Projects funded by the Lake Winnipeg Basin Program

Nutrient reduction projects

Fiscal year 2022 to 2023

Project: Grassed Waterway and Riparian Enhancement

Proponent: Swan Lake Watershed District

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $15,000 over 1 year

This project will support adoption of beneficial management practices to reduce nutrient loss from the landscape.  Project activities will include efforts to restore grassed waterways, implement riparian management activities, and educate landowners on activities that protect streambanks and reduce overland flooding.

Project: “Bridging the Gap” Connecting Riverwatch to Phosphorus Reduction in the Basin

Proponent: Prairie Spirit School Division

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $30,000 over 1 year

This project will enable continued delivery of a Riverwatch Program, supporting community-based efforts to monitor water quality and provide complementary, credible data for use by decision makers. Funding will allow students to participate in an annual Riverwatch Forum, which focuses on collaborative efforts in the Red River Basin to improve water quality monitoring and assess results from community based monitoring programs. Funding will also be used to engage individuals in Treaty 1 and 2 to participate in the Riverwatch Program.

Project: Wetland and Riparian Area Restoration/Enhancement Protection Program

Proponent: East Interlake Watershed District

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $40,000 over 1 year          

This project will implement water retention and wetland restoration projects, in defined priority areas. Staff will provide technical advice and develop five and ten-year agreements with landowners to ensure sustainability and effective management of sites.

Project: Manure treatment with alum or gypsum to reduce labile phosphorus content in manure and potential phosphorus losses to waterbodies from manured soils

Proponent: University of Winnipeg

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $30,000 over 1 year

This project will evaluate the effectiveness of alum or gypsum treatment in reducing labile phosphorus content in liquid swine manure and thereby potentially reducing phosphorus released from flooded manured soils. The data collected will inform development of beneficial management practices to reduce phosphorus loadings to Lake Winnipeg from flood-prone manured soils in the Red River basin.

Project: Redeploying Water Retention 2: Reducing Lake Winnipeg’s risks through proven successes in water retention management and spatial modelling

Proponent: International Institute for Sustainable Development

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $25,000 over 1 year

This project will enhance and improve the effectiveness of water retention sites.  Guided by developed models, data collection and monitoring, water retention sites will be actively managed to reduce downstream flow and phosphorus loading to Lake Winnipeg.

Project: Application of Floating Treatment Wetland: Duckweed Phosphorus Treatment Systems in Manitoba’s Lake Winnipeg Watershed

Proponent: International Institute for Sustainable Development

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $30,000 over 1 year

This project will further assess and demonstrate the effectiveness of using floating treatment wetlands, in conjunction with duckweed biomass harvesting, to remove phosphorus from storm water ponds and livestock wastewater ponds, reducing phosphorus loading into nearby waterways and Lake Winnipeg.

Project: Lake Winnipeg basin lagoons phosphorus discharge monitoring and reduction

Proponent: Innovantage

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $50,000 over 1 year

This project will further evaluate the performance of an innovative “in-line phosphorus removal and recovery system (IPRR)” for a wastewater lagoon. The analysis of water samples, taken from multiple community lagoon systems, will measure phosphorus concentrations in effluent releases, with and without the IPRR. Project results will be shared via presentations at regional events and conferences.

Project: The Connectivity Project

Proponent: St. Mary River Irrigation District

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $30,000 over 1 year

This project supports St. Mary River Irrigation District's efforts to improve water quality within the Lake Winnipeg watershed. Riparian buffers will be re-established using exclusion fencing and the installation of alternate water systems to improve pasture management practices and protect sensitive riparian zones in priority areas. This work will reduce nutrient loading to reservoirs and waterways connected to the South Saskatchewan River, which flows into Lake Winnipeg.

Project: Seine-Rat River Nutrient Reduction through Mapped and Managed Water Retention

Proponent: Seine Rat Roseau Watershed District

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $30,000 over 1 year

This project will implement a water retention project, strategically located to capture phosphorus and reduce nutrient loading in the Red River Basin. Local and traditional knowledge, and decision support tools like Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and PTM (Prioritize, Target, Measure) App will be used to select the water retention project site.

Project: Engaging Producers in Nutrient Reduction in the Assiniboine River Basin

Proponent: Assiniboine West Watershed District

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $40,000 over 1 year          

This project will use the Alternative Land Use Services (ALUS) model to implement water quality improvement projects in the Assiniboine River Basin. Landowners, community members and watershed district staff will work together to identify the most appropriate solutions to address water quality risk. Implementation of beneficial management practices such as wetland restoration, exclusion fencing, alternative watering systems and seeding buffer strips will retain nutrients on the landscape and prevent them from entering waterways.

Project: Manitoba Association of Watersheds Water Retention Program

Proponent: Manitoba Association of Watersheds

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $40,000 over 1 year

This project will enable the construction and installation of water retention structures, to manage excess water and reduce nutrient loading, within select watershed districts within the Lake Winnipeg Basin, in high nutrient contributing areas.

Project: Canadian Watershed Information Network

Proponent: The University of Manitoba

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $75,000 over 1 year

This project will continue to operate, expand and increase awareness and use of the established Canadian Watershed Information Network (CanWIN) online information portal. The platform enables researchers, government, organizations and community members to share and analyze data, supports research on the lake and in the basin, and encourages collaboration between multiple disciplines to openly share knowledge, data, methods and tools. This collaborative approach ensures that the various science and knowledge development undertaken in the basin comes together in one central location to better inform policy and management decisions related to water quality. Recognizing the contributions and knowledge of Indigenous Peoples, CanWIN is working to develop additional mechanisms to store, share and integrate Traditional Knowledge and Western Science.

Project: Manitoba Non-Point Source Nutrient Retention

Proponent: Ducks Unlimited Canada

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $120,000 over 1 year

This project is designed to restore wetlands and sequester nutrients in high nutrient contributing areas within the Lake Winnipeg Basin using perpetual conservation easements. Through the project, Ducks Unlimited will develop partnerships and work with landowners, watershed districts, governments, and other conservation organizations to promote awareness of water quality issues and support actions to mitigating eutrophication in Lake Winnipeg.

