The Water Council would like to thank all those who provided information, photos and advice for the development of this document.

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2 The Water Council would like to thank all those who provided information, photos and advice for the development of this document. Special thanks to: Government of Manitoba Ducks Unlimited Canada Gordon Goldsborough, University of Manitoba Golder and Associates

3 SEEKING MANITOBANS' PERSPECTIVES ON ON WETLANDS Welcome As Chair of the Manitoba Water Council I would like to invite you to participate in our public consultation process Seeking Manitobans Perspectives on Wetlands. Wetlands are a vital part of Manitoba s environment and economy. This workbook has been developed as a tool to accompany regional open houses and will be distributed throughout the Province to ensure that all Manitobans have the opportunity to voice their opinion on wetlands. In this workbook you will nd information about the various wetlands found in Manitoba, the bene ts they provide, and the threats they face. Please take the time to complete and return the questionnaire found at the back of the workbook. The questionnaire is vital to ensure that your perspective is heard. The completed questionnaires and opinions expressed at the regional open houses will be incorporated into a What We Heard document. This document and the full consultation process will help inform the Water Council in their advisory role to Manitoba Water Stewardship. Your involvement in this process is vital to its success. We look forward to hearing your comments. Please be sure we receive your input by August 15, 2010: 1) Attend a regional Open House, short oral and written submissions will be accepted. 2) Fill out the workbook at one of our Open Houses and leave it with workshop organizers (Dates and locations will be available on the website below after May 21, 2010) 3) Fill out a workbook on-line at 4) Mail your completed questionnaire to: Manitoba Water Council c/o Manitoba Water Stewardship Box 11, 200 Saulteaux Crescent, Winnipeg MB R3J 3W3 If you would like to receive a printed copy of the workbook or have questions about the consultation process, please contact: The Manitoba Water Council at the above address or call Thank you for your participation. Sincerely, Jean Friesen Chair Manitoba Water Council

4 Who We Are The Manitoba Water Council is the senior advisory body to the Minister of Water Stewardship. It is established under the authority of the Water Protection Act. What We Do The water council brings together the expertise of its members under a consensus-based partnership to: The council coordinates work on water protection for all provincial advisory bodies and serves as a consultative tool for province-wide water issues. The council represents the regional diversity of Manitoba and includes local government, agricultural and environmental perspectives. The council builds consensus among Manitobans on sustainable solutions to the province s challenges of water quality and quantity protection and management. monitor the development and implementation of watershed management plans in Manitoba. review regulations on water quality management zones. advise the Minister on a broad spectrum of matters relating to water. assist with sustainability indicator(s) for water related issues. provide consensus-driven direction and advice to the government, stakeholders and the public on water-related issues. respond to specific requests from the Minister or tasks identified from an Act or regulation.

5 COLLABORATIVE The Council is: Supportive The Council supports the vision, mission and principles adopted by Manitoba Water Stewardship. Fair Council members agree to represent the interests of the citizens of Manitoba without advocating on behalf of their own organization. Transparent The council is visible and accessible, and uses established processes to bring forward and communicate council activities. Innovative The council draws on its expertise to find the best solutions to provincial water management issues. Collaborative The council identifies common initiatives and recommends collaboration when beneficial. Consensus Building To make the best decisions, the council uses a democratic approach to obtain a consensus perspective. The Council identifies common initiatives itia iati tive and recommends ends collaboration when The Council wants to hear from you! The council works hard to identify Manitoba s water concerns. To do this they: consult specialists and experts for reports, lectures and presentations meet with stakeholder groups ask for public and First Nations input travel the province to hear local perspectives directly hold open public consultations such as Seeking Manitobans Perspectives on Wetlands look for innovative ways to encourage dialogue This helps the water council to do its job of: raising public awareness and understanding of how to best protect Manitoba s water resources providing advice to government, stakeholders and the public on water issues and policies To learn more about the Manitoba Water Council or send us an go to:

6 MANITOBA WATER COUNCIL wetland Wetlands are unique transition areas between dry land (upland) areas and deeper water areas. As a result, wetlands have plants and soils that are adapted to this wet and dry environment. Wetlands vary greatly in size and type. They may be small and hold water for only a few weeks or months each year or be large and permanent, resembling a lake. Nutrients absorbed and carbon Manitoba has a greater proportion of wetland area than any other province or territory in Canada

7 Types of Wetlands What Kinds of Wetlands Do We Have? Fresh Water Wetlands Bog Bogs are characterized by sphagnum mosses and shrubs on trees such as black spruce. Bogs receive their water from precipitation, which leads to acidic conditions. Fen Fens are dominated by sedges and grasses, and may contain shrubs and small trees. They receive their water from groundwater or streams. Swamp Swamps are characterized by tall shrubs or trees. They are found in low-lying, or flooded areas, with standing or slowly moving water. Marsh Marshes have vegetation such as cattails, rushes, reeds and sedges. Their nutrient rich water comes from runoff and groundwater. Marshes may be temporary, seasonal or permanent. They can exist as potholes or sloughs or along the edges of large lakes. Marshes are Manitoba s most productive wetland habitats. Marine / Saline Wetlands Salt Marsh Salt marshes in Manitoba are characterized by salt tolerant plants such as alkali grass, and other plants adapted to ocean tides. They occur along the Hudson s Bay Coast in protected bays and estuaries. Salt marshes are found inland where soils are saline and evaporation rates high. Bog Fen Swamp Marsh Salt Marsh

8 Where are the Wetlands? There are many different types of wetlands in Manitoba, but the common feature is that they are water bodies which go dry from time to time. The frequency of drying or flooding is one of the many factors that determine what type of wetland will result in a particular area. The northern and eastern portions of Manitoba contain primarily bog and fen peat lands (muskeg), while the southern and western portions of the province contain marshes and shallow open water wetlands (potholes and sloughs). The Boreal Region Most of the wetlands in Manitoba are found in the boreal plain and shield and taiga shield ecozones of south eastern and central and northern Manitoba. Boreal wetlands are often connected to each other by streams, rivers and subsurface flows transporting water over long distances, making them vulnerable to impacts of development. The Prairie Region The prairie region is dotted with numerous marshes often referred to as prairie potholes. Prairie potholes are depressional wetlands (primarily freshwater marshes) which fill with snowmelt and rain in the spring. Some prairie pothole marshes are temporary, while others may be essentially permanent. In some areas of the prairie region 90 percent of the prairie potholes have been lost or degraded.

9 Wetlands have three parts: Upland: This is the dry land surrounding a wetland, may have trees shrubs grasses and many types of vegetation. Riparian: This is a strip of land and vegetation between the higher uplands and the shallower, wet areas of a wetland. Riparian areas are heavily vegetated with trees, grasses, brush and other types of plants. Aquatic: This is the wet area of the wetland. The aquatic area can be deep, with lots of open water, or it can be very shallow, with no open water at all. Rushes, cattail and many different wetland plants are found in the aquatic zone of a wetland. The presence of water for a period of time is one of the defining characteristics of wetlands. Wetlands receive water from: groundwater rain runoff from spring melts streams, rivers and lakes

10 Wetland Conservation in the Boreal Forest The boreal forest covers more than 75 percent of Manitoba and much of it is covered in water in the form of wetlands, lakes and rivers. Boreal wetlands consist of both peatlands and mineral wetlands. Understanding how these wetlands work, and what happens when they are disturbed or destroyed is key to effectively conserving and managing these ecosystems. The Pasquia Project is a research partnership between government, industry and environmental groups. It involves over 70,000 square kilometres of boreal forest and wetlands in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. This long-term project will greatly increase our understanding of boreal wetlands and the wildlife that inhabit them. Cultural and Economic Importance of Boreal Wetlands Boreal wetlands are valuable to the Manitoba economy, providing opportunities for logging, hunting trapping, sport and commercial fishing and tourism. Many Aboriginal communities depend on boreal wetlands for food, medicine and traditional activities. Twentyfive percent of Canada s wild rice is harvested from Manitoba wetlands.

11 Manitoba s Boreal Wetlands Did you know? Boreal wetlands: help control flooding prevent erosion maintain water quality and quantity are home to much of Manitoba s wildlife Up to 50 percent of the boreal forest is made up of wetlands. The peat land wetlands found in the boreal forest store 19 million tonnes of carbon. That s almost 100 times Canada s annual carbon emissions. Manitoba s boreal forest is the breeding ground for over 100 million birds of 250 species every year. Twenty percent of Western Canada s waterfowl population use Manitoba s boreal forest during breeding season. The Saskatchewan River Delta is the largest inland river delta in North America. This vast wetland supports some of the highest densities of waterfowl in Canada s boreal forest. Dams, both upstream and downstream have changed the water levels, significantly impacting the Delta wetlands. Dams and water diversions in the boreal region have impacted and continue to impact wetlands.

12 History of Wetlands When the glaciers receded they left behind a landscape with countless shallow depressions that became our wetlands. European settlers, who were focused on agricultural development, saw tremendous potential in wetlands... if only they could remove the wet part. Since the late 1800s, development in settled areas of Manitoba has included many projects, big and small, to convert wetlands to other uses. In some areas of southern Manitoba up to 90 percent of the wetlands have been lost or impacted. The Changing Face of a Prairie Wetland Wetlands change seasonally and year to year depending on the amount of water available through run off and precipitation. In dry years there may be no water present and it may not look like a wetland at all. But in wet years it will look totally different. These wet - dry cycles are a normal and necessary part of the healthy functioning of a wetland ecosystem. Wet or dry, these areas are distinct from the surrounding upland areas and maintain attributes unique to wetlands. These photos show how the same wetland can change from year to year. Wet or dry, it is still considered a wetland

13 Manitoba s Prairie and Parkland Wetlands Did you know? Manitoba s Prairie and Parkland wetlands: provide flood control help prevent erosion remove excess nutrients maintain water quality and quantity provide habitat for wildlife provide water and feed for livestock Manitoba s prairie wetlands are an important spring and fall migration stopover for millions of shorebirds and waterfowl on their way to and from Arctic nesting grounds. These wetlands provide year round habitat for over 200 species of wildlife including endangered species. Oak Hammock Marsh and Delta Marsh have been recognized as Wetlands of nternational Signi cance. Wetland Classification System Based on Stewart and Kantrud (1971) This classification system is based on vegetation type and average water permanency: Class I Ephemeral Wetlands holds surface water for a few days in the spring or during a heavy storm contains: Kentucky bluegrass, goldenrod and other wetland or low prairie species Class II Temporary Wetlands holds surface water for a few weeks in the spring and a few days after heavy storms contains: wet meadow plants including fine-stemmed grasses, sedges and associated forbs Class III Seasonal Ponds and Lakes holds surface water for one to three months in the spring to early summer, but dries out by mid-summer contains: wetland grasses, sedges and rushes, including whitetop and burr-reed Class IV Semi-Permanent holds surface water for five months or more (May September) annually contains: cattails, bulrushes, sedges and pond weeds Class V Permanent holds surface water long term with permanent open water in the central zone devoid of vegetation contains: cattails and bulrush, while submerged and floating leaf plants are found in the deep water zones

14 Wetlands are unique ecosystems that provide a number of important services to people and the environment. Cleaner Water Wetlands can be considered nature s kidneys. Wetland plants and soil organisms filter incoming sediment, nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium), pesticides, bacteria and pathogens that are washed in from surrounding environments. Reduce Flooding Wetlands act like oversize sponges. During spring melt or heavy rainfall events wetlands absorb excess water before it flows towards rivers and lakes. Recharge Groundwater Wetlands often replenish groundwater by collecting precipitation and surface runoff water, and holding it until it seeps into the ground. Reduce Effects of Drought During times of drought, wetlands provide water and forage for wildlife and livestock. Moderate Climate Change Wetlands moderate climate change by storing carbon. Plants take carbon dioxide from the air and convert it to carbon. When wetland plants decay, this carbon is stored in the soil. Peat-forming wetlands have a greater capacity to store carbon in the form of peat. Flooding Education Research

15 Provide Erosion Control Wetlands reduce soil erosion by slowing runoff from snow thaws and heavy rainfall. Shoreline wetlands act as erosion buffers between land and water. Wetland plants absorb or dissipate the force of waves and currents. The roots of wetland plants anchor lake shore and stream bank soil. Economically Important Wetlands are important for a number of commercial products including forestry products, peat, wild rice, harvesting of marsh hay and livestock forage. Wetlands also provide areas for trapping and hunting of wetland-dependent species. Wetlands may provide critical spawning habitat for commercial and sport fish. Tourists are also drawn to wetlands for bird watching, boating, hiking, nature viewing, and photography. Support Biodiversity Wetlands provide essential habitat for over 600 species of insects, amphibians, reptiles, fish, birds, and mammals. Many endangered and threatened plants and animals are found in wetlands or use wetlands for part of their life-cycle. Provide Aesthetic, Educational, Scientific and Spiritual Value Wetlands are places to reconnect with nature. Aboriginal peoples and other Manitobans have strong cultural connections and sustainable use practices in wetlands. Wetlands provide a natural laboratory for scientific research and education. Erosion Hunting Biodiversity Bird Watching

16 Since the 1800s there has been a continuous loss and degradation of wetlands in Manitoba. Wetlands are often considered valuable only for their capacity to be converted to other land uses. Drainage and Infilling Drainage and infilling of wetlands occurs for the purpose of modifying land for agriculture, residential, commercial, and infrastructure development. Channeling, dredging, diking and damming of lakes, rivers or wetlands modifies water levels. This in turn may cause flooding or drying of associated wetlands. By clearing vegetation and draining subsurface water, peat mining greatly changes a wetland s characteristics. Invasive Species Non-native/exotic species, such as purple loosestrife and hybrid cattail, reduce the number of native plant or animal species. Once established in a wetland, exotic species will choke-out native plants which also impact wildlife species. Pollution Residential, agricultural and industrial activities can create runoff into wetlands. Discharge of sewage, pollutants or toxic chemicals, pesticides and fertilizers threaten wetlands. Discharge and runoff can lead to excessive growth of plants, severe algal blooms and water temperature changes. Certain drugs can actually change the gender of fish and amphibians. Climate Change With climate change, the Prairies expect an increase in extreme weather events such as high temperatures and precipitation. This can lead to wetland flooding and drought. Drainage Purple Loosestrife Pollution Drought

17 Wetland Loss in Manitoba A Rural and Urban Issue Infrastructure Development, Urbanization and Agriculture Land clearing for development and agriculture has contributed to a significant loss and degradation of wetlands, particularly in southern Manitoba The economic drivers that encouraged the conversion of wetlands to other uses still persist today. However, with appropriate management and planning these impacts can be minimized. Activities such as roadway development or widening, utility corridors, housing and industrial expansion and agriculture can impact wetlands in a number of ways: Drainage and/or infilling of wetlands Alteration of runoff patterns which result in flooding or drying Removal or alteration of riparian vegetation The downstream impacts of wetland loss and degradation include: increased phosphorus export increased runoff flow increased sediment loading reduced wildlife habitat Prairie Pothole Wetland Study The Broughton Creek Watershed study in southwestern Manitoba found that from 1968 to 2005, 69% of wetland basins in the study area were lost or degraded. The impacts of this wetland loss: 31% increase in downstream water supply and phosphorus export 18%increase in peak runoff or rainfall event flow 41% increase in average annual sediment loading 28% reduction in waterfowl production potential. Loss of Wetlands in Broughton Creek Watershed from 1968 to

18 De nitions: Conservation: planned management and wise use of resources to ensure that they are available for future generations. Disincentive: barrier to positive action, or incentive to perform a harmful behavior (e.g., a program that promotes wetland drainage). Incentive: enticement that encourages decisions that protect and conserve wetlands (e.g., nancial assistance to implement best management practices) No net loss: policy in which wetlands must be created or restored for those destroyed. Protection: keeping a wetland in a natural state by preventing any activity that would impact the wetland; synonymous with preservation. Restoration: Re-establishing a wetland that has been drained or degraded into a functioning ecosystem whose characteristics are as close as possible to pre-disturbance conditions. i ni cant: wetlands with local, provincial, national or international importance for one or more reasons. Wetland: areas that are periodically or permanently inundated by surface or ground water long enough to develop characteristics such as wet altered soils, water tolerant vegetation, and biological activity adapted to a wet environment. Wetland types include marshes, shallow open water, bogs, fens and swamps Sustainable Use: management of resources that ensures present needs are met, and the capacity of the resource is maintained so that the ability of future generations to bene t from these resources is not compromised.