Peatlands act as important water filters, reducing harmful nutrients that enter the lake. Peat bogs also serve as important carbon sinks, and mining them releases both carbon and methane into the atmosphere.

"Peat mining has the distinction of disrupting water tables, removing our natural water filtration, and releasing vast stores of carbon. ... Peat bogs, then, are an essential climate change mitigation tool," said Manitoba Wilderness Committee Campaign Director Eric Reder.

Cottagers and permanent residents in Hecla/Grindstone park are also concerned by the proposed mine. "It will leave a permanent scar in that area -- at least permanent within my generation for sure," said Heather Hinam, who owns a home in Hecla park.

There are 201 quarry leases for peat in all of Manitoba. Most are clustered in the Interlake and southeastern Manitoba. Several are near Lake Winnipeg.

In June, the province announced it was "banning the rapid expansion of peat extraction from wetlands" as part of its Save Lake Winnipeg Act. But all the government did was place a hold on granting new leases to peat producers. Those holding existing leases accelerated their environmental license applications.

"Why are we mining in parks? Why would we want to do anything other than abide by the intent of the Save Lake Winnipeg Act?" said Manitoba Wildlands Director Gaile Whelan Enns.

Chloe Burgess, manager of sustainable resource policy with Manitoba Conservation, said the province is developing a peatland-management strategy. The government plans to solicit input from the public in late February, 2012.