting to show." The province's water quality manager said water testing at the time of the spill turned up no evidence of a problem. "We were looking for things that might cause immediate harm or toxicity," said Manitoba Conservation's Dwight Williamson. "We didn't see that in the water." Had the sewage spill lasted more than four days or occurred at a time when river water levels were lower, the environmental impact could have been serious and lasting, Williamson said. "At present, it's a very healthy system." That doesn't wash with Roschuk and Check, who don't believe that much sewage was simply flushed away up river and through Lake Winnipeg without leaving some kind of damaging residue. They say they want to see results of testing done on fish in the Red River at the time of the spill. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Freshwater Institute surveyed the river and fish after the spill occurred, said Alex Salki, fisheries biologist at the institute. The results of the survey were not available. "My suspicion is they didn't find very much," said Salki, who is taking part in a different study looking at Lake Winnipeg. While sewage being dumped into the Red River basin's rivers is having an impact on the lake, it accounts for a small portion of the nutrient-loading problem choking the big lake. The bulk comes from human activities in the watershed like agriculture, with 60 per cent originating in the U.S. This week, experts on the Red River watershed from Canada and the U.S. will meet for three days in Winnipeg to try and come up with a unified voice to speak out for its protection and clean-up. The Red River Basin Commission (RRBC) is holding its 20th annual international summit of water managers and scientists in Winnipeg this year at the Hotel Fort Garry from Wednesday through Friday. The mission of the RRBC is to create a cross-border consensus on a vision for the basin. If governments don't clean up their acts soon, the Red River will continue to pump high levels of nitrogen and phosphorous into Lake Winnipeg and destroy it, said Glen Koroluk, of Manitoba's Eco-Network. If the lake dies, so will a multi-million-dollar fishing and tourism industry, he said. "Nutrients are increasing drastically. I don't think that lake's going to survive," said the member of the environmental watchdog and advocacy group. There is so much concern about the level of pollutants that the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans has already sounded the alarm. "If the DFO is calling for a remediation plan now, it's in pretty bad shape," Koroluk said. In another generation, the pollution-spawned algae blooms will choke the lake to death, Koroluk predicted. "We've got to do something right now," he said. "We're not looking to hang anybody," said Roschuk. He wants the city and the province to do acknowledge the pollution problems facing the river and the fishery. "Let's admit there's been damage and set up a committee to address it," said Roschuk, who plans to meet with provincial conservation, tourism and environment officials this week. Meanwhile, Environment Canada is still investigating the September sewage catastrophe before deciding whether or not to proceed with charges against the city, said Dan Nitelet, head of enforcement for the environmental protection branch. It is an offence under the Fisheries Act to deposit anything in a river system that harms fish. The department is trying to determine if the city used due diligence to prevent the accident and to contain it afterwards. The Crown has two years from the time of the offence to lay a charge under the Act. Nitelet expects there will be a decision by spring. The maximum fine is $500,000. carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca Lawsuit
launched against 14 farms DANIEL MCHARDIE FREDERICTON - The Metz Farm saga is continuing now that 45 Ste-Marie-de-Kent residents have filed a lawsuit in the Court of Queen’s Bench claiming the controversial hog operation and 13 other area farms have violated several provincial acts by polluting the air, ground and water. The 22-page statement of claim was filed in the Moncton court on Dec. 19 and is bypassing the Farm Practices Review Board that officially came into force Wednesday, and was struck to deal with exactly such complaints. Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Rodney Weston says there is little the government can do with the lawsuit, considering it was filed before the Agricultural Operation Practices Act (AOPA) came into being. The Act administers the review board that is designed to mediate disputes to avoid costly legal battles. "As I’ve stated all along, the AOPA doesn’t take away anyone’s recourse to the courts and certainly that is an option," Weston said. "A judge will have to use their discretion when they sit down and have a look at this to decide what is the best to do. Maybe at that point a judge will say, ‘Maybe we should look at the AOPA.’ " The agriculture minister said his ability to comment on the debate is limited due to the pending court challenge, however, Department of Justice officials are examining the province’s role in the matter and he didn’t rule out becoming an intervener in case. Neil Gardner, a longtime anti-Metz activist, said the review board is irrelevant to them. The Ste-Marie-de-Kent resident said the court case is absolutely necessary because it is the only way to get the farm out of the community considering the government is doing nothing. "The government hasn’t done anything to try and solve the problem and Metz certainly isn’t going to do anything to solve the problem. And this is about the only thing we could do," Gardner said. "Unfortunately, the only person a politician has to listen to is a judge. What we are looking for is justice, and it seems to be the only place where we stand a chance at finding justice is in the courts." When it comes to funding a costly legal battle, Gardner said the plaintiffs are committed to the process for as long as it takes, even if it means a Supreme Court of Canada challenge. David Brown, a lawyer with the Saint John-based Brown MacGillivray firm, filed the legal papers and will officially comment on the case today. However, the statement of claim painted a very specific picture of what the residents are objecting to. The plaintiffs allege the Ste-Marie-de-Kent-based Metz farm has created a nuisance by causing air pollution and has created a health hazard, which they believe is not covered under the Agricultural Operation Practices Act. The Metz Farm, some neighbouring farms and others who spread the liquid manure are accused of polluting local ground water and causing obnoxious smells. The 45 complainants are also arguing the farms have broken the Health Act, by allowing hog manure to accumulate. As well, they have stated in legal documents the farms have broken the Clean Environment Act by discharging hog manure into local watercourses. The legal brief contained dozens of other accusations regarding the hog farm. However it made no mention of the Department of Environment and Local Government’s recent report that cleared the Metz farm of any allegations of water pollution. "It is also noted in the report that there appears to be no relationship between the spreading of liquid manure from Metz Farms and well contamination," said Environment Minister Kim Jardine in December. The document contains data from monitoring sessions of April to October, 2000 and May to November, 2001. "There is no clear evidence that the Metz program alone is having a measurable adverse effect on water quality in the study area," the report said. Gardner disputed the environment minister’s claims that the report absolved the hog farm of polluting. He said some of the water tests suggests there could be some pollution. None of the farmers named in the court filing who were contacted wanted to go on the record at this time about the lawsuit. The Metz farm has been the subject of scorn from local environmentalists since it opened in 1999 and, at one point last year, there was word it could be moved to New Canaan where the owner has another hog farm. After a group of local activists barricaded themselves in the Bouctouche Agriculture Department office in 2001, the provincial government launched a study into options dealing with the controversy. While the report has never been fully released, the Conservative government balked at moving the farm, scared of setting a precedent, and invested in new technology to limit the foul odour. The Metz Farm owners and other farmers have until the end of the month to file a response. FRIESEN
INVITES COMMENTS Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Jean Friesen today released a public discussion paper on the law governing how land is used and developed in Manitoba and invited the public and municipalities to submit comments on how the law can be improved. "This is the first comprehensive review of Manitoba's current land use planning law," said Friesen. "We are asking those people who use, or have experience with, the planning law to give us ideas on how the law could be strengthened. Through regional workshops and public discussion, we hope to receive good advice on how the law can best meet Manitoba's needs." The Planning Act and the planning provisions of the City of Winnipeg Charter are included in the review. Copies of the discussion paper can be obtained at www.gov.mb.ca/ia on the Internet. Interested parties are encouraged to share their views and suggestions by forwarding a written submission to 400 800 Portage Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3G 0N4 or faxing 204-945-5059. Electronic submissions can be sent to provincialplanning@gov.mb.ca. Submissions will be accepted until March 31. "Good land use planning supports the sustainable growth of communities, protects the environment and important resources, contributes to our health, safety and well-being, and makes the most efficient use of existing infrastructure, taxes and services," added Friesen. "The ideas of Manitobans will be important to renewing the land use planning law, ensuring the best possible future for our province." Regional workshops
