| LakeWatch Reports for 2011 are posted |
 | | Bev Smith |
Physical, chemical and biological lake data, collected in 2011, has been summarized in 20 new LakeWatch reports available on our website. Currently there is a huge table with all the reports - just click on the 'name' column heading to sort and group each lake's reports.
Thank you to the Government of Alberta and the L akeland Industry & Community Association (LICA) for funding LakeWatch. Also, a huge thank you to all the volunteers who are essential to the program. They provide the boat, their time to drive our Technicians on the lakes and they also assist with data recording.
Volunteers are often passionate advocates and stewards for Alberta lakes. Their stories are inspiring and this year we would like to profile Bev Smith, from Laurier Lake which is adjacent to Whitney Lakes Provincial Park. Bev has sampled with ALMS for 8 years. She is a lake resident, having purchased property at Laurier in 1978 and moving full time in 2000. She got involved initially because she was on the LICA Board of Directors, and continues to this day because she enjoys supporting LICA, the LakeWatch program, and loves sampling and learning about Laurier lake. She samples rain or shine and has only had to cancel a couple times in the past 8 years due to weather. Thank you Bev! |
| First Regional Plan Approved |
 | | Map of LARP new conservation and recreation areas. |
The Lower Athabasca Regional Plan went into effect on September 1, 2012. The plan represents a new and legally binding approach to cumulative effects management in Alberta.
This region is home to the vast majority of Alberta's oilsands but also a region of some of Alberta's most beautiful and popular lakes. The plan results in some significant conservation gains, now more than 20% of the regional is within conservation or recreation areas. Lakes also feature heavily in this plan and there are several new or increased areas of tourism/recreation zones surrounding lakes.
A key outcome "Air and Water are Managed to Support Human and Ecosystem Needs" will be accomplished through the use of frameworks. The Frameworks identified for water quantity and quality, however, largely focus on areas upstream of surface mines or ground water used for in situ injection. Another outcome is "...increased opportunity for recreation..." and developing the tourism industry is cited as a priority. Achieving these outcomes will mean effective lake management, yet LARP makes no mention of general water quantity or quality frameworks for recreational lakes in this region. Reference to the Lakeland region is largely limited to mention of its "iconic" status among Albertans and the desire to increase its tourism draw.
ALMS looks forward to the development of lake and wetland outcomes that focus on good water quality and healthy aquatic ecosystems in this region with an understanding that these waterbodies form an interconnected ecosystem. That is, lake management outcomes at the regional scale must be developed along with outcomes at the lake-watershed scale. As the LARP unfolds, and sub-regional plans are developed, ALMS hopes to see water quality and quantity frameworks for all water bodies to support healthy aquatic ecosystems and recreational enjoyment of lakes in this region. |
| Lakeland Workshop | 
Cold Lake, Alberta September 27-29, 2012 Two days of informative presentations and three different field tour locations! |
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| Upload AWQA Data by September 15 | | |
Please upload all AWQA kit data at www.awqa.ca by Sept 15 for inclusion into the "snap shot" report.
Prize Winners will be announced next week! |
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Beavers are great for lakes!
|  - Ponds and dams are natural filters for cleaner water
- Ponds store water in the landscape that can be slowly released throughout the year
Learn more in this NEW Cows & Fish brochure |
| Events | |
September 1 to 30
Get involved by becoming a Site Coordinator or by volunteering at one already organized. Search for sites near you.
North American Lake Management Symposium Nov 7 - 9, 2012 Madison, Wisconsin Early-bird deadline is September 14 |
| Have you been following the news on toix blue-green algae blooms? We have... |
This is where we post news articles, interesting blogs or opinion articles, and day to information about ALMS and our program. Please give us a like or become a follