Did you know?

The Red, Saskatchewan and Winnipeg Rivers contribute
70% of the water that flows into Lake Winnipeg.

The outlet for Lake Winnipeg water is the Nelson River,
which flows to Hudson Bay.

Water in Lake Winnipeg is replaced on average every
3.5 years.

Lake Winnipeg is the tenth largest body of freshwater
in the world, covering almost 25,000 square kilometres.

Lake Winnipeg is the third largest hydroelectric reservoir
in the world, generating $350 to 580 million per year in
export power sales.

The natural outflow pattern of the lake has been altered
(essentially reversed) by storing water in the spring and
early summer for use in the fall and winter for hydroelectric
generation

The Lake Winnipeg watershed is the second largest in
Canada at 953,250 square kilometres, and is home to
5.5 million people and over 20 million livestock

Commercial fishing on Lake Winnipeg has an annual
landed value approaching $25 million.

There are three introduced species of fish in Lake
Winnipeg: rainbow smelt, common carp and white bass.
The ecological consequences of their presence in the lake
are not fully understood.

Lake Winnipeg species designated "at risk" by the
Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada
(COSEWIC) are the silver chub, bigmouth buffalo, shortjaw
cisco and chestnut lamprey.

Recreation and tourism on Lake Winnipeg generate more
than $100 million per year.

Organizations working to protect Lake Winnipeg

- Lake Winnipeg Stewardship Board

- Lake Winnipeg Research Consortium

- Lake Winnipeg Foundation

- Manitoba Water Stewardship

- Red River Basin Commission

- Prairie Provinces Water Board

- Partners for the Saskatchewan River

- Manitoba Conservation Districts Association