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The Manitoba Eco-Network and other environmental groups have been fighting the two proposed dairy farms for a year and a half. The coalition claims that phosphorus and nitrogen runoff from the waste produced by the proposed farms will flow up the river to the lake, creating toxic blue-green algae.

“The reality is that lake Winnipeg is very threatened from a number of sources and one more additive stress, the lake simply can’t handle,” said James Beddome, executive director, Manitoba Eco-Network.

“It’s ongoing, we’re in administrative court in North Dakota, we’ll have some arguments over the summer and what we’re calling a drain is not a drain appeal. We continue to engage with experts, so we’ve engaged with experts at the University of Manitoba, we also had another expert down in the states in Hillsboro.”

As it stands, the two projects are moving forward despite the legal challenge. The two proposed farms, located in Hillsboro and Abercrombie, North Dakota, would bring with them a combined 37,000 cows, but it isn’t the only worry for the health of the lake.

“These two projects are a concern, but there’s a number of concerns on the watershed, including other agriculture developments here in Manitoba, drainage of wetlands, impacts from Hydro, impacts from the sewage systems,” Beddome said.

U of W student Allyza Tabirara is in her own fight to save the lake. As part of her Master of Science research that begins this fall, Tabirara is looking at reducing phosphorus in the Lake Winnipeg Basin

“A lot of work needs to be done,” Tabirara says. “The gist of my study is looking at drainage leakage, to see how much phosphorus could be stores in those drainage leakages, and how much that phosphorous can eventually be contributed back to Lake Winnipeg.”

She agrees that the phosphorous levels are hitting the lake on multiple fronts, and is concerned that future generations could lose the lake for good if nothing is done.

“I’m very passionate about my work, I’m very passionate about saving lake Winnipeg and red river and other aquatic bodies that we have here in Manitoba and I think if I can have a percentage maybe one or two per cent in helping stopping that problem, then it would be really meaningful for myself but also for the community,” Tabirara said.

In a statement to CityNews, Riverview LLP, the Minnesota-based agriculture company that proposed both dairy farms, said, “Our dairies are designed and managed to meet or exceed strict environmental standards, and both the proposed North Dakota dairies underwent a thorough, science-based review by the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality. These safeguards ensure that water quality and natural resources are protected at every stage of design, construction, and operation.”

Individual ID helps show which humpbacks return to these waters year after year, where they travel across their long migrations, what feeding areas they rely on, who they spend time with, and whether their populations are staying healthy.

Knowing this helps us better protect the waters humpbacks depend on and reduce the threats that put them at risk.

The Great Bear Sea is not just open water. It is feeding grounds, travel routes, and important habitat for whales like Eros and Scuba. So, it ain't no fluke they keep coming back to the Great Bear Sea.

Protecting the Great Bear Sea means protecting the places humpbacks return to.

*All photos were taken with a Nikon D500 using a Tamron 150-600mm zoom lens while following distance regulations. Some images were cropped afterward.

Photo credit: Julia Adelsheim / juliaadelsheim on Instagram