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Unfortunately
the
upper
Seine
River
has
suffered
from
the
impacts
of
the
urban
development
along
its
banks.
As
a
response
to
the
intolerably
poor
condition
of
this
historic
and
(sometimes)
navigable
river,
local
residents
organized
and
took
it
upon
themselves
to
protect
and
enhance
the
river
and
its
banks.
Immediate
results
were
achieved
by
dozens
of
organized
volunteers.
They
got
in
the
mud
and
removed
tons
of
garbage
from
the
river
and
off
its
banks.
Tires,
carpets,
bicycles,
concrete
blocks,
shingles,
plastic
bags
and
shopping
carts
by
the
truckload
have
been
removed
over
the
past
12
years.
Community-organized,
urban
tree
planting
events
occur
every
spring.
These
events
bring
families,
neighbours,
students,
teachers,
scouts,
politicians,
cadets,
and
many
others
together
to
improve
their
neighbourhood's
environment.
As
a
result,
thousands
of
indigenous
trees
and
shrubs
have
been
planted
to
replace
habitat
and
buffer
areas
along
the
Seine
River
corridor.
In September 1990 the stewards of this enchanting little river had
formed a grassroots community group and called themselves 'Save
Our Seine Resident's Committee' (SOS).
The
river's
lower
annual
water
levels
prompted
the
SOS
to
lobby
the
province
of
Manitoba
to
repair
the
siphon
at
the
Red
River
Floodway.
Due
to
an
evident
leak
in
the
siphon
during
the
1990's,
the
river
was
described
by
SOS
as
a,
"stagnant
algae
choked
mosquito
breeding
cesspool
and
lifeless
ditch."
Since
92%
of
the
river's
watershed
lies
beyond
the
floodway,
a
siphon
was
needed
to
allow
the
Seine
River
to
cross
the
diversion.
After
successfully
lobbying
the
provincial
and
federal
governments
the
siphon
was
repaired
and
more
natural,
canoeable
river
levels
have
returned.
To
maintain
these
water
levels
SOS
has
worked
with
many
levels
of
government
and
departments
in
many
jurisdictions
to
install
the
'Riffle'
Project.
The
project
will
encompass
over
a
dozen
stone
'rapids'
and
'pools'
installed
along
the
river
to
slow
the
river
velocity
and
increase
water
levels
throughout
the
summer
while
improving
fish
habitat.
This
will
also
lengthen
the
canoe
season!
| Click
here
to
view
the
SOS
Historical
Summary
1990
-1996
|
As
a
result
of
thousands
of
volunteer
hours
and
over
10
years
of
planting
and
cleaning
along
the
river,
these
'Greening
and
Cleaning'
events
have
convinced
SOS
of
the
benefits
of
protecting
existing
natural
areas
within
the
city.
SOS
has
installed
and
is
working
with
various
stakeholders
to
add
more
trails.
These
paths
increase
connectivity
between
parks
and
promote
a
linear-park
concept
within
the
Greenway.
SOS
works
with
different
levels
of
government,
developers
and
the
community
advocating
more
suitable
development
initiatives
within
the
fragile
riparian
environment.
SOS
actively
encourages
that
remaining
natural
areas
be
protected.
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