November 29, 2004

Conservation Minister Stan Struthers today announced protection of an additional rare river-bottom forest with the creation of one new ecological reserve, and an agreement to add and protect private land in a provincial park. One existing park reserve will also be extended for a further five years.

"Undeveloped river-bottom forests are rare in southern Manitoba," said Struthers. "The province is grateful for the opportunity to protect this and other portions of our green space for all Manitobans to enjoy."

Designation of the new Jennifer and Tom Shay Ecological Reserve will result in Manitoba’s eighteenth ecological reserve and its newest protected area. The seven-hectare parcel of land is 3.5 kilometres south of St. Adolphe and features a river-bottom forest along the eastern bank of the Red River. The site was formerly the property and home of Jennifer and Tom Shay, which was flooded in the 1997 Flood of the Century.

The relatively undisturbed river-bottom forest is rare in the Red River Valley. This habitat is unique in that many plant species must possess a tolerance of this flood prone environment in order to survive. The forests of the Red and Assiniboine river valleys provide an important route for the movement and dispersal of wildlife in a region with large tracts of land used for agriculture and development.

Biological surveys conducted at the site recorded 156 plant species distributed throughout the property, including the very rare Amorpha fruitcosa (false indigo) and several other plant species uncommon to this region of Manitoba.

"The Shays have been excellent custodians of this rare river-bottom forest and we are pleased to announce the designation of this land," said Struthers. "It recognizes the significant contribution of Dr. Jennifer Shay to Manitoba’s ecological reserves program and of Dr. Tom Shay to preserving Manitoba’s cultural heritage."

Ecological reserves are the most protected of the provincially designated sites within the network of protected areas in Manitoba. They have a unique role in meeting society’s commitment to set aside a portion of the land base in its most natural state, free from intensive recreational development or resource harvest.

The minister also announced the signing of a lease-exchange agreement to add land owned by Marcel Taillieu to Beaudry Provincial Park. The Taillieu property covers 15 hectares of river-bottom forest along the north bank of the Assiniboine River 10 kilometres west of Winnipeg bordering Beaudry Provincial Park. In exchange, Taillieu will receive a lease on 58 hectares of nearby agricultural land in the park that is currently under agricultural cultivation.

The Taillieau property supports a variety of terrace, floodplain and channel-shelf forests. These forests are dominated by bur oak, green ash, Manitoba maple and the spectacular large basswoods and cottonwoods which are up to 30 metres in height in several places throughout the property.

"Mr. Taillieu has consistently expressed his desire to preserve the natural values associated with his river-bottom forest land as a legacy for the future," Struthers said. "Agreement has just been reached on an exchange of 21-year leases that will lead to the inclusion of Mr. Taillieu's land into the park boundary as a protected area, adding to Manitoba's network of protected areas."

Finally, the minister announced the extension of the 100,300 hectare Chitek Lake Park Reserve to 2009. Chitek Lake is located in the central Interlake region along the eastern shore of Lake Winnipegosis, about 350 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg. The extension was requested by the Skownan First Nation to allow for more time for community review of the proposal to establish a permanent park in the area.

The Chitek Lake Park Reserve is unique, containing a complex intermingling of glacial till and organic deposits with many different soil types. Chitek Lake forms the primary range of Manitoba's only free-ranging wood bison herd, and is the only location in Manitoba where wood bison, moose, elk, woodland caribou and white-tailed deer share the same area.

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