Lake Winnipeg commercial fishers are concerned about the provincial government’s recent decision to forgo a recommendation to have the Manitoba Clean Environment Commission (CEC) conduct an environmental assessment/hearing of a proposed new wastewater lagoon in the RM of Armstrong.
The Crystal Spring Hutterite Colony had applied to the province for permission to build a domestic wastewater lagoon for its new colony on land a few miles west of Highway 8. Willow Creek flows eastwards through the Crystal Spring property, under Highway 8 and into the Siglavik subdivision (in the RM of Gimli), which has significant coastal wetlands fringing the lake.
At a public hearing held by the RM of Armstrong in 2020 (see Feb. 20, 2020 online edition of the Express), representatives from the colony said they want to farm over 15,000 chickens, an unspecified number of cattle and sheep and set up a manufacturing operation to make hog barn parts.
Commercial fisher Bill Buckels and other fishers had written letters to the provincial minister of environment and climate change last December, outlining their concerns about the potential environmental hazards the lagoon could have on fish spawning grounds and the health of Lake Winnipeg.
The province said last week that it won’t recommend that the CEC conduct an environmental assessment of the proposed lagoon. The CEC is an arm’s-length provincial government agency that conducts public hearings, investigations and mediation, provides the public with an opportunity to play a role in protecting the environment and provides advice to the environment minister.
Buckels said the location of the colony’s proposed lagoon is subject to overland flooding and the province should be taking a “precautionary” approach by having an environmental assessment done before it potentially grants a license to the colony for the lagoon.
“One major concern is the fact that roads get flooded at the lagoon location and there’s no way to protect the wetlands in the Willow Creek area, nor the swamps nor the fish spawning grounds, which dot the creek and the little tributaries,” said Buckels last week. “It’s just plain bad policy to allow any kind of high-density development in that area, period. [That land] was never intended for a factory operation. It should have been stopped cold.”
In their letter to the minister, the fishers insisted that the proposed lagoon be “halted” pending consultation with all stakeholders including Indigenous groups, local communities, environmental organizations and fisheries experts.
They say there are three major environmental impacts the lagoon’s discharge could have on the local aquatic ecosystem and the health of Lake Winnipeg. First, pollutants can kill fish populations in the creek itself, which serves as an “essential spawning and nursery habitat for several fish species.” Second, the lagoon might contribute to further nutrient (e.g., phosphate, nitrogen) loading in Lake Winnipeg, which is already under significant environmental stress from agricultural and industrial nutrients that cause algal blooms. Blooms in turn kill aquatic species. And third, the lagoon could cause cumulative effects on the environment from the pollutants it will release.
“Given the already significant stressors on Lake Winnipeg from agricultural runoff, urban development and climate change, it is crucial to take a precautionary approach in assessing any new projects that could contribute further to its ecological decline,” wrote Buckels in his Dec. 19 letter to the minister. “The cumulative effects of such developments need to be carefully considered before any approvals are granted.”
He urged the minister to conduct a “thorough” environmental impact assessment of the proposed lagoon, including a review of potential impacts on water quality, fish habitat and the “overall health of the Willow Creek watershed.”
Buckels said he was given to understand that the RM of Gimli council was going to oppose the development of the lagoon as the municipality has a bylaw, currently, that prohibits waste from entering Gimli from other municipalities. Council noted on a February agenda that it will be reviewing that bylaw.
The Express asked Gimli council if it’s concerned about the potential pollution/destruction of spawning grounds in relation to the proposed lagoon, whether it intends to repeal its bylaw and allow waste from other RMs to be spread on RM of Gimli fields and if it would take legal action should waste flow into the municipality.
“We understand that Manitoba Environment and Climate Change issued a hearing notification decision in relation to the Crystal Spring Colony New Development – Wastewater Lagoon on March 10, 2025,” said the RM’s manager of community engagement Christine Payne in a statement on behalf of council. “The RM of Gimli is in the process of reviewing the decision and considering which steps, if any, it intends to take in relation to the decision. Given that this is an ongoing regulatory matter, the RM of Gimli is not in a position to make any further comment at this time.”
The Express asked the provincial government why it’s not recommending a hearing by the Clean Environment Commission regarding the colony’s proposed lagoon, whether the government can require the colony to send its waste to the Gimli Wastewater Treatment Plant, what other substances besides human waste will be treated by the lagoon, whether the lagoon is in the process of being constructed, if provincial approvals have already been granted, and how the colony plans to deal with its animal waste.
A provincial spokesperson said the department’s director is not recommending to the minister that a public hearing be conducted because the potential environmental impacts from the lagoon are “well understood” and can be “mitigated” through clauses put into an environment licence.
The environmental assessment process had included a public review period, and public input is being considered as part of the assessment and licensing decision.
A Clean Environment Commission is typically recommended by the director of environmental approvals to the minister of environment and climate change when there’s “a need for additional technical review and/or public engagement outside of what already happens during the environmental assessment and licensing process under the Environment Act,” he said.
The department had received the colony’s application to construct and operate the lagoon in August 2023.
When asked if the government can require the colony to send its waste to the Gimli Wastewater Treatment Plant, the spokesperson said the department does not have the “regulatory authority” to compel the colony to connect with the treatment facility in Gimli.
“The domestic wastewater lagoon will treat domestic wastewater, truck wash run-off and abattoir wastewater for colony use only,” said the spokesperson when asked what substances will be treated in the lagoon. “Additional wastewater may come from backwash from the future water treatment plant and possible water collection system infiltration.”
All livestock manure and mortalities will be dealt with in accordance with the Livestock Manure and Mortalities Management Regulation under the Environment Act, added the spokesperson.
When asked if construction of the lagoon is underway, the spokesperson said the Environmental Approvals Branch has not made an Environment Act licensing decision.
“Construction of the lagoon cannot commence until the licencing decision is made,” he said.
RM of Armstrong CAO Colleen Mayer also confirmed that the lagoon isn’t being built at the moment as the colony is awaiting provincial approval. The RM’s Reeve Gary Wasylowski said he drove out to the proposed lagoon site on the weekend to confirm that no construction was underway.
Anyone concerned about the impact the colony’s proposed lagoon will have on the environment can appeal the minister’s decision to not recommend a CEC environmental review. Concerns must be made to the minister in writing by April 9, 2025. Email: minecc@manitoba.ca
Documents related to the lagoon are available on the provincial department of environment and climate change’s public registry or by visiting: www.gov.mb.ca
