Provincial joint brief for the Premier of Manitoba on effective management of algal blooms

Jointly with the International Institute for Sustainable Development, we review the evidence supporting a focus on phosphorus to address algal blooms on Lake Winnipeg. Aggressive phosphorus-reduction policies have been implemented in many jurisdictions since the 1980s, yet action to reduce phosphorus loading in Manitoba has been stalled for decades by ongoing debate about the need for nitrogen reduction. We urge the Manitoba government to make use of the best-available evidence to implement and enforce clear phosphorus-reduction policies for point and non-point sources.