KATHERINE BROWN: The massive flood seen in Manitoba this past spring has caused concern for the future of the “prairie ocean” known as Lake Manitoba. The flood waters that emptied from Red River into the lake carried with them heavy loads of phosphorous and nitrogen—these nutrients are used on farmer’s fields for fertilizers. These flood waters caused phosphorus and nitrogen levels to spike to 20 percent higher than normal in the lake. The repercussions will likely be seen this year as toxic algal blooms will result from the high levels of nutrient. Already, massive blooms of algae are visible around the north end of the lake in satellite images. This is worrisome because the blue-green algae come with a whole number of toxins that are very harmful to the health of the ecosystem. Manitoba has responded by placing restrictions on hog farmers, and seriously limiting the use of pesticides near waterways. In the next year, dishwasher detergents containing phosphorus will also be banned. But even given these efforts, the near-record flood seen in Manitoba this spring will have long-lasting consequences. Reversing the harm already done to Lake Manitoba is expected to be very challenging. [ index ]

TYLER IRVING: This week, tens of thousands of people lined up for the grand opening of Vancouver’s newest public transit rail line. The Canada Line connects downtown Vancouver with the suburb of Richmond, and includes a spur line to Vancouver International Airport on Sea Island. Although it is part of the TransLink system, it is operated by a private company, InTransitBC. It has taken the better part of 6 years to build the system, which cost more than $2 billion dollars. Trains traverse the 19-kilometre route, in about 25 minutes, stopping along the way at 16 stations. A normal fare for the Canada Line is $3.75. On Monday, a bevy of dignitaries, including federal Trade Minister Stockwell Day and BC Premier Gordon Campbell, were on hand at the airport to cut a ribbon at 1:00 PM. The opening day came three months ahead of schedule, and was accompanied by an offer of free rides until 9 PM. Over 80,000 people showed up to ride the train, waiting in lines up to 2 hours long. Riders were generally enthusiastic to be part of the historic event. The line is touted as the equivalent of a 10-lane highway, and is expected to take approximately 200,000 one-way automobile trips off the road. [ index ]

KATHERINE BROWN: Ontario has announced plans to launch a centralized wind forecasting service for next year. Ontario has been seeking sources of clean energy while it tries to phase out its remaining coal-fired power stations- it’s been looking to wind energy for the solution. Paul Murphy is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator, known as IESO. He says that accurate wind forecasting is essential to the operation of an efficient and reliable power system. It will support the expansion of wind generation within distribution areas and it also will reduce the administrative burden on wind generators. Harvesting wind for electricity is notoriously tricky because of the variable nature of wind energy supply. The forecasting system will hopefully allow us overcome this issue and better allow us to manage our wind resources by revealing the periods of time where the province can expect greater amounts of wind. The IESO has also introduced a web-based wind tracker that will graphically display hourly wind output from Ontario’s large-scale wind farms. [ index ]

TYLER IRVING: Last week we reported on the closure of the commercial sockeye salmon fishery in the Fraser River due to the disappearance of millions of adult fish. This week, tensions began to rise between the two groups that are still allowed to fish the river; sport anglers and first nations groups. On Sunday, Willie Charlie, chief of the Chehalis First Nation, was using a wide large-mesh drift net to fish for chinook salmon, which have returned in stronger numbers than the sockeye. The net became entangled in with the boat of a sports fisherman. In the angry exchange that followed, Charlie was shot in the face with an air gun, receiving minor injuries. Eventually, the sports boat broke free and sped downriver. RCMP patrols dispatched after the incident were unable to locate the 19-foot craft or its occupants, who are said of have spoken with thick English or Scottish accents. The incident has prompted some native leaders, such as Ernie Crey of the Sto:lo (Stauhlo) Tribal Council, to call for a total ban on salmon sport fishing on the Fraser. However, the president Fraser Valley Angling Guides Association, Vic Carraro, says such a ban would be an overreaction, and emphasises that sport fishers are also committed to a sustainable fishery. The next meeting of the Pacific Salmon Commission, the international body that regulates the fisheries, is scheduled for today. [ index ]