Project: Rural Wetland Treatment for Carbon, Nutrient, Sediment Capture Demonstration Project

Proponent: Pembina Valley Watershed District

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $26,000 over 1 year

Through this project, a naturalized stormwater pond/wetland will be constructed to further demonstrate innovative stormwater management techniques and strategies that effectively reduce phosphorus loading. Emergent vegetation zones and open water features will be incorporated into the design of the wetland to collect stormwater runoff, remove nutrients, reduce downstream flooding, improve water quality and enhance natural habitat.

Project: Opportunities to reduce phosphorus loading from atmospheric deposition

Proponent: The University of Manitoba

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $75,000 over 1 year

This research project will explore ways to reduce phosphorus loading into Lake Winnipeg from atmospheric deposition. Specific objectives of the project are to verify and improve upon current load estimates of atmospheric deposition of phosphorus into Lake Winnipeg; to assess the contributions from major land cover and land use sources; and to assess the potential to reduce phosphorus loads from atmospheric deposition through a variety of land use and land management practices.

Project: Lake Winnipeg Scientific Research Activities

Proponent: Lake Winnipeg Research Consortium

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $430,000 over 1 year

This project will support the Lake Winnipeg Research Consortium’s (LWRC) Motor Vessel Namao, an in-lake science platform.  It will continue to enable Environment and Climate Change Canada’s research and monitoring activities, as well as the Department of Fisheries and Ocean’s research on impacts of aquatic invasive species. Research and knowledge transfer outcomes will be shared with stakeholders and researchers through the Canadian Watershed Information Network as well as other knowledge mobilization events such as the LWRC’s annual science workshop. 

Fiscal Year 2021 to 2022

Project: Enhancement Protection Program (Phase 2)

Proponent: East Interlake Watershed District

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $80,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will utilize light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and resource-based data to identify and prioritize sites in the Netley/Grassmere and Willow watersheds for water retention and wetland/riparian restoration to reduce nutrients from entering Lake Winnipeg.

Project: Phosphorus retention in conventional and naturalized storm water ponds within the Lake Winnipeg Basin

Proponent: Ducks Unlimited Canada

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $18,000 over 1 year

Project description: This research project will research and evaluate phosphorus retention in conventional storm water ponds compared to naturalized storm water ponds in urban areas. Project results will be shared through publications, websites and presentations to address the limited amount of available information.

Project: Edie Creek Diversion

Proponent: Northeast Red Watershed District

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $25,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will improve surface water quality in the Red River Basin, the largest nutrient-contributing basin to Lake Winnipeg, by diverting water from Edie Creek to a water retention site.  The project will also stabilize creek banks in order to reduce erosion and retain nutrients thereby reducing impacts on downstream water bodies. 

Project: Rural Wetland Treatment for Carbon, Nutrient, Sediment Capture Demonstration Project

Proponent: Pembina Valley Watershed District

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $31,500 over 1 year

Project description: Through this project, a naturalized storm water pond/wetland will be constructed in a newly-developed residential and commercial area in a rural Manitoba community. The project will demonstrate effective and innovative techniques and strategies to remove nutrients, reduce downstream flooding, improve water quality and enhance natural habitat.

Project: Grassed Waterway and Riparian Enhancement

Proponent: Swan Lake Watershed District

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $32,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will restore naturally meandering waterways, implement riparian management practices and educate landowners on beneficial management practices that protect streambanks and reduce overland flooding, resulting in a reduction of nutrients leaving the landscape. 

Project: Engaging Producers in Nutrient Reduction in the Assiniboine River Basin

Proponent: Assiniboine West Watershed District

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $48,110 over 1 year

Project description: This project will use the alternative land use services (ALUS) model to implement water quality improvement projects in the Assiniboine River Basin. The implementation of beneficial management practices such as wetland restoration, exclusion fencing, alternative watering systems and seeding buffer strips will retain nutrients on the landscape and prevent them from entering waterways.

Project:   Demonstration of the importance of targeting soil phosphorus (P) management in watershed P load reduction using the P Reduction Tool

Proponent: University of Waterloo

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $80,600 over 1 year

Project description: This project will increase the adoption of targeted conservation practices related to soil legacy phosphorus and phosphorus applications in the Lake Winnipeg Basin. Historical nutrient and land management information, soil test data and landform information from the South Tobacco Creek watershed will be used to expand the capacity of a previously-developed phosphorus reduction tool to assess soil phosphorus-related conservation practices related to nutrient reduction.

Project: Lake Winnipeg basin lagoons phosphorus discharge monitoring and reduction

Proponent: Innovantage Inc.

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $100,000 over 1 year

Project description: This pilot project will measure and monitor total and dissolved phosphorus in discharged effluent from wastewater lagoons in the Red River Basin, as well as evaluate the performance of an innovative in-line phosphorus removal and recovery system for a wastewater lagoon. The analysis of water samples taken from multiple community lagoon systems will measure effluent phosphorus concentrations in effluent releases, with and without the recovery system.

Fiscal year 2020 to 2021

Project: The Connectivity Project

Proponent: St. Mary River Irrigation District

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $140,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will support the St. Mary River Irrigation District’s goal to improve water quality within the watershed. Priority areas have been identified and riparian buffers using exclusion fencing and alternate water systems will improve pasture management practices and protect sensitive riparian zones. This work with reduce nutrient loading to reservoirs and waterways connected to the South Saskatchewan River which flows into Lake Winnipeg.

Project: Targeted nutrient reduction in the Seine Rat Roseau Watershed District

Proponent: Seine Rat Roseau Watershed District

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $155,600 over 2 years

Project description: This project will design and implement four water retention projects, strategically located to capture and reduce nutrient loading to the Red River.  A continued partnership with the Lake Winnipeg Foundation’s Community-based Monitoring Program will collect pre- and post-construction water quality samples. The data collected will be posted on DataStream and used to confirm nutrient hot spots in the watershed.

