U of M research finds wildfire ash contributing to phosphate levels in Lake Winnipeg

A U of M researcher is raising concerns about the effects of wildfires on Lake Winnipeg. Joseph Bernacki reports.

Dave Konefall and Korey Williams live on Lake Winnipeg. The permanent residents of Dunnottar walk their dogs on the beach every day. They want future generations to be able to enjoy it as well.

“It makes me concerned for the tipping point for this lake,” Konefall said.

“It’s a massive giant lake. It might be a different story for the next generation. A worse story.”

News of a new threat to the health of the lake is not welcome.

“If now the wildfires could be considered a detriment as well, it’s really sad,” Williams said.

“This lake needs some more friends and fewer enemies.”

New research from the University of Manitoba finds the phosphorus fallout from climate change may be impacting Lake Winnipeg.

“We estimated that we should have different sources of phosphorus, including dust from agricultural land or pollen from trees around the lake and another component would be wildfire,” said Dr. Masoud Goharrhoki, a research associate from the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Manitoba.

Goharrhoki has been working with the Lake Winnipeg Research Consortium for the past year.

The Namao ship brings teams out on the lake three times a year. This spring they studied the impact of wildfire ash on the lake as a busy wildfire season unfolded.

Early findings indicate particulates from the ash contribute to phosphate levels, which increase algal blooms.

“We haven’t collected that before, and as far as I know, that aspect of (wildfire ash) as a source (of phosphorus) was not fully understood even in other water bodies, specifically in large water bodies,” Goharrhoki said.

Williams said she and her husband won’t swim in the lake anymore. She worries about her dogs swimming there too.

“Especially with the dogs, you can’t really train them not to drink the water,” Williams said.

“That’s really unfortunate, seeing as we see this as a lake playground.”