KATHERINE BROWN: Scientists have found- for the first time in more than a century- wild-born Atlantic salmon in Lake Ontario. This is fantastic news as it suggests that the native species is recovering after years of reproductive failure. Atlantic salmon used to be abundant in Lake Ontario. But overfishing, deforestation, dams and pollution had wiped out the population of Atlantic salmon by the early 1900s. Natural resource agencies from both the United States and Canada have been trying to re-introduce the Atlantic salmon to Lake Ontario for many years, but have had little success. The recent success for Atlantic salmon is thought to come from increasing numbers of native prey fish, as well as recent declines in some harmful invasive species. Alewife is an invasive species that was introduced more than 50 years ago. It’s been cited as a major cause for the decline of wild salmon. Alewives are small fish that contain thiaminase, which is an enzyme that destroys the critical vitamin thiamine in salmon. When the salmon reproduce, their hatchlings die of thiamine deficiency. This presented a huge barrier to Altantic salmon re-establishing themselves in the lake—the fact that they’ve successfully managed to reproduce came as a great surprise, and also gives hope for the future. [ index ]

TYLER IRVING: Two first nations groups in the Northwest Territories are trying to stop a mineral exploration project on land they claim is sacred to them. The Lutsel’Ke Dene First Nation and the Yellowknives Dene First Nation filed a notice of application seeing to overturn a permit granted by the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water board last July. The permit allows Northern Arrow Minerals Inc. to drill test holes in an area it calls the Phoenix site, near Aylmer lake. The company is prospecting for minerals bearing lithium, which is used in high-performance batteries such as those that power electric vehicles. The first nations say that although they were contacted by Northern Arrow, the company refused to pay for formal consultations or to negotiate an exploration agreement with the affected communities. The dispute comes as Prime Minister Harper is touring the North to promote his government’s Northern development strategy. Such incidents serve to underline the regulatory issues that still hinder economic growth in the north. The Northwest Territories has many unresolved land claims, and several mining companies have opted to pull out rather than enter into lengthy negotiations. In a news release on its website, Northern Arrow has refused to comment on the current action, but continues to assert its ownership of the land and the validity of the permit. [ index ]

KATHERINE BROWN: The municipal election campaign in Montreal will be run with the environment in mind this upcoming fall. Campaign posters will be kept to a minimum to save trees. Both of Montreal’s leading municipal parties, being Union Montreal and Vision Montreal, say they won’t post signs on public property for their campaign. This could do quite a lot of good for the earth—in 2005, Union Montreal put up 30,000 signs alone. Vision Vancouver is a municipal party in B.C which has already adopted a similar policy with regards to signs. Their poster campaign is kept to a few hundred private lawn signs. Vision Vancouver feels that these few posters do more than enough to get their message out there. But others question the movement to minimize campaigning signs, fearing that it will harm the effectiveness of the election campaign. The spokesman for the federal Liberal party argues that signs are “an important show of momentum.” So although Montreal may be free of signs for the upcoming municipal election, there will be no shortage of federal signs if an election is triggered in the fall. [ index ]