Project: Field evaluation of soil amendments from flood-prone areas in cultivated fields in Manitoba

Proponent: University of Winnipeg

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $70,000 over 2 years

Project description: Building on a previous project funded by the Lake Winnipeg Basin Program, this project will conduct a field-based trial of soil amendments found to be effective in reducing phosphorus release to floodwater in laboratory experiments in phosphorus hotspots prone to flooding. The goal is to identify which soil amendments are most effective in reducing phosphorus loss to snowmelt runoff in flood prone areas through edge-of-field plot testing.

Project: Netley-Libau Marsh Renewal

Proponent: Red River Basin Commission

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $80,000 over 2 years

Project description: This pilot project will investigate the feasibility of using dredged sediment from the Red River to assist in the restoration of Netley-Libau Marsh, located at the delta where it enters Lake Winnipeg. With minimal disturbance to habitat, small portions of the river will be dredged and the sediment used to create vegetation shelves to enable additional removal of nutrients and improve the ecological function of the marsh.

Project: Duckweed Phosphorus treatment systems in Manitoba’s Lake Winnipeg watershed

Proponent: International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $100,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will demonstrate the capability of using floating treatment wetlands in conjunction with duckweed biomass harvesting, to remove phosphorus from storm water and livestock wastewater ponds. Floating treatment wetlands planted with cattails, sedges and grasses will be placed in ponds along with duckweed, a fast-growing aquatic plant. To reduce phosphorus loading to nearby waterways and Lake Winnipeg, duckweed will be harvested every 3 to 5 weeks.

Project: Creek bank stabilization

Proponent: Northeast Red Watershed District

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $16,191 over 1 year

Project description: This project will stabilize and reseed streambanks with native grasses and plants to reduce erosion and nutrient transport to the waterways of Cooks-Devils Creek watershed. As part of the Red River Basin, it the largest nutrient- contributing basin to Lake Winnipeg.  

Project: Wetland and Riparian Area Restoration/Enhancement Protection Program

Proponent: East Interlake Watershed District

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $40,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will implement water retention and wetland restoration in prioritized sites. A multi-functional, retention storage strategy that incorporates natural infrastructure will be developed. Technical advice and support will be provided to ensure sustainability and proper management. Given the close proximity to Lake Winnipeg, this project will have direct benefits on the lake.

Project: Nutrient and flow reduction in the Tobacco Creek model watershed

Proponent: Deerwood Soil and Water Management Association

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $40,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will construct a network of water retention and wetland restoration sites in collaboration with the Redboine Watershed District and member municipalities. Project sites will be designed to retain nutrients, limit spring runoff and reduce downstream flooding. Scientific studies have deemed this type of work as an effective approach to intercepting nutrients along Manitoba’s escarpment.

Project: Working together to keep cattle out of our water

Proponent: Assiniboine Watershed Stewardship Association Inc. (AWSA)

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $43,088 over 2 years

Project description: This project will restore degraded riparian habitat and prevent non-point source livestock phosphorus pollution along two waterways in the Assiniboine River watershed. AWSA will work with landowners to install off-site remote watering systems and fencing to restrict livestock from entering waterways. Riparian areas and shoreline will be restored through the planting of trees and shrubs. They will also engage with local high school students from Indigenous communities to monitor water quality and evaluate the success of the project.

Fiscal year 2019 to 2020

Project: “Bridging the Gap” connecting Riverwatch to phosphorus reduction in the Basin

Proponent: Prairie Spirit School Division

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $33,000 over 1 year

Project description: The Riverwatch Program is a unique way to engage students in hands-on science. This project will deliver the Riverwatch Program to students in Southern Manitoba, including youth in Treaty 1 and 2. It will also provide an opportunity for students to participate in the annual Riverwatch Forum, which focuses on collaborative efforts in the Red River Basin to improve water quality monitoring and assess results from community-based monitoring programs.

Project: Floating Treatment Wetland platform and duckweed nutrient capture demonstration in a Manitoba municipal lagoon

Proponent: Village of Dunnottar

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $48,500 over 2 years

Project description: This pilot project will demonstrate the effectiveness of using Floating Treatment Wetland (FTW) technology, in conjunction with duckweed biomass harvesting, to remove phosphorus from municipal wastewater and reduce phosphorus loading into nearby Lake Winnipeg.

Project: Grassed waterway and riparian enhancement

Proponent: Swan Lake Watershed Conservation District

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $60,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will restore naturally meandering grassed waterways, implement riparian management activities and educate landowners on Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs) that protect streambanks and reduce overland flooding, to limit nutrients running off the landscape.

Project: Nutrient reduction through Baildon landowner engagement

Proponent: Moose Jaw River Watershed Stewards Inc.

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $86,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will reduce nutrient loading in the Lake Winnipeg Basin by stabilizing streambanks, installing erosion control structures and restoring and revegetating natural waterways and ditches. The project will also educate landowners on the importance of protecting water resources.

Project: Drainage and wetlands – options to help mitigate nutrient transport from drainage networks

Proponent: University of Saskatchewan

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $64,000 over 3 years

Project description: This project will study the impact of different drainage options and practices to reduce the transport of nutrients to waterways. Project activities include:

• creating a community-based monitoring program
• measuring nutrient export across paired watersheds with varied drainage options
• assessing the effectiveness of gated ditches and grassed waterways
• training, education and outreach on project results, opportunities and the need for improved water quality management

Project: Improving riparian health and grazing to benefit water quality

Proponent: Alberta Riparian Habitat Management Society

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $112,500 over 3 years

Project description: This project will support landowners and partners to change riparian management practices to reduce the amount of soil and nutrients that enter nearby water bodies. The project aims to improve riparian health and surface water quality.

