FEFCHAK: A Worthy Cause - BEAUTIFUL LAKE WINNIPEG
From: John Fefchak
Sent: Saturday, November 15, 2014 12:44 PM
Subject: A Worthy Cause-BEAUTIFUL LAKE WINNIPEG
15 Nov. 2014
To: Professors, School Principles and all Teaching Staff.
A worthy cause for our waters and especially Lake Winnipeg.
Please share with your peers and students:
Become involved.
Thank You.
John Fefchak.
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Our Beautiful Lake Winnipeg. Tell me what I can do and I will do it. ( Prof. Eva Pip speaks to Night Hawk (CJOB Radio 680) 14 Nov, about the continuing deterioration of Lake Winnipeg): "It all comes down to the dollars and the economic drive, she says. The government and people of Manitoba are watching it happen—but not addressing what has to be done. Manitoba has to take the lead, and set the example. It is our Lake and we are not doing our part. How can we expect other provinces, and US jurisdictions to join in to help, if we don't take the initiative and do our part first."
This is what I have to offer.
Get others to help you and organize a committee. (the more, the better)
Meet and talk with your mayor and city council. Ask them to quit stalling on the sewage treatment facility that will be beneficial, by removing both phosphorus and nitrogen. Winnipeg is noted for releasing raw sewage into the river. That is not helpful to the health of the lake.
Meet with your MLA and as many Manitoba government ministers as you possibly can. (Water stewardship, Conservation and Agriculture are foremost) Get them to reduce the phosphorus limit that presently exists for agriculture. It is now at over 800 lbs. per acre. 15 −20 lbs. per acre is quite sufficient for most of the crops that are grown in Manitoba. (That would be a BIG plus)
At the present time, our provincial government permits arsenic to be put into water sources as a convenient means of disposal and allows a garbage dump to be situated in a wetland area. This is not healthy or helpful to our water sources that feed into the Lake.
Meet with your Member of Parliament. The Federal government must get more involved to help save Lake Winnipeg. About 50% of the present phosphorus load comes from our U.S. neighbour on the Red River water system. About 15% from other provinces, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta. Any reduction to that load would also be a plus to help Lake Winnipeg's recovery.
Keep the pressure on and don't get discouraged. Hundreds of dedicated Manitobans have been working very hard for the past 10, 20 and even 30 years to help clean up Lake Winnipeg. Our first Water Stewardship Minister (Steve Ashton) had set a goal of reducing phosphorus in the lake to the mid 1970 levels. A worthy commitment in 2003, and something the Lake is still looking forward to after 11years of waiting.
Oh, be sure to get the children involved also, for they are the inspiration that we all need to make it happen.
Your commitment will be welcomed and appreciated. Lake Winnipeg needs everyone's help.
John Fefchak
Virden, Manitoba
204.748.2521