Time to act on algae is now, says organization calling for Lake of the Woods phosphorus reduction

A watershed board focused on protecting Lake of the Woods is calling on Manitoba's provincial government to reduce the amount of phosphorus running into the basin.

The organization wants the governments of Manitoba, Ontario and Canada to commit to an 18.4 per cent reduction in phosphorus loadsto improve the health of the water body.

The 69,000square kilometre watershed, based primarilyin Ontario, Minnesota and a small portion of Manitoba, has been plagued by blue-green algae blooms, according to a recent report on the ecosystem's health.

Six per cent of the basin isin Manitoba, whichdrains into the Winnipeg River andthe beleagueredLake Winnipeg, which has been under siege withharmful blue-green algae,said Todd Sellers, a member of the Rainy-Lake of the Woods watershed board.

Too much algae problematic

"Algae isn't badit's the base of the food chain," Sellers said, "but too much of a good thing can cause problems."

He explained an abundance ofalgae produces toxins that arebad for human and animal health, while impairing the lake's suitability as a recreational playground.

In an emailed statement to CBCWednesday, a provincial spokespersonendorsed the 18.4 per cent target, saying it will help support Manitoba's goal of reducing nutrients such as phosphorous in Lake Winnipeg by 50 per cent.

The statement said the province recognizes the impact excess nutrients have, not only on Manitoba's rivers and lakes, but also in neighbouring jurisdictions, including Ontario and Lake of the Woods. It said the province welcomes actions to reduce excess nutrient loading and improve water quality across the Lake Winnipeg watershed.

The Lake of the Woods organization also wants the federal U.S. and Canadian governmentsto establishbinational goals focused on phosphorus reductionand to regularly review the standards in years to come, they said in a news release this week.

The recommendations have been endorsed by the Canadian and American water level committee, the International Joint Commission, which sent itto the federalgovernments in both countries.

The proposal follows suit with the Minnesota state government,which is in the midst of cutting phosphorus levels by the same 18.4 per cent.

Canada 'year or 2 behind'

The watershed board wants action fromOttawa before Environment and Climate Change Canada is expected to finishits scientificassessment in 2020, Sellers said.

He believespreliminary measures can be started in Canada based on the research in Minnesota.

"Canada is maybe a year or two behind, but we hope that this recommendation will spur Canada to say,'Maybe we can start actions now,'" he said.

In a statement, a provincial spokesperson said Manitoba hopes cutting phosphorus loading into Lake of the Woods could help reach the overall goal of reducing Lake Winnipeg's nutrient load by 50 per cent.

"Manitoba has taken strong action to reduce nutrient loading to surface waters across Manitoba, including implementing nutrient reduction measures for wastewater, regulating the application of nutrients to land, and prohibiting the application of nutrients to frozen ground," the statement said.