Collaboration with Grand Council Treaty 3 for Sustainable Lake Management

The City, in collaboration with the Grand Council Treaty #3 Territorial Planning Unit, is pleased to announce the continuation of the water quality testing program on Black Sturgeon Lakes for 2025. This initiative underscores our shared commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable lake management, building on a strong collaboration that began in 2024. 

This year’s water tests will be conducted in Spring and Summer, followed by an update to Council and neighbouring First Nations in the Fall of 2025.

The results from the 2024 field work confirmed that phosphorus levels remain below the Provincial Water Quality Objectives and that there are not any indicators of negative impacts on water quality due to development activities on Lower Black Sturgeon Lake.

This ongoing testing highlights the City’s long-standing commitment to proactive monitoring efforts that have been in place since 2009, with a focus on phosphorus concentrations. High phosphorus levels can create algal blooms, which may influence the taste and scent of lake water, affect aquatic life, and alter the aesthetics of the lake water. By monitoring phosphorus levels, we are taking important steps to ensure the health of Black Sturgeon Lakes.

Residents and visitors of Black Sturgeon Lakes can help keep phosphorus levels low by:

• Ensuring proper maintenance of septic fields
• Maintaining 20 metres of vegetative buffer along the shoreline
• Limiting or eliminating the use of fertilizers on or near shorelands

“The expertise and support provided by the Grand Council Treaty #3 Territorial Planning Unit has been instrumental in providing support for the monitoring program,” says Planner for the City, Ryan Haines. “Their involvement underscores a shared commitment to protecting the ecological integrity of the lake.”

“The Territorial Planning Unit is pleased to work in collaboration with the City of Kenora to monitor water quality on Black Sturgeon Lakes, with the goal of maintaining clean and safe water as it flows into the Winnipeg River,” says Chris Herc, Environmental Manager at Grand Council Treaty #3.

The City looks forward to continuing this important work with the Grand Council Treaty #3, ensuring that Black Sturgeon Lakes remains healthy for generations to come. 

Media contact

Mya Horley, Senior Communications Advisor
mhorley@kenora.ca
807-467-2006