Science, Technology, Energy and Mines

To Protect Our Lakes and Rivers

The Clean Beaches program encourages Manitobans to protect the health and safety of our lake water by following some simple guidelines.

• Don’t feed the shore birds – gulls can quickly become accustomed to eating and living on the beach.
• Don’t litter or discard food on the beach – dispose of trash in proper receptacles.
• Change diapered children frequently and away from the water’s edge.
• Never bury waste in the sand.
• Stay away from the water if you are experiencing digestive or intestinal problems.
• Protect or enhance your shoreline. Don’t remove trees, rocks or shrubs. Keeping them in their natural state helps prevent pollution and erosion.
• Don’t carry aquatic plants or animals from one water body to another. Inspect your boat before moving it and make sure it is clean of aquatic plants and animals.
• Empty your bait bucket on land before leaving a water body. Bait found at one river or lake should not be used in another. Every ecosystem is unique and fragile.
• Don’t use fertilizers or pesticides within 30 metres of the shoreline. They can run into the water and create excessive growth of algae and water plants.
• Use phosphate-free soaps and detergents at the cottage. Phosphates are nutrients that can cause excessive growth of algae and water plants. Don’t use soap or shampoo in the lake.
• Never bury garbage or waste near a lake or stream. Harmful pollutants may eventually get into the water. Take your garbage with you or dispose of it in appropriate receptacles.
• Have regular inspection and maintenance performed on your septic field or holding tank.
• Don’t overfill your boat’s fuel tank. Spilled fuel or oil from overfull tanks is toxic to aquatic plants and fish.

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