By now most of you have heard about the "WOW Project" that the club has been working on over the course of the last 4 years. The final goal of this project would be to achieve a "viewing window" built into the side of the Whiteshell River at the Provincial Trout Hatchery site located at West Hawk Lake.  A visitor would be able to view both the underwater and above water environments of a trout stream.

The MFFA Executive believe this project would further enhance the present Hatchery site which already includes the Hatchery, the Hatchery Interpretive Center, the River Viewing Deck and the 1990 MFFA / Fish Futures Whiteshell River Rehabilitation Project . After numerous consultations and funding applications a WOW Stage 1: Feasibility, Costing Estimate, and Initial Design Concept was completed last year. These designs by the engineering firm of KGS were on display at the MFFA's 40th Anniversary Banquet in April 2008 . Here they received a very positive response from all including the Manitoba Minister of Waterstewardship Christine Melnick, our guest for the evening. The Minister was there to congratulate the club on its anniversary milestone along with presentations of cheques totalling $30,000 from the FEF (Fisheries Enhancement Fund) which provided funding for the Stage One designs along with WOW Stage 2: the 2008 Whiteshell River Habitat Survey.

This survey was completed this summer and fall (watch for the Survey Presentation night in the 2009 MFFA Program).  Fluctuating water levels on the Whiteshell River over the course of the last few years  have lead to a review of the water flow management of the river and surrounding area waters . Meetings to address and hopefully resolve these issues are presently underway with Manitoba Fisheries and Waterstewardship Branches.

This winter the River Survey results will be reviewed and addressed and if a solution to the water level issue can be achieved further funding sources, partnerships and planning and design processes will proceed (WOW Stage # 3).

Anyone interested in assisting in any capacity with the continued efforts on this MFFA project , please contact Bruce Cameron at 489-5901 .

To see  similar viewing chamber sites go to:
www.fluvarium.ca
www.bowhabitat.gov.ab.ca
www.fortwhyte.org
www.underwateroz.com
www.glaquarium.org
www.adkaquaticlife.org
www.columbiariverimages.com
www.issaquahfish.org
www.tu.org