June 21, 2006

Delta Marsh, a wetland located at the south end of Lake Manitoba, will gain further protection as the province will designate the area as a wildlife management area, Conservation Minister Stan Struthers announced today.

"Designating this internationally-renowned wetland as a wildlife management area and including part of it in Manitoba’s network of protected areas will secure this important habitat for generations to come," said Struthers. "We are also pleased to transfer ownership of the Delta Marsh Field Station to the University of Manitoba so that outstanding research work may continue."

The minister also noted the renewal of the lease with the University of Manitoba for 700 hectares of Crown land at Delta Marsh for another 21 years.

"We are grateful to the Province of Manitoba for its support of the Delta Marsh Field Station, as shown by this generous gift of the land and buildings at our site. This will enable us to provide better support for teaching and research at Delta Marsh and to promote good land stewardship," said Dr. Gordon Goldsborough, field station director.

The University of Manitoba established the Delta Marsh Field Station in 1966 through an agreement to use the former Donald Bain holdings at Delta Marsh that were purchased by the province. The centrepiece of the property is Mallard Lodge, built in 1932 by Bain, a prominent Winnipeg sportsman and businessman.

Delta Marsh is recognized as an intergovernmental Ramsar Convention on Wetlands site of international significance, a Canadian important bird area and a Manitoba heritage marsh. Large numbers of colonial nesting birds can be seen around the marsh including Franklin’s gulls, Forster’s terns, western grebes, eared grebes, black-crowned night herons and pied-billed grebes as well as a great variety of waterfowl, warblers, white-tailed deer and furbearers.

Some 8,000 hectares of the 11,000-hectare Delta Marsh wildlife management area will be included in Manitoba’s network of protected areas. The designations will prohibit logging, mining, hydroelectric activity, and oil and gas exploration. Protected areas still remain open for activities such as hunting, trapping or fishing. As well, protected areas respect First Nation’s rights and agreements such as the Manitoba Treaty Land Entitlement Framework Agreement.

"Delta Marsh is an extensive freshwater coastal wetland and the next few weeks will be an ideal time to explore the marsh and appreciate the variety of plants and wildlife that call it home," said Struthers. "The university has a rich history of top-calibre research and we are pleased to ensure the marsh remains available and protected for years to come."

In addition to Delta Marsh, Struthers announced:

• the designation of the 130-hectare Hilltop Wildlife Management Area near Erickson in the RM of Clanwilliam, and

• the addition of a 256-hectare parcel of land to the Onanole Wildlife Management Area south of Riding Mountain National Park in the RM of Park South.

"There are now a total of 80 wildlife management areas in Manitoba that protect habitat for wildlife and provide opportunities for hunting, trapping, ecotourism and other compatible forms of outdoor recreation," said the minister.

Since 1999, 842,947 hectares of land has been permanently protected.

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