"We're
all
downstream."
-
Ecologist's
motto
adopted
by
Margaret
&
Jim
Drescher,
Windhorse
Farm,
Nova
Scotia
The
Seine
River's
source
is
in
the
sandy
soils
of
Sandilands
Provincial
Forest
Southeast
of
Steinbach.
As
the
tiny
river
meanders
across
the
prairie
landscape
the
watershed
drains
into
tributaries
and
into
the
Seine.
It
continues
through
towns
and
villages,
passing
over
dams
and
diversions
until
it
reaches
the
outskirts
of
the
City
of
Winnipeg
at
the
Red
River
Floodway.
"Irrigation
of
the
land
with
seawater
desalinated
by
fusion
power
is
ancient.
It's
called
rain.
"
-
Michael
McClary
The
Seine
River's
Watershed,
the
area
where
run-off
flows
into
the
Seine
River,
has
been
reduced
by
over
25%
over
the
years.
The
Watershed
has
lost
the
run-off
from
330
square
kilometers
that
now
drain
into
either
the
Red
River
Floodway
or
directly
into
the
Red
River.
A
separate
110
square
kilometers
of
run-off
has
been
intercepted
and
diverted
to
fill
the
man-made,
Lake
Riviera.
The
water
from
the
remaining
1190
square
kilometers
of
watershed
is
what
hopefully
reaches
the
Siphon
at
the
Red
River
Floodway.
At
this
point
the
river
is
forced
through
the
Seine
River
Siphon.
The
siphon
is
a
'U'
shaped
pipe
that
allows
a
maximum
of
4.5
cubic
meters
of
water
per
second
(cms)
to
pass
457
meters
under
the
Red
River
Floodway.
If
more
than
4.5
cms
of
water
reaches
the
siphon
it
spills
over
a
weir
into
the
Red
River
Floodway.
Floating
debris
may
block
the
small
opening
of
the
Seine
River
Siphon
further
reducing
the
4.5cms
that
could
enter
the
siphon.
Logs
and
branches
can
accumulate
against
the
metal
grill
until
only
a
trickle
can
continue.
(The
Seine
River's
capacity
is
13
cms.)
In
both
the
rural
and
urban
portions
of
the
Seine
River
many
property
many
stakeholders
draw
water
for
various
purposes.
Property
owners
along
the
river
use
insignificant
amounts
of
river
water
to
water
gardens
or
lawns.
More
significantly
large
users
like
one
of
the
five
golf
courses
along
the
Seine
are
permitted
(by
the
Water
Resources
Branch),
to
draw
up
to
284,000
liters
per
day.
Save
Our
Seine
is
working
on
installing
artificial
rapids
called
Riffles
that
will
hold
back
some
of
the
river
water.
The
velocity
of
the
precious
amount
of
water
that
enters
the
City
will
be
slowed
reducing
erosion
and
bank
instability.
The
result
will
be
higher
water
levels
within
the
City
for
longer
periods
of
time.
During
higher
river
levels
like
spring
or
early
summer,
the
water
will
simply
pass
uninterrupted
over
the
structures.
Water
forces
naturally
create
deep
pools
near
the
Riffles.
This
will
add
to
the
quality
of
fish
habitat
and
all
aquatic
life,
either
plant
or
animal.
[Describing
the
Seine
River],
"a
stagnant
algae
choked
mosquito
breeding
cesspool
and
lifeless
ditch."
-
Save
Our
Seine
(1994)
Other
than
Water
Quantity,
Water
Quality
is
another
important
factor
for
a
healthy
river
environment.
Visible
pollution
like
garbage
and
debris
can
be
removed
by
Citizens
through
"Cleanings.'
Click
here
to
launch
the
Seine
River
Scenic
Photo
Gallery
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Invisible
pollution
like
contaminants
are
not
so
easy
to
reduce
and
eliminate.
As
the
Hydrological
Cycle
indicates
after
a
rainfall,
surface
run-off
'cleans'
the
ground
in
the
watershed
and
ends
up
in
the
Seine
River.
Pollution
and
toxins
can
enter
the
river
many
ways
and
from
many
sources.
Chemicals
used
by
agricultural
or
industrial
practices,
or
sewage
treatment
within
the
watershed
can
contribute
to
degraded
water
quality.
In
the
urban
environment
the
concentration
of
impermeable
surfaces
(roads,
parking
lots,
roofs,
etc.)
makes
runoff
quicker
and
can
drastically
raise
river
levels.
Within
the
Urban
Watershed,
lawn
chemicals,
domestic
pet
waste,
soaps,
solvents
and
other
pollutants
can
end
up
in
the
river.
SOS
is
planning
to
regularly
monitor
the
water
quality
at
various
locations
along
the
Seine
River.
Levels
of
pollutants
can
be
determined
and
hopefully
sources
of
pollution
can
be
determined.
At
the
grass-roots
level,
the
information
gathered
over
time
will
encourage
residents
of
the
Seine
River's
Urban
Watershed
to
take
greater
care
in
what
they
contribute
to
the
Seine
River
Environment.
"Throughout
the
history
of
literature,
the
guy
who
poisons
the
well
has
been
the
worst
of
all
villains..."
-
Author
unknown
Sharon
Gurney,
Environment
Officer
for
Manitoba
Conservation,
stated
the
following
in
the
Seine
River
Greenway
Study:
"Clean
water
is
essential
for
the
health
of
the
aquatic
life
in
the
river.
Although
the
quality
of
the
river
is
generally
good,
at
times
water
quality
is
degraded
by
human
activities.
Water
pollution
in
the
Seine
River
Watershed
originates
from
a
number
of
sources.
During
rainfall
or
snow
melt,
contaminates
such
as
pet
feces,
oil,
soil,
litter,
lawn
fertilizers
and
pesticides,
are
carried
off
Winnipeg
streets
and
deposited
into
the
river
through
storm
sewers.
Before
the
river
reaches
the
City,
it
travels
through
a
large
agricultural
region.
During
rain
storms,
livestock
waste,
fertilizers
and
pesticides
can
be
washed
into
the
river.
In
addition,
treated
wastewater
from
town
lagoons
(Lorette)
are
deposited
into
the
river
during
ice-free
period.
Within
the
City
of
Winnipeg
extensive
encroachment
of
the
Seine
River
has
resulted
in
increased
pollution
loading.
Recent
environmental
concerns
have
been
identified
with
respect
to
the
river
being
used
as
a
dumping
ground
for
construction
material
and
residential
garbage.
Low
flow
conditions
in
the
river
have
exacerbated
the
water
quality
problems
along
its
reach.
Although
it
is
unlikely
the
Seine
River
can
be
restored
to
pristine
conditions,
we
must
ensure
that
human
influences
do
not
unacceptably
impact
the
quality
of
the
water
in
the
river.
The
abundant
insect
and
fish
life
in
the
river
assure
us
that
the
quality
of
water
is
generally
good."
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