An environmental group is raising the alarm against clear cutting the forest after a mass die-off of freshwater clams was found in one of the secluded lakes within the Whiteshell Provincial Park.

According to Eric Reder, local director of the Wilderness Committee, Meditation Lake, which is only accessible by hiking, appears to have suffered a large toxic algae bloom in July, which may have killed off many of the freshwater clams.

Reder says the mass die-off was discovered by a hiker who noticed the lake smelled really bad. Upon further investigation, thousands of dead fresh water clams were found in the water and along the shores of the shallow lake.

"We went in and tested the water, but everything appears fine," explained Reder. "The only change we know of is that they started to cut down the trees that were blown down during the windstorm last year."

Manitoba Conservation also went into the area, closed the lake and took water samples. When the samples came back showing no problems with the water, the lake was reopened.

However, the mass die-off is a great concern to the Wilderness Committee, which has been raising awareness of how clear cutting provincial forests, is causing problems.

"The theory we are working on is that the clear cutting going on in the area had caused an increase in nutrients in the lake, which in turn caused a larger than normal algae bloom and killed off the clams," stated Reder. "But we cannot conclusively prove what caused the mass die-off."

Whiteshell Provincial Park is most Manitobans first view of the Canadian Shield. With its abundant lakes, rivers, forested areas and wildlife, it continues to be a celebrated part of our natural heritage. However, unknown to most Manitobans, 47 percent of this park is available for clearcut logging. Currently, clearcutting is taking place under the direction of the Manitoba provincial government.

"What we know right now is that this lake is in trouble," said Reder, "we don't have an exact cause for this problem. We know there shouldn't be commercial logging in our parks. We know that the government's excuse of fire suppression is wrong. And now we have a species die-off that the professors I've spoken to say is extremely rare, if not unique. We need to do a better job of protecting our wilderness."

"These companies that are logging these forests are driving heavy equipment through the wetlands carelessly, changing water patterns and doing other damage which affects the natural course of things," added Reder. "But very infrequently are people charged under the forestry act."

Five major provincial parks are available to be logged right now including Whiteshell, Duck Mountain, Nopiming, Grass River and Clearwater Lake. The provincial government continues to allow industrial logging in provincial parks, despite government environmental reports and the wishes of the majority of Manitobans.