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Morden restricts water usage amid severe drought, while farmers fret over parched soil conditions

Morden restricts water usage amid severe drought, while farmers fret over parched soil conditions

A dry fall, winter and now spring have taken a toll in southern Manitoba, where the City of Morden says it is experiencing a severe drought and imploring people to conserve water. The current level of Lake Minnewasta, the source of Morden's water, is nearly seven feet (just over two metres) below the full supply level, the city said in a notice posted on its website. Mayor Brandon Burley said levels that low have not been seen in the city, roughly 100 kilometres southwest of Winnipeg, since 1983. "In terms of recent history, it's unprecedented," he said, noting islands are "popping out" of Lake Minnewasta.