Lake Winnipeg Basin Program science priorities

The science conducted through this program builds on previous work that characterized the lake. It adds a focus on improving knowledge of nutrient export to streams and understanding the impacts of climate variability and invasive species on the lake. The program will provide resource managers with tools and information to help manage Lake Winnipeg and its fishery.  The science plan has four priority areas:

Reporting on progress towards restoring a healthy lake

Progress reports on the state of the lake help ensure stakeholders have the information they need to implement actions that will help improve the health of Lake Winnipeg. Key components include:

• developing ecological, social and economic indicators of lake health
• completing an update to the State of Lake Winnipeg Report

• providing open access to data for all stakeholders

Monitoring to assess status and track change

Regular monitoring provides the data used to assess the condition of the lake and feeds into models which help predict changes over time. Key components include:

• sampling key Lake Winnipeg tributaries
• sampling nearshore and offshore sites in Lake Winnipeg
• interpreting and reporting water quality status and trends in the lake and watershed

Research on nutrient sources and transport pathways to the lake

Knowing how nutrients reach Lake Winnipeg and how the sources and pathways may change under a variable climate is needed to manage the nutrient loading to the lake. Key research components include:

• understanding how the location and scale of different land management practices influence nutrient loss from the land
• understanding how groundwater and in-stream nutrient cycling influence the nutrient load in streams
• developing watershed models to test how and where implementing different land management practices can reduce nutrient loss to streams
• testing models to assess how changes in climate may influence nutrient loss to streams

Research on lake ecosystem components to achieve a sustainable nutrient balance

Managing Lake Winnipeg requires an understanding of how changes in the lake may influence different components of the lake ecosystem. Key research components include:

• refining the Lake Winnipeg water quality model to include impacts of multiple stressors
• improving estimates of algal bloom conditions by optimizing remote sensing information
• evaluating the impacts of invasive mussels on lake water quality and ecology
• improving estimates of sediment nutrient release