on the discussion paper are scheduled as follows: All workshops will take place between 5:30 and 9 p.m. except the Thompson workshop which will take place between 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Members of the public wishing to participate in these workshops should register by calling 204-945-2150 or (toll free) 1-800-282-8069, ext. 2150. The workshop format will include a general presentation on the discussion paper followed by small group discussions. It is expected that the review will take about 12 to 18 months to complete. Scientists warn levels
of damaging micro-organisms are soaring Lake Winnipeg is starting to look more like Lake Erie of 30 years ago, which was then considered the slop pail of North America, scientists warn. "Everybody is contributing to the problem," Al Kristofferson, co-ordinator of the Lake Winnipeg Research Consortium, told the Red River Basin Summit yesterday. "Things have happened in the lake during the last 50 years that we have to pay attention to," said Kristofferson, who leads the University of Manitoba-based consortium, which is made up of 23 agencies. It spent 81 days on Lake Winnipeg last year checking the health of the so-called Prairie ocean. Algae blooms in the north basin of the lake are clogging commercial fisher's nets with "dirt" in the summer and in the south basin during the winter, he said. "Seeing is believing." Lake Erie gained notoriety as a "dead lake," killed by pollution, before controls were put in place with the U.S. Clean Water Act in 1972. A vast, deep section of Lake Erie was oxygen-starved in the summer because rotting algae on the bottom used up the oxygen. The top of the lake had excess nutrients -- mostly from sewage-treatment plants -- that fed algae, causing blooms that turned the lake green and putrid, chasing swimmers away from beaches.
Levels of plankton and phytoplankton have jumped dramatically, and foreign species like rainbow smelt have entered Lake Winnipeg from the Winnipeg River system, bringing with them contaminants like mercury, said Kristofferson. The crustacean E. coregoni, which was once found only in the Great Lakes, has made its way into the lake as well. It's another indicator of the arrival of foreign species in the lake, into which all the rivers and streams from the Rockies to North Dakota to just west of Lake Superior drain. Most of the water that flows into Lake Winnipeg comes from the Saskatchewan and Winnipeg rivers, but most of the nutrients killing the lake are carried into it via the Red River, said Kristofferson. Some of the nutrient-loading originates from south of the U.S. border. "We try to be a good neighbour," said Roger Hanson of the Sand Hill River Watershed District in northern Minnesota, who attended the summit to see how people south of the border can help. The U.S. Clean Water Act that helped clean up Lake Erie gave teeth to environmental regulations. The results included municipal and industrial sewage plant improvements that slowed the growth of algae. That allowed oxygen to return to the lake. Farmers were encouraged to use less phosphorus-based fertilizer and more conservation tillage. Factories were forced to remove many of the chemicals from their sewage before it was discharged. Phosphorus, a primary cause of the algae blooms, was banned from laundry detergents in the Great Lakes states. Hanson said he thinks the solution for Lake Winnipeg lies not with tougher legislation, but with making people aware of what impact they're having on the environment. "It's people-driven more than anything," said the Beltrami, Minn. resident. "You can have all the laws in the world, but you want people to want to do the right thing." Increased livestock production, agricultural runoff, municipal waste discharges and the use of the lake by Manitoba Hydro as a reservoir are contributing factors, but Kristofferson said it is too soon to point the finger of blame. "It's going to require a lot of research over many years," he said. Last year's expeditions were the first time the consortium was able to conduct a thorough examination of the whole lake. The research isn't cheap. The consortium has to raise $500,000 a year to fund it, Kristofferson said. The group uses a 31.5-metre former Canadian Coast Guard vessel, the Namao, as a research platform. The consortium's