Project: Manitoba non-point source nutrient retention

Proponent: Ducks Unlimited Canada

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $280,000 over 3 years

Project description: This project is designed to store nutrients in high nutrient-contributing watersheds of the Lake Winnipeg Basin by restoring wetlands and using perpetual conservation easements to conserve these wetlands.

Project: Reducing phosphorus loading to waterways through soil and crop management practices

Proponent: University of Manitoba

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $159,225 over 3 years

Project description: This research project will evaluate soil and crop management practices for their ability to reduce the frequency and/or volume of runoff at the plant scale and evaluate these practices for their ability to reduce the loss of phosphorus in surface runoff.

Project: Nutrient management using natural infrastructure investment principles in the Scallion watershed

Proponent: Strategic Community Consulting Inc.

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $139,825 over 3 years

Project description: This project focuses on the development and implementation of restored wetlands, which will have multifunctional benefits and serve as critical natural infrastructure for nutrient management in the Scallion Creek watershed. It will use natural infrastructure (retention storage) to manage nutrients (phosphorus reduction). The outcomes will be monitored and analyzed to:

• develop a nutrient management performance metric for investors in natural infrastructure
• demonstrate value for money benefits
• determine investment-readiness of retention storage as an alternative to conventional infrastructure

Project: MCDA water retention program, phase II

Proponent: Manitoba Conservation Districts Association

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $180,000 over 3 years

Project description: Manitoba Conservation Districts Association will construct water retention projects in targeted, high nutrient-contributing waterways in the Red River, Assiniboine River, Souris River and Lake Manitoba basins.

Project: Improving Lake Winnipeg water quality through restoration of natural features on agricultural lands

Proponent: ALUS Canada

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $139,850 over 3 years

Project description: This project will use the ALUS model to implement water-quality improvement projects on select environmentally sensitive agricultural land. The implementation of management practices such as the seeding buffer strips, wetland restoration, exclusion fencing and alternate watering sources will filter, retain or reduce nutrients from entering waterways.

Fiscal year 2018 to 2019

Project: Nutrient and Flow Reduction in Tobacco Creek Model Watershed

Proponent: Deerwood Soil and Water Management Association

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $80,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will construct water retention systems (small dams) to retain nutrients and limit spring runoff to reduce downstream flooding in the Tobacco Creek watershed in the Lake Winnipeg Basin. The project will be evaluated through extensive water quality monitoring.

Project: Seine-Rat River Nutrient Reduction through Mapped and Managed Water Retention

Proponent: Seine-Rat River Conservation District

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $275,600 over 3 years

Project description: This project will implement water retention projects to capture and reduce phosphorus. These managed water retention projects will store water and reduce the amount of phosphorus from entering Lake Winnipeg.

Project: Use of soil amendments to reduce phosphorus release to flood water from waterlogged, anoxic soils in Manitoba

Proponent: University of Winnipeg

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $70,000 over 3 years

Project description: This project will evaluate different soil amendments at varying application rates in reducing phosphorus losses to floodwater from soil in the Red River Basin in Manitoba. The project will evaluate effectiveness, availability, cost, feasibility, storage and application of these amendments and other environmental effects.

Project: Netley-Libau Marsh Renewal

Proponent: Red River Basin Commission

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $105,000 over 2 years

Project description: This pilot project will investigate the feasibility of using dredged sediment from the Red River to help restore Netley-Libau Marsh. Dredging will create sediment “islands” in Hardman Lake, encouraging vegetation to grow, restoring the function of the marsh and removing nutrients. This project has the potential to prevent significant amounts of nutrients from entering Lake Winnipeg.

Project: Exploring Livestock Grazing as a Riparian Phosphorus Management Tool

Proponent: Manitoba Conservation Districts Association

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $25,500 over 3 years

Project description: This project will use various grazing management strategies within riparian zones to measure the impacts grazing has on the movement of phosphorus, on-site phosphorus cycling and vegetation-phosphorus export. This project will study whether grazing cattle can be used effectively to remove phosphorus from riparian zones.

Project: Redeploying Water Retention: Green Infrastructure and Phosphorus Capture in the Lake Winnipeg Basin

Proponent: International Institute for Sustainable Development

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $200,000 over 3 years

Project description: This project will enhance and manage an existing poorly managed water retention site in the Rat-River watershed, a tributary which flows into Lake Winnipeg. The project will improve phosphorus retention, reduce phosphorus loading, improve water retention capacity, restore critical wetland habitat and provide a harvested biomass crop.

Project: Manitoba Non-Point Source Nutrient Reduction

Proponent: Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $400,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project, in partnership with Ducks Unlimited Canada, will restore previously drained wetlands as well as protect and conserve intact wetlands to help retain phosphorus on the land.

Project: Addressing Nutrient Pollution at its Origin

Proponent: Upper Assiniboine River Conservation District

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $6,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will install a series of sediment traps to address and reduce slope and water speed and will construct structures to reduce erosion and improve water clarity. Surveys will be used to determine the amount of sediment prevented from entering the river network and the total load of nutrients stored.

Project: Manitoba Conservation Districts Association Water Retention Program

Proponent: Manitoba Conservation Districts Association

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $420,000 over 3 years

Project description: This project will construct water retention structures in high nutrient contributing locations across the Lake Winnipeg Basin, retaining water and phosphorus from the Manitoba portion of the Lake Winnipeg Basin.

Project: The Nutrient App: Promoting Beneficial Management Practices Acceptance through On-Farm Instantaneous Community-Based Nutrient Sampling

Proponent: University of Saskatchewan

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $68,750 over 2 years

Project description: This project will test and apply a recently developed technology for smartphones, the Deltares Nutrient App. The app will enable citizens, farmers and water quality managers to measure and share water quality data and identify possible sources and hotspots of contamination. This will encourage and empower the participants to take remedial action and reduce nutrients.

