The federal government will spend $398,050 for nine new community projects in its latest round of funding for the Lake Winnipeg Basin Stewardship Fund.

The Lake Winnipeg Basin Initiative will deliver real results to help clean up and rehabilitate Lake Winnipeg, said James Bezan, MP for Selkirk-Interlake, speaking on behalf of Federal Environment Minister Peter Kent.

Funding ranges from $15,000 to $107,000 for the following projects:

” Turtle Mountain Conservation District, Pembina and Long River riparian enhancement program

” Peguis First Nation, sustainable cattle management project

” Forks Renewal Corporation, Forks riparian preserve

” Lake Winnipeg Foundation, sensitive habitat inventory and mapping of foreshore areas of Lake Winnipeg s south basin

” Watershed Conservation District, riparian enhancement initiative

” University of Manitoba (two projects), effective use of riparian zones to filter sediments and phosphorus; and innovative process for enhanced phosphorus recovery from sludge

” Swan Lake Watershed Conservation District, nutrient reduction on continuous cropped erodible soils

” East Interlake Conservation District, wetland restoration preservation initiative

The Lake Winnipeg Basin Stewardship Fund focuses on high-impact projects that reduce nutrient loads and improve the overall ecological sustainability of the lake and its watershed, said Bezan. Four previous funding rounds have allocated $2 million to 37 other projects, such as reducing phosphorus and other harmful substances from entering the lake, restoring urban and rural streams and riverbanks, and public education.

Through the Lake Winnipeg Basin Initiative, Environment Canada has implemented a comprehensive research, monitoring and information program throughout the Lake Winnipeg watershed to provide residents with information needed to help clean up the lake. Similar projects have been funded for the Great Lakes and Lake Simcoe.