main contributor is Manitoba Hydro, which provides one-third of the funding. "Manitoba Hydro is a good corporate citizen and an example to others, whether they be municipalities or cities," said Kristofferson. The research is vital, especially with climate change expected to have such a major impact on the lake, he said. The consortium is careful not to take sides or make political statements, Kristofferson said. "We have to remain neutral or our credibility disappears," said Kristofferson. "We're not a lobby group." He said he couldn't answer a question from the floor at the summit about what impact the City of Winnipeg's sewage treatment system is having on Lake Winnipeg. Two of three city sewage plants discharge too much ammonia as well as nutrients that combine with farm runoff to cause toxic algae blooms on Lake Winnipeg, it has been previously reported. A $480-million plan for fixing the problems will be reviewed by Manitoba's Clean Environment Commission starting Monday. Protecting the lake isn't just a noble pursuit -- it's a financially prudent investment, said Liberal leader Jon Gerrard, who attended the summit. The lake contributes $500 million to the Manitoba economy through recreation, tourism, commercial fishing and hydro production. "Clearly something very dramatic is happening." carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca Taiwan
Sugar Not Appealing Quashing of Hog Barn Permit Taiwan Sugar Corporation lawyer Fred Laux was cited as saying Monday that the Dec. 10 ruling won't be appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada, adding, "The time has run out (to file notice of an appeal) and we have no instructions." Laux said he doesn't have any information on what future plans, if any, the multinational corporation has for the site. The story says that the proposal would have seen about 80,000 pigs housed on five non-contiguous quarters of land. Manure was to be collected in pits then pumped into lagoons lined with high-density polyethylene. Effluent was to be pumped out annually and distributed as fertilizer to local farmers, who were to inject it into their fields. Two families trying to build homes on adjacent lands challenged the development permit. Big
lake needs life support Alarm bells are being sounded about the health of Lake Winnipeg and whether we can stop the damage before it is too late. The lake clearly is in lots of trouble with the inflow of pollutants and the disappearance of aquatic species. The lake is suffering from the runoff of fertilizer from agricultural activity and to a lesser degree, from municipal sewage. Now we know the origin of pollutants and it is time to take action. For the first time we have a breakdown of the source of pollutants that flow into Lake Winnipeg, underlining two important trends. The pollutants are nitrogen and phosphorus, necessary for plant life but harmful in excessive amounts. Lake Winnipeg is getting a lot more of these nutrients, a study by Conservation Manitoba reveals, and it can have serious consequences if the trend continues. Within Manitoba, most of it comes from runoff of fertilizer and manure from farmlands. The impact of hog production, which has soared in recent years, cannot be distinguished in the analysis provided. The study dramatically illustrates Manitoba is not a domain unto itself We are connected to a vast territory in the rivers that flow into Lake Winnipeg. How people treat the land in the Prairies, in Ontario, North Dakota and Minnesota, has an impact on Lake Winnipeg. The Red River watershed, most of it located in the U.S., contributes a major share of the pollutants. So the U.S. is a big player in the impact on Lake Winnipeg. This is the breakdown of the source and percentage of nitrogen and phosphorus flowing into the lake. The Red River: 46 per cent of nitrogen of which 30 per cent comes from the U.S., 16 per cent from within Manitoba; and 73 per cent of phosphorus of which 43 per cent comes from the U.S. and 30 per cent from within Manitoba. Winnipeg River: 27 per cent nitrogen, 13 per cent phosphorus. Assiniboine River: 5.5 per cent nitrogen, 10 per cent phosphorus. Saskatchewan River: 12 per cent nitrogen and 5 per cent phosphorus. The atmosphere, in the form of dust particles and precipitation, contributes 15 per cent nitrogen and 8 per cent phosphorus. The study estimates that in the period from 1994 to 2001, nitrogen loading into Lake Winnipeg increased by 13 per cent and phosphorus by 10 per cent due to increases measured in the Red River. This is no trifling input. It amounts to about 63,207 tonnes of nitrogen and 5,838 tonnes of phosphorus annually. These nutrients constitute one of the gravest dangers to water quality. They produce algae blooms which "can impair fish and wildlife habitat"; they give a bad taste and odour to drinking water. As well, they