TYLER IRVING:  The latest developments in the continuing protests over the North Simcoe Landfill Site, also known as Site 41, include national political attention and new arrests. Protesters from Tiny Township and many first nations across Ontario continue to occupy a camp in a farmer’s field across the street from the proposed landfill site. On Saturday, water taken from taps on the farm suddenly turned cloudy, prompting calls for answers from Simcoe County and the project’s lead proponent, warden Tony Guergis. On Monday, protesters performed a traditional ceremony outside the site and impeded workers trying to gain access. As a result, OPP officers arrested 6 people for public mischief. It is alleged that eagle feathers used in the ceremony were confiscated as they were considered weapons. The total number of arrests in the protests now stands at 16, including at least three senior citizens. On Wednesday, Willowdale MP Martha Hall Findlay visited the site and was shown the cloudy water from the taps. She emphasized her concern over clean water and stated that she would personally speak to the federal and provincial environment ministers. Findlay is the second federal MP to visit the site, although Simcoe North MP Bruce Stanton has since opted to stay out of the issue as he perceives it to be a provincial matter. The site has also received attention from Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath, federal Green Party leader Elizabeth May, and former U.S. presidential candidate Ralph Nader, who visited the site last week and yesterday sent a passionate letter to the premier asking him to reconsider the development. Activity is expected to come to a head next Tuesday as Simcoe Council holds its monthly meeting at 11:00 AM. It is expected that council will debate a motion to put a one-year moratorium on the project to allow for public consultation and an independent review of the safety study. We’ll continue to bring you regular updates on this story until its resolution. [ index ]

KATHERINE BROWN: In Central China, more than 1,300 children have been poisoned. In the children living near a manganese factory, 60-70% of those tested had unhealthy levels of lead in their blood. High levels of lead in the bloodstream are very dangerous as they cause a number of serious health problems—For one, lead harms neurodevelopment and lowers the average IQ of children exposed. The harmful plant apparently opened in May of 2008 and was closed by authorities just last week. It was never approved by the local environmental protection bureau. Within 500 metres of the plant were a primary school, a middle school and a kindergarten- explaining the huge number of children harmed by it. The plant was located in the Weniping township, in the province of Hunan. Hunan is notorious for its heavy metal industry, which brings economic opportunity to the very poor region. Hunan is the second case in just two weeks of serious environmental contamination from industry being documented. 680 children were found to have lead poisoning in a region further north. These cases have prompted accusations that the authorities have failed to adequately regulate toxins in the environment. [ index ]

KATHERINE BROWN: A union struggle in France may bring harm to one of the most picturesque rivers in the country—the Seine River. French workers facing layoffs have threatened to dump toxic waste in the river if their demands for extra compensation are not met. The employees belong to a struggling trucking company. They are threatening to dump 8,000 litres of a hazardous liquid into a sewer that runs directly into the Seine. This ‘demonstration’ will be timed to coincide with a court hearing that could result in the company being sold or closed down. A union representative has said that the workers do not wish to carry out their threat—but they mainly want to draw media attention to their issue. Such extreme tactics have had mixed results getting settlements in the past. [ index ]

KATHERINE BROWN: Mexico is experiencing its driest year since 1941. Crops and cattle are dying in the countryside, forcing the government to slow the flow of water to the capital. Around 80 of Mexico’s 175 largest reservoirs are less than half full—and more that 1,000 cattle have been lost to drought. Up to 20 million tonnes of crops have also been lost. The northwest and central regions of Mexico have been hit the hardest. The drought seen in Mexico is likely caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon. But although the water situation is dire, it hasn’t yet been defined as an emergency. But in Guatemala- a neighboring country-, the government has distributed emergency food to 56,000 families whose crops have been damaged. Until the drought lets up, the Mexican government is urging water conservation by any means possible. [ index ]

KATHERINE BROWN: Conservationists are alarmed as Kenya’s lions could disappear in as little as 10 years. For the past seven years, Kenya has lost 100 lions each year. Now, as few as 2000 of the large felines remain. The disappearance of Kenya’s lions has been caused primarily by the growth in human populations. The 10 year prediction has been made by Laurence Frank, a wildlife biologist at the cat conservation group, Panthera. He feels that lions and people cannot live in harmony together as humans destroy lion’s habitat and use water and grazing resources for their livestock. According to the environmental charity Earthwatch Institute, people even go so far as to intentionally poison entire prides of lions by lacing up cattle corpses covered with insecticides. To make matters worse, those who kill lions illegally are rarely punished. Frank suggests that only through drastic action will the lions stand a chance at survival. Policy changes, effective law enforcement, and providing and economic incentive to protect lions will be necessary to prevent the loss of this spectacular species in Kenya. [ index ]