Project: Assiniboine River Basin Initiative to Strategically Target Wetland Restoration Opportunities within Annually Cropped Farmland

Proponent: Assiniboine River Basin Initiative

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $275,000 over 3 years

Project description: This project, in partnership with Ducks Unlimited Canada, will restore previously drained wetlands and re-establish forage perimeters within annually cropped farmland across eastern Saskatchewan. The project has the potential to improve water quality by storing phosphorus in the eastern Saskatchewan portion of the Lake Winnipeg watershed.

Fiscal year 2017 to 2018

Project: Development of a simple calculator for phosphorus-reduction management practices to aid in watershed planning

Proponent: The University of Manitoba

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $37,250 over 1 year

Project description: The Watershed Systems Research Program at the University of Manitoba will work collaboratively with researchers and stakeholders to develop a simple tool for calculating the impact of potential management practices on nutrient loading to surface waters at a watershed scale. This project will focus on a variety of management practices, serving as a Proof of Concept to aid in assessing and calculating the potential for reducing phosphorus loading to surface waters in the watershed.

Collaborative governance projects

Fiscal year 2022 to 2023

Project: Lake Winnipeg Community-Based Monitoring Network: Data for decision-making and public engagement

Proponent: Lake Winnipeg Foundation

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $90,000 over 1 year

This project supports the Lake Winnipeg Foundation’s Community Based Monitoring Program which engages citizens and builds capacity for scientific data collection, analyses and shares data to enable informed decision making and supports targeted actions to reduce phosphorus loading to Lake Winnipeg. The Program brings together volunteers to collect water samples throughout Manitoba, and makes available phosphorus data to enrich existing water quality data, identify localized phosphorus hotspots and enable geographically targeted nutrient reduction action.

Project: Win With Water: Collaborative governance in action in the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region and the South Basin of Lake Winnipeg

Proponent: Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $75,000 over 1 year

This project will continue to implement a collaborative approach to regional water protection and nutrient reduction decision making based on common values. Project activities will support the Collaborative Leadership Initiative, comprised of 27 Mayors, Reeves and Chiefs from municipalities and First Nations located in Southern Manitoba to formulate a path forward to develop and implement an action plan addressing agreed upon issues of common concern.

Fiscal year 2020 to 2021

Project: Building a water quality trading regime in the Lake Winnipeg Basin

Proponent: Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $125,000 over 2 years

Project description: Previous Government of Canada funding supported the creation of the Collaborative Leadership Initiative (CLI), a collaborative governance initiative premised on shared decision-making between 26 mayors, reeves and chiefs representing 16 municipalities and 10 First Nation governments in Southern Manitoba. This project will support the move to implement projects designed to improve water quality and reduce phosphorus loading in the Lake Winnipeg Basin through collaborative, reconciliation-based governance. 

Fiscal year 2019 to 2020

Project: Protecting Nipiy (Water): Riparian restoration in the Battle River watershed

Proponent: Battle River Watershed Alliance Society

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $150,000 over 3 years

Project description: This project will improve water quality in the Battle River and its tributaries through riparian restoration activities. Working in collaboration with the Samson Cree Nation, four riparian sites will be identified where management practices will be implemented.

Project: Testing for phosphorus in lakes and rivers flowing into the Saskatchewan River

Proponent: Carrot River Valley Watershed Association Inc.

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $100,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will gather comprehensive baseline data from four watersheds that contribute phosphorus to the Saskatchewan River. It will build a network of community residents to help create a long-term monitoring program. Water sampling results will be used to identify seasonal fluctuations in phosphorus levels.

Project: Win with water: Collaborative governance in action in the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region and the South Basin of Lake Winnipeg

Proponent: Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $162,280 over 2 years

Project description: Building on the success of past work, this project will create an agreed-upon approach based on common values to make regional water-protection and nutrient-reduction decisions. CIER and its partners have built a collaborative governance table comprised of Mayors, Reeves and Chiefs from municipalities and First Nations located within a 200 kilometre circular region surrounding and including Winnipeg. The project will implement a collaborative governance process that aims to build governance and reconciliation between the Mayors, Reeves and Chiefs. The overarching long-term goal is to establish a path forward to develop and implement an action plan addressing agreed-upon issues of common concern.

Fiscal year 2018 to 2019

Project: Collaborative Governance as a Reconciliation Process in the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region and the South Basin of Lake Winnipeg

Proponent: Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources Inc.

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $230,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project encourages leaders who have direct decision-making authority, to work together and focus on issues of common concern. The project will build relationships and identify knowledge gaps, as well as direct leaders through a process to investigate how decisions made today will affect water in the future. Project activities will include scenario rollouts, public engagement and the development of an Action Plan.

Project: Lake Winnipeg Community-Based Monitoring Network: Data for decision-making and public engagement

Proponent: Lake Winnipeg Foundation

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $260,000 over 4 years

Project description: The Lake Winnipeg Foundation’s Community-Based Monitoring (CBM) Program engages citizens and builds capacity for scientific data collection, analysis and sharing. This project will collect and share credible multiyear phosphorus data to inform decision-making and support targeted actions to reduce phosphorus loading to Lake Winnipeg. At the end of the project, the CBM Program will provide monitoring coverage for approximately 69,000 km2 of the agro-Manitoba landscape at 100 Water Survey of Canada hydrometric sites in partnership with 12 conservation districts.

Project: Lake Winnipeg Basin Integrated Capacity Inventory

Proponent: Lake Winnipeg Research Consortium

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $60,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will develop an Integrated Capacity Inventory (ICI) of organizational roles and capacity within the Lake Winnipeg Basin, providing a greater understanding of institutional capacity, relevant programs and their impact. The ICI will identify strengths and gaps in overall capacity, action and impact. It will also further enable the coordination, synthesis, evaluation and reporting of both lake and basin-wide initiatives, between stakeholders and government partners.

