Man. proposes new park to protect lake

The Manitoba government is proposing to create a new provincial park to protect a rare lake in the north-central part of the province.

Little Limestone Lake is a 15-kilometre body of water located north of Grand Rapids, Man.

The area is a limestone region with underground drainage and many cavities and passages caused by the dissolution of the rock, Conservation Minister Bill Blaikie said on Thursday.

The lake is called a marl lake because changes colour when the amount of calcite increases in the lake's water as the summer climate increases its temperature.

Blaikie described the colour change as "magnificent."

It is considered to be the best and most outstanding example of a marl lake in the world, Blaikie said.

The province declared the 4,095-hectare site a reserve in 2007 to temporarily protect it while proceedings get underway to consider it as a park site.

The proposed park is right next to the Mosakahiken First Nation along Highway 6.

The province is seeking the public's input on the proposal until Aug. 31. Comment sheets and other contact information can be found at manitobaparks.com

Under Manitoba law, the public must be consulted in the creation of provincial parks.