2011 Gimli, Manitoba, Canada
Gimli High School students Cole Wear, Christine Durocher and Erik Isliefson are concerned about the health and sustainability of Lake Winnipeg. They believe an understanding of watersheds is very important for stewardship and sustainability. As a class project, they constructed a model of the Lake Winnipeg Watershed. The project was created by Enviro Club members with support from a local Conservation District.
The purpose of creating this model was to educate others. “It will show the size and scope of the area. It will be able to travel to schools and communities in our area in order to show people how an activity or land use in one part connects to and potentially affects other parts. There are many ways the land and resources are used such as agriculture, mining, forestry, manufacturing, urban development, recreation, oil extraction, roads, sewage treatment, generation of electric power, traditional land uses and more. We want people to think carefully about what goes on in the watershed, particularly about their choices and practices.”
Through a generous donation of $600 by Nutrien, the students will build a carrying case for their model so they can visit different communities to talk about the importance of healthy watersheds.