Has Lake Winnipeg had a record setting thaw?

On April 2nd, 2010, ice mountains were roaring up the shores of the Lake Winnipeg threatening to destroy cottages and homes situated on its banks. This year fishers were urged to remove ice-fishing shacks early, by March 15th, from Lake Winnipeg and the Red River Basin by Water Stewardship so they didn’t sink.

This may not be the case of just an early spring thaw; in fact, it may be the most unusual record setting thaw in a long time.

According to Natalie Hansel from Environment Canada, we have experienced the warmest March in quite a while. In fact, Hansel says, “This is a record breaking warmest March since 1873.” That’s as far as weather records exist for Manitoba.

Things that affect our weather vary, with environmental scientists claiming that our warmer than usual winters are due to the global warming phenomena.

Climate change refers to any changes in weather such as temperature or precipitation happening over a long period of time, with weather being a short term condition. What is not considered natural is the rate at which these changes take place perhaps due to the result of greenhouse gases or massive carbon dioxide emissions. Accelerated climate change usually has massive impacts on people, the environment and economies.

Robert T. Kristjanson agrees. He is 78 years old and been fishing on Lake Winnipeg waters for almost his entire life. His family has been in the fishing industry on Lake Winnipeg for 123 years and has seen it all. Until this year. He says that this is definately the earliest thaw since his family settled here. Previsouly the earliest thaw was May 4th, and the norm, according to Kristjanson, is near the end of May.

Kristjanson explains that the problem with the earlier than normal thaw has to do with the fish. He says, “The fish last to mature didn’t know it was going to be an early spring so they didn’t spawn.” He says that the fish have to be a certain age to finish spawing. “They must be matured so that we have fish down the line.”

As a rule, Whitefishing is not allowed until June 1st, and there’s usually still ice in the North end of the lake June 15th. However, Kristjanson explains, fishing is still allowed on the lake by individuals and certain groups. He feels that the Provincial government needs to intervene this year with the unusually early thaw in order to protect the survivial of the fish and fishing industry.

“Nobody but nobody should have the right to take fish out of the lake,” says Kristjanson. He goes on to explain that this year fishing according to yearly norms “could be a sad state.”

Dr. Al Kristofferson, research scientist with Lake Winnipeg Stewardship Board, says that this year’s thaw is about three weeks early in his estimates. The Lake Winnipeg Stewardship Board has been monitoring the lake for the 11th consecutive year and comparing data. He says, “When the lake ice is covered, the temperature rate is constant, when the ice leaves, the lake warms.” He speculates that his could affect the algae growth so blooms may be seen a little earlier this year.

http://www.interlakespectator.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3544960

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