Aquatic Animals and Habitat

The document details the health of aquatic ecosystems in the lower Winnipeg River basin, utilizing data from the Coordinated Aquatic Monitoring Program (CAMP). It examines benthic macroinvertebrates and fish populations, noting that Lac du Bonnet generally shows the best fish performance and diversity. The text highlights the influence of hydroelectric generating stations on river morphology and habitat, and identifies four species at risk in the region.

• Benthic macroinvertebrates serve as biological indicators of aquatic health, with their richness and diversity influenced by factors such as scouring, discharge, water level, and temperature, which may be impacted by hydroelectric stations. Monitoring from 2010 to 2013 showed higher species richness in nearshore environments for Lac du Bonnet and Pointe du Bois Forebay, while Eaglenest Lake recorded the highest nearshore diversity (0.85) and lowest richness (14) in 2012.
• Fish assemblages in the lower Winnipeg River basin are dominated by northern pike, white sucker, and percids, including sauger, yellow perch, and walleye/pickerel. Between 2008 and 2013, Lac du Bonnet demonstrated the highest fish species diversity, the greatest abundance in both nearshore and offshore environments, and the highest offshore benthic macroinvertebrate richness and diversity.
• Hydroelectric generation affects river morphology, which in turn influences fish habitat use and movement. Preliminary research indicates that these factors are highly dependent on water temperature, water level, substrate and habitat type, and powerhouse discharge.
• Four species are identified as being at risk under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) and the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) that may rely on or be present in the lower Winnipeg River basin: the lake sturgeon, mapleleaf mussel, carmine shiner, and bigmouth buffalo.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (2021). Aquatic Animals and Habitat. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-06/winnipeg-river-basin-sheet-5-aquatic-animals-habitat.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. Aquatic Animals and Habitat. 2021. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-06/winnipeg-river-basin-sheet-5-aquatic-animals-habitat.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=Aquatic Animals and Habitat |date=May 2021 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-06/winnipeg-river-basin-sheet-5-aquatic-animals-habitat.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopment2021aquatic, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{Aquatic Animals and Habitat}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2021}, month = may, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-06/winnipeg-river-basin-sheet-5-aquatic-animals-habitat.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }