July 20, 2007
After years of promoting conservation within the Interlake region, the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) welcomes Park Reserve status for Little Limestone Lake and surrounding lands.
During the Park Reserve process, the designated area is protected from industrial activities while the province consults local First Nations and considers input from all citizens about the future of what CPAWS deems as “Manitoba’s most amazing lake.”
“We’re pleased the Manitoba government recognizes the significance of this irreplaceable wonder,” said Ron Thiessen, Executive Director of CPAWS Manitoba. “We’d also like to highly commend Mosakahikan First Nation for their efforts to protect their traditional lands and waters. Xstrata Nickel is also to be congratulated for its involvement.”
Communities and Conservation
CPAWS is looking forward to working with all involved to ensure that a sufficient area around the lake is protected so the water body’s ecology remains healthy and local community’s cultural and economic needs are met.
“It’s essential the province work with local First Nations and all Manitobans to make certain the protected area is large enough to maintain the lake’s health as well as traditional activities and sustainable tourism opportunities for the area’s residents,” added Thiessen.
A Step Toward a Sustainable Future for the Interlake Region
CPAWS is optimistic the Park Reserve process for Little Limestone will be a stepping stone to other conservation initiatives within the Interlake region.
“We’re hopeful that governments and local Interlake communities will work together in creating a large protected areas network that will protect Mother Nature and provide jobs for people in the region,” said Thiessen. “This will only happen with rightful consultation and consent from First Nations,” added Thiessen.
Little Limestone Lake – Why it’s Special
Little Limestone Lake, located near the northwest tip of Lake Winnipeg, is Earth’s pre-eminent marl lake. Marl is created when calcite, the chief constituent of limestone, is chemically precipitated from warm water. As the temperature rises, the quantity of marl increases, which changes the colour of the lake.
“It’s common for the lake to transform from a brilliant turquoise in the morning, to a robin’s egg blue by mid-afternoon,” exclaimed Thiessen.
For more information, please contact Ron Thiessen, CPAWS MB Executive Director at 794 4971.
About CPAWS
CPAWS is Canada’s pre-eminent, non-profit wilderness protection organization.
With a network of 13 chapters, 20,000 members, over 50 staff and hundreds of committed volunteers, since 1963 CPAWS has helped to conserve over 400,000 square kilometers of Canada’s most treasured wild places in parks and other protected areas- an area nearly seven times the size of Nova Scotia!