Project: Enhancing Capacity for Collaborative Governance in the Lake of the Woods Basin

Proponent: Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $251,450 over 4 years

Project description: This project will develop a water coordination program to strengthen collaboration and build capacity for organizations and groups working on nutrient reduction for the Lake of the Woods Basin, benefitting Lake Winnipeg downstream. This project includes:

• developing a Charter for Lake of the Woods as a framework for action
• creating communication networks to improve knowledge sharing and coordination of activities
• improving knowledge and understanding of nutrient pollution and algae blooms and related science
• increasing public engagement and support for nutrient reduction actions
• enhancing participation of public organizations with governments in the development of water quality objectives for the Lake of the Woods and Rainy River

Project: Transboundary Events in the Assiniboine River Basin

Proponent: Assiniboine River Basin Initiative

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $115,500 over 3 years

Project description: This project will increase awareness and collaboration to address transboundary water related issues in the Assiniboine River Basin. The project will initiate and encourage collaboration and joint planning, and help implement management decisions between municipal leaders, local watershed organizations, key provincial water decision makers and other stakeholders, on both sides of the Manitoba/Saskatchewan border. This will lead to improvements in water quality and the landscape within the Lake Winnipeg Basin.

Fiscal Year 2017 to 2018

Project: Collaborative governance as a reconciliation process in the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region and the South Basin of Lake Winnipeg

Proponent: Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources
Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $48,000 over 1 year

Project description: The Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources is initiating work with leaders from municipalities and Indigenous communities in the Lake Winnipeg south basin region. The intent is to “create a table” for community leaders to engage in a regional collaborative decision making process to address important issues, including water quality in Lake Winnipeg and its basin. Preliminary work has confirmed a commitment from leaders to participate. This project supports the initial process (Phase 1) required to establish the foundational framework by which long-term collaborative governance through a mutual consent-based process can be achieved. Phase 1 serves as a pilot to assess whether this approach is feasible in the Lake Winnipeg Basin and if so, it could be scaled-up to include other levels of governments and be expanded to include other regions of the basin in the future.

Project: Manitoba Great Lakes Workshop

Proponent: The University of Manitoba

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $8,970 over 1 year

Project description: The Centre for Earth Observation Science at the University of Manitoba is planning the “Manitoba Great Lakes” workshop. It will bring together representatives from First Nation communities, academics and non-government organizations to explore the feasibility of creating a “Manitoba Great Lakes Research Centre.” The Centre will address gaps in the understanding of how aquatic ecosystems around Lake Winnipeg (including Lake Manitoba and Lake Winnipegosis) function and how they affect the transfer of nutrients and contaminants from the landscape.

Project: Organization Summit

Proponent: Assiniboine River Basin Initiative

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $8,000 over 1 year

Project description: Assiniboine River Basin Initiative will lead the planning of an initial meeting between four primary basin management organizations operating in the Lake Winnipeg Basin. The intent of this meeting is to confirm an interest in working together; identify common interests and shared priorities; explore opportunities for knowledge transfer/exchange of information on topics such as organization governance, stakeholder engagement, project and activities; identify opportunities for collaboration; and discuss tools and approaches needed to enhance future collaborative efforts.

Indigenous engagement projects

Fiscal year 2022 to 2023

Project: Building Watershed Resilience through Partnership Collaboration, Sharing and Capacity Building between Manitoba's First Nations and Watershed Districts

Proponent: Manitoba Association of Watersheds

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $30,000 over 1 year

This project will continue to provide opportunities for Manitoba Watershed Districts and First Nation communities to meet, discuss and identify shared watershed concerns, advance collaborative watershed management decisions and support reconciliation. Project activities will facilitate discussions and opportunities for knowledge sharing, as well as provide opportunities for First Nation communities to share traditional knowledge and their perspectives on water. These efforts will build relationships and identify potential collaborative actions to address water quality issues on and off First Nation land.

Project: Two Path Management: Guidance on collaborative watershed management planning in the Lower Winnipeg River Basin

Proponent: International Institute for Sustainable Development

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $19,000 over 1 year

This project will strengthen relationships between communities in the lower Winnipeg River Basin, International Institute for Sustainable Development, Grand Council Treaty 3 and the Southern Chiefs' Organization and will enhance communication and collaboration between the First Nations and participant organizations for knowledge exchange to improve community engagement and Indigenous participation in the watershed management planning process. The project will develop and refine guidance on knowledge mobilization and collaboration with Indigenous communities, including the braiding of Traditional Knowledge with western science, which can be used for watershed planning and by various resource sectors.

Project: Indigenous Engagement on Lake Winnipeg Basin Nutrient Issues in Treaty 4, 5 and 6 in Saskatchewan

Proponent: University of Saskatchewan

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $20,000 over 1 year

This  project will support Indigenous groups in Saskatchewan to engage in meaningful and reconciliatory watershed-scale conversations about nutrient management, contribute to collaborative watershed governance on nutrient issues, and enhance Indigenous engagement on nutrient issues in Treaty 4, 5 and 6. The project will conduct community based research to gain an understanding of Indigenous Knowledge related to nutrient management and examine Treaty Rights with respect to water quality. Citizen science monitoring programs will provide training for Indigenous youth and leaders that are interested in water issues.

Project: Lake Winnipeg Indigenous Collective: Building Capacity, Relationships and Representation

Proponent: Lake Winnipeg Foundation

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $60,000 over 1 year

This project will continue to build the capacity of the Lake Winnipeg Indigenous Collective (LWIC) to improve water quality in partnership with local communities and First Nation governments. The project will address community concerns and share knowledge; strengthen collaboration between First Nation governments; and ensure Indigenous perspectives are represented and respected in decision making and management processes to improve Lake Winnipeg’s water quality.

Project: Southern Chiefs' Organization Water Committee to Assess and Protect Natural Water sources

Proponent: Southern Chiefs' Organization Inc.

