Guiding Principles

MISSION To identify and support solutions that restore and protect the health of Lake Winnipeg and its watershed through research, public education, stewardship and collaboration. VISION A clean, healthy Lake Winnipeg and Watershed for present and future generations.

VALUES
The Lake Winnipeg Foundation affirms the following…

We do not export our problems, we solve them
Honesty, integrity, transparency and ethical practice
Respect earth and life in all its diversity
Environmental sustainability of our water resources dictates watershed policies and practices

LWF POSITION STATEMENTS
The LWF develops and adopts position statements to guide decision-making.

Wetlands

The Lake Winnipeg Foundation Inc. recognizes the need to manage wetlands and encourages the preservation of existing wetlands, the restoration of degraded wetlands, and the development of new wetlands centered on technological and institutional requirements for wetland management and governance.
(March 13, 2010)

Phosphorus

The Lake Winnipeg Foundation recognizes that world supplies of phosphorus for the manufacture of fertilizers are limited and that future shortages can be anticipated as mines are depleted. In view of this, the LWF encourages the recycling and re-use of the phosphorus in any P-containing materials and discourages the discharge and loss of phosphorus as a waste product.
(June 15, 2010)

Climate Change

Global climate warming, from human-driven increases in atmospheric CO2 with associated changes in rainfall, runoff, evaporation, ice duration, and temperatures in the Lake Winnipeg watershed, is impacting the Lake Winnipeg ecosystem.

Extreme hydrological events, such as flooding and drought, are becoming more common and are detrimental to the lake’s ecology and biodiversity. Increasing water temperatures are contributing to proliferation of toxic blue green algae and to invertebrate species changes which ultimately influence the Lake Winnipeg fish community.

Lake Winnipeg Foundation supports policies and practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
(February 1, 2012)