| Meet our new staff |
 | | Clockwise from top left: Dana Stromberg, Jared Ellenor, Nicole Meyers, Elynne Murray. |
We'd like to introduce you to four ecologists that have joined our team for the open water season.
Three of them are LakeWatch Technicians and the fourth is our Beach Outreach Educator. |
| LakeWatch Reports for 2012 Available | 
Twenty-six new reports for lakes Across Alberta have been uploaded onto our website. They are currently housed in a massive table and to find the one you want either scroll through the list of click on the table headings to sort the table by ear, name, or major river basin that the lake is located within.
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| Spring into Summer |
Since I started  working for ALMS I've really begun to pay attention to what I put down my drain, septic system and on my lawn. For example, I was shocked to learn how many cleaning products have demonstrated negative impacts on aquatic life. Now that the snow has finally melted, there are a lot of projects needed to get our homes and yards ready for the summer. While we are working, lets all consider how our choices will impact the waterbody near our homes. Whether it goes down the kitchen sink, the laundry and bathroom drains, gets flushed down the toilet, goes down the storm sewer on your street, or gets washed off your lawn by rain it all ends up in our streams, rivers, and lakes. Below are some information and resources I've gathered for greening the spring clean ritual:
Green Cleaning Products
Green Lawns not Green Lakes
Nutrients in fertilizers are a big concern for healthy aquatic ecosystems. Never use fertilizers near ponds, lakes, streams, or rivers. If you use fertilizer elsewhere in the watershed, make sure to use the right source of fertilizer at the right rate, the right time and the right place:
- Right Source: Use a fertilizer recommended for your lawn or garden.
- Right Rate: Know the size of your lawn and only buy what you need. Apply at the application rate recommended on the label. Use a good quality fertilizer spreader.
- Right Time: Apply in the correct season. Spring and Fall are the best times to fertilize. Don't apply if heavy rain is expected.
- Right Place: Sweep on to the lawn any fertilizer that might land on hard surfaces such as sidewalks and driveways. Never use near lakes, ponds, streams or rivers.
Many lawn fertilizers are going phosphate free to keep up with fertilizer bans in the US, you may be able to purchase these in your local store (check the N-P-K nutrient mix numbers on the bags, the middle number should be zero). Learn more tips.
Septic Smart
If you have a septic system, ensure it is functioning properly this summer. Inspect and have the tank pumped out at least every two years, keep records of pumping and maintenance, use caution in disposing materials down the drain, and keep heavy equipment and vehicles off your system and drain field. More information
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| Please invite us to your event! |  In an effort to spread the word about healthy lakes and protection of our water resources we would like the opportunity to speak to people in your community. If you know of an event that our Outreach Coordinator could attend or would like to create an event please contact us!
We offer:
- information on blue green algae causes, prevention, and health risks.
- water sampling demonstrations and basic water quality information
- homesite consultations and information on how to take individual action to protect our lakes, streams, rivers and ponds.
- Event tent, give-aways, and a watershed model
Contact Dana at: beachoutreach@naturealberta.ca
The program is being cooperatively run between ALMS and Nature Alberta with the generous support of the TD Friends of the Environment Fund and the North Saskatchewan Riverkeeper. |
| Update on the Experimental Lakes Area |
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DF0) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) are pleased to announce that a memorandum of understanding concerning future management of the ELA has been signed. This agreement is a major milestone in the transition of the ELA to a third party operator. As an important part of this agreement, DFO will be conducting a sampling program over the summer of 2013 as part of the transition to maintain important scientific research and ensure that long-term data sets can continue uninterrupted. Read the press release.
Many thanks to everyone who signed a petition, wrote a letter or called your Member of Parliament, your support was invaluable in reaching this agreement.
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| Save the Date! | |
The ALMS Annual Workshop will be held September 27 & 28, at the Lakedell Hall near Pigeon Lake. This year's theme:
Healthy Watershed. Healthy Lake. Healthy Community.
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| Celebrate AWQA Day | |
June 5 is Alberta Water Quality Awareness Day!
We'll be giving away a few test kits to new likes or followers leading up to AWQA day.
Follow us on Facebook or Twitter and your name will be entered into a draw on June 5 for a free kit. |
| News & Events | 
June 2 to 8, Albertans celebrate Environment Week - the theme this year is spotlight on Biodiversity. Consider registering your environment week event as a Green Stop.
 | | Click here for all the environment week green stop events across the province! |
Also, don't forget that June 5 is always AWQA day! Feel free to dust off last year's kit and head out to your local water body and do some sampling. Additional kits are also available for purchase, contact us.
Alberta Low Impact Development Partnership (ALIDP) Workshop and AGM. June 6th, Old College. Topics include rain gardens, water quality initiatives, and future directions for the ALIDP.
Aquality Wetlands Course. June 26 - 27 in Calgary. Topics include wetland theory and classification, policy and legislation, and the Riparian Matrix Model. Deadline to register is June 19.
Albertan Non-profits, Recharge Your Power. From June15, the Shaw Conference Centre will host Vitalize, Alberta's Provincial Voluntary Sector Conference. This year's keynote speakers are journalist Amanda Lindhout and Michael "Pinball" Clemons. Additional topics include: - Protect Your Assets - Canadian Code for Volunteer Involvement
- The Art of Selling the Invisible Deadline to register is May 24th. |
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