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $50,000 over 1 year

This project will further enhance the goals of the Water Committee and enable First Nations to monitor and assess water sources. A centralized repository of Indigenous knowledge, concerns and data related to water quality and watershed health will be developed to support First Nation community decision making for water stewardship which includes reducing nutrient loading to Lake Winnipeg.

Project: Manitoba Métis Federation Community-Based Monitoring Program

Proponent: Manitoba Métis Federation

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $60,000 over 1 year

This project will continue to support the Manitoba Métis Community Based Monitoring Program in the Lake Winnipeg Basin. A collection of water samples at predetermined locations within Manitoba Métis Federation regions, along with the inclusion of Traditional Knowledge and Land Use Studies (TKLUS), will help build a strong foundation for Métis specific contributions to research and education in the Lake Winnipeg Basin. Métis Community Based Monitors will be employed to engage with Métis citizens, conduct field duties, coordinate Métis citizen scientists, compile TKLUS data and facilitate program implementation.

Project: Sagkeeng Nipi

Proponent: Fort Alexander (Sagkeeng) First Nation

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $30,000 over 1 year

This project will resume efforts toward an improved understanding of water quality amongst the community members of the Sagkeeng First Nation.  Community members and local youth will be trained in water sampling methods to facilitate community monitoring efforts.  In addition, collaborative opportunities, related to water quality, will be identified to support dialogues between First Nation and neighbouring municipal leaders.

Fiscal Year 2021 to 2022

Project: Swan Lake First Nation Watersheds Stewardship Project

Proponent: Swan Lake First Nation

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $49,390 over 1 year

Project description: This project supports a newly-established Swan Lake First Nation Watersheds Steering Committee to work collaboratively with neighboring watershed districts to plan and design nutrient-reduction projects. Project plans and results will be shared via community meetings, social media and the Manitoba Association of Watersheds annual conference.

Project: Sagkeeng Nipi

Proponent: Fort Alexander (Sagkeeng) First Nation

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $55,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will result in an improved understanding of water quality amongst the community members in Sagkeeng First Nation. An environmental monitoring system will be facilitated by community members and local youth to identify sources of contamination near the mouth of the Winnipeg River and immediately upstream.  In addition, collaborative opportunities, related to water quality, will be identified to support dialogues between First Nation and municipal leaders.

Fiscal year 2020 to 2021

Project: Restoring wetlands with Indigenous communities and landowners within Lake Winnipeg Basin

Proponent: Assiniboine River Basin Initiative

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $130,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will support collaborative efforts between Indigenous communities and watershed organizations to restore wetlands on land managed by Indigenous communities in southeastern Saskatchewan. Project sites include a mix of annual cropland and perennial cover, incorporating Traditional Knowledge and science to prioritize wetland-restoration project sites.

Project: Indigenous engagement in the Lake Winnipeg Basin to build watershed resilience

Proponent: Centre for Earth Observation Science (CEOS), University of Manitoba

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $50,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will expand on previous research on Manitoba’s Great Lakes including Lake Winnipeg, Lake Winnipegosis, Waterhen Lake and Lake Manitoba. In collaboration with the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) it will expand the Manitoba Métis Community-Based Water Monitoring Program and create a Water-Weather Keeper Program to facilitate the sharing of water, weather and climate-related information. MMF members will be trained in water sampling methods and provided with analytical support and training by CEOS. A summer student will also be hired through the university’s Indigenous training initiative to assist with this project.

Project: Sioux Valley water retention partnership

Proponent: Assiniboine West Watershed District

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $32,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will provide an opportunity for the Assiniboine West Watershed District and Sioux Valley Dakota Nation (SVDN) to collaborate on a water retention and erosion control project to reduce nutrient loading to the Assiniboine River and Lake Winnipeg. It will also build relationships that will facilitate future collaborative water management work. Upstream water retention project sites will hold nutrients on the land, provide long-term flooding protection to SVDN and drought resilience. The water retention structures will capture water from annual crop and pasture land and reduce erosion along streambanks.

Project: Swan Lake First Nation watersheds stewardship project

Proponent: Swan Lake First Nation Lands Management Department

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $35,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will establish a steering committee for the Swan Lake First Nation watersheds to build relationships, share knowledge and develop strategies for nutrient-reduction initiatives. It will work collaboratively with neighbouring watershed districts to coordinate nutrient reduction and land management efforts, and to determine educational and outreach strategies to solicit input from the communities.

Project: Manitoba Métis Federation’s community-based water monitoring program

Proponent: Manitoba Métis Federation Inc. (MMF)

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $130,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will build on the program initiated in 2018 with financial support through the Lake Winnipeg Basin Program to increase the number of Manitoba Métis citizen scientists involved in measuring phosphorus concentrations. It will create a Water-Weather Keeper Program in partnership with the University of Manitoba’s Centre for Earth Observation Science (CEOS), as well as gather and update traditional knowledge on the health and nutrient loading to Lake Winnipeg. This project will foster a new partnership between MMF and CEOS, increasing MMF’s capacity to conduct water quality research and monitoring while employing and educating Manitoba Métis citizens.

Fiscal year 2019 to 2020

Project: The nexus between Lake Winnipeg water quality and livelihood assets: exploring impacts and solutions through civic engagement

Proponent: Interlake Reserves Tribal Council

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $100,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project aims to reduce nutrient loading to Lake Winnipeg by examining the impact of everyday activities on water quality. This project will:

• integrate local knowledge in policies and planning decisions
• increase cooperation and collaboration of First Nation communities surrounding Lake Winnipeg
• incorporate scientific and traditional knowledge into resource management plans and activities

The implementation of Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs) to reduce nutrients at the household and community level will ensure resources are managed sustainably.

Project:Building watershed resilience through engagement and capacity building with Saskatchewan Indigenous communities and watershed stewardship groups

Proponent: Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds Inc. (SAW)

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $20,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will provide an opportunity for Saskatchewan’s watershed managers and Indigenous communities to meet, discuss and identify shared watershed concerns and collaborate on watershed management decisions. SAW is working with the Mistawasis First Nation and other partners to strenghten relationships between Watershed Districts and Indigenous communities to implement water protection projects that will reduce phosphorus, improve knowledge sharing and create new partnerships.