produce toxins that can harm humans and livestock, plants and wildlife. They cut the supply of oxygen and this, for example, can result in fish kills. Dr. Eva Pip, University of Winnipeg biologist, whom I regard as the guardian of Lake Winnipeg for her role in research since she was a teenager, praises the Manitoba Conservation study. But she says that the situation is serious in the spread of algae blooms, some of them new exotic species. There has been a severe reduction of species such as fresh water mussels and snakes, as well as sensitive aquatic plants, in the past 40 years of her research. Dr. Pip maintains that the control of Lake Winnipeg as a reservoir for Manitoba Hydro has tended to hold nutrients longer than former natural flushing of the lake into Hudson Bay. Manitoba has a fabulous reservoir of underground water and several sites are being tested for possible contamination from the livestock industry, particularly the sensitive shallow sand aquifers. Dwight Williamson, manager of water quality at Conservation Manitoba, says the branch is identifying the acceptable level of nutrients in each of the streams in southern Manitoba and in Lake Winnipeg. Then there will be a broad effort to have the offending parties reduce the inflow of nutrients. It's a tall order but it must be done with dispatch and vigour. We must reduce the inflow from within Manitoba and beyond, including our neighbouring U.S. states. Mr. Williamson notes processing industries will be required to hold the line on nutrients in their expansion plans. Much more needs to be done now to involve all parties concerned to take steps to reduce injuries to the lake. We must safeguard the grandest lake in the plains of North America. Process Developed by USDA Scientists Makes Swine Wastewater Environmentally Friendly WASHINGTON, Jan. 24--Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman announced today that USDA scientists have developed a process that can remove phosphorus from swine production wastewater and turn it into a solid, marketable fertilizer, while converting the leftover effluent into a liquid crop fertilizer that is more environmentally friendly than manure. "This technology is a good example of how agricultural research can provide benefits to everyone through environmental protection and improvement," said Veneman. "This research provides an opportunity to help farmers better protect the environment and enhance the soil they use for planting." The process was developed by soil scientists Matias Vanotti, Ariel Szogi and Patrick Hunt at the Coastal Plains Soil, Water and Plant Research Center, operated by USDA's Agricultural Research Service in Florence, S.C. ARS is the chief scientific research agency of USDA. The new process has several positive implications. Removing phosphorus from wastewater can cut down on any excess phosphorus that may run off into streams and rivers. Excess amounts of phosphorus can lead to oxygen depletion in water bodies. During processing, hydrated lime precipitates most of the phosphorus in the wastewater as a solid and converts it into a marketable phosphate fertilizer. This phosphorus could be a boon to the fertilizer industry, because world reserves of the nutrient are limited. Another benefit is that the high pH achieved by the process destroys disease-causing pathogens present in the leftover liquid. Meanwhile, the effluent contains a nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratio greater than 12 to 1--ideal for crop irrigation, which requires an 8-to-1 ratio. Regular manure offers a nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratio of 4 to 1. This higher nitrogen-phosphorus ratio translates into less excess phosphorus on land on which the treated wastewater is applied. The scientists had previously succeeded in separating ammonia nitrogen from wastewater, a necessary step in completing the new process. A patent application has been submitted for the combined nitrogen- and phosphorus-removal processes, which will be tested through next summer at a full-scale demonstration facility that opened earlier this month in Duplin County, N.C Rural
concerns over land use law The provincial government is revamping its land-use planning bylaw. Rural councillor Ruth Prizner of the R-M of Daly says local people will question not having the final say over land use, especially if they want to protect their water. The Association of Manitoba Municipalities is holding a series of public meetings next month but president Stuart Breise indicates they'll fight it. He says rural councillors would rather take the heat for decisions they make rather than give over control of those decisions. Provincial officials
say they have no intention of removing authority from municipal authorities,
but simply want to improve the system.
Last updated: February 1, 2003 |