Project: Traditional knowledge integration to watershed planning and basin characterization in the Lower Winnipeg River Basin

Proponent: International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $85,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will build relationships between communities in the lower Winnipeg River Basin, IISD, Grand Council Treaty #3 and the Southern Chiefs' Organization. It will enhance communication and collaboration to facilitate community engagement and participation in the watershed management planning process. The project will also develop a guidance document on knowledge mobilization and collaboration with Indigenous communities, including integrating Traditional Knowledge with western science approaches to inform watershed planning and various resource sectors.

Project: SCO Water Committee to assess and protect natural water sources

Proponent: Southern Chiefs' Organization Inc.

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $129,250 over 2 years

Project description: Working in collaboration with the Lake Winnipeg Indigenous Collective (LWIC), this project will create a Water Committee to develop an environmental monitoring framework to monitor and manage water resources, build water quality-related technical capacity in communities, and test water and map sources in 37 First Nation communities. The framework will set a benchmark, inform leadership and promote collaboration.

Project: Indigenous engagement on Lake Winnipeg Basin nutrient issues in Treaty 4, 5 and 6, Saskatchewan

Proponent: University of Saskatchewan

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $177,805 over 3 years

Project description: This project will support Indigenous groups in Saskatchewan to:

• engage in meaningful and reconciliatory watershed-scale conversations about nutrient management
• contribute to collaborative governance across watersheds on nutrient issues
• enhance Indigenous engagement on nutrient issues in Treaty 4, 5 and 6

Fiscal Year 2018 to 2019

Project: First Nations Conservation, Protection and Restoration of the Lake Winnipeg Water Basin

Proponent: Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $230,000 over 3 years

Project description: This project will promote collective stewardship to lead First Nation peoples forward with a collaborative strategy for the Conservation, Protection and Restoration (CPR) of Lake Winnipeg and her watershed. Project activities will establish collaboration between Indigenous communities and municipalities, environmental nongovernment organizations and industry to develop strategies to promote stewardship, collaborative approaches, and meaningful Indigenous engagement. The project will also incorporate Indigenous Traditional Knowledge within existing processes.

Project: Manitoba Metis Lake Winnipeg Basin Community-Based Monitoring Program

Proponent: Manitoba Metis Federation

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $150,000 over 2 years

Project description: This project will implement a Manitoba Metis Community-Based Monitoring Program in the Lake Winnipeg Basin in collaboration with the Lake Winnipeg Foundation. The project will increase awareness of water quality issues, help identify phosphorus hot spots to better focus nutrient reduction efforts, integrate Metis specific information into existing data collections and provide economic opportunities for Metis communities.

Project: One Basin, One Governance

Proponent: Red River Basin Commission

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $127,385 over 3 years

Project description: The Red River Basin Commission and Southern Chiefs’ Organization are partnering with municipal leaders to construct a path for dialogue and reconciliation for all Indigenous and Tribal communities in the Lake Winnipeg Basin. This project will provide the venue for both Indigenous and non-indigenous participants to share knowledge, strengthen or create partnerships, and discuss opportunities for collaboration on future projects and activities. The project aims to create a respectful dialogue and an improved understanding of the water-related cultural and traditional values of Indigenous communities in the Lake Winnipeg Basin.

Project: Building Watershed Resilience through Partnership Collaboration, Sharing and Capacity Building Manitoba's First Nations and Conservation Districts

Proponent: Manitoba Conservation Districts Association

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $29,310 over 2 years

Project description: This project will provide an opportunity for Manitoba Conservation Districts and First Nation communities to meet, discuss and identify shared watershed concerns and collaborative watershed management decisions. Stronger relationships between Conservation Districts and First Nation communities will reduce phosphorus , restore wetlands, improve knowledge sharing and create new partnerships.

Project: Lake Winnipeg Indigenous Collective (LWIC): Building Capacity, Relationships and Representation

Proponent: Lake Winnipeg Foundation Inc.

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $200,000 over 4 years

Project description: This project will build the capacity of LWIC to address community concerns and share knowledge; strengthen collaboration between First Nation governments; and ensure Indigenous perspectives are represented and respected in decision-making and management processes to improve Lake Winnipeg’s water quality. This project will implement on-the-ground stewardship projects to improve water quality in partnership with local communities and First Nation governments.

Project: Treaty #3 Watershed Management Plan

Proponent: Grand Council Treaty #3

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $232,000 over 3 years

Project description: This project will establish a Treaty #3 Watershed Management Plan (WMP) to develop an engagement and decision-making framework in line with Anishinaabe culture and Manitou Aki Inakinogawiin (Great Earth Law), combined with western science, to protect the land and water of Treaty #3 for future generations. The project will help protect water in each of the 28 regions of Treaty #3 Territory.

Project: Enhancing Indigenous Engagement Training Workshop

Proponent: Assiniboine River Basin Initiative

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $10,000 over 1 year

Project description: This project will help participants learn the appropriate protocol and process to enter into meaningful discussions with First Nation communities and understand First Nations’ concerns and issues on water.

Fiscal Year 2017 to 2018

Project: Spirit of Water

Proponent: Red River Basin Commission

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funding: $20,280 over 1 year

Project description: The Red River Basin Commission will be holding their 35th annual Land and Water Summit conference January 22-25, 2018 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In partnership with the Southern Chiefs Organization, they will co-host the inaugural “Spirit of Water” session to provide a venue for Provincial, Federal, Municipal, and Indigenous government leaders to initiate dialogue, and identify collaboration opportunities on Lake Winnipeg Basin water quality issues. Goals for the event include the creation of an Action Plan to direct future work and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Red River Basin Commission and Southern Chiefs Organization in this transboundary basin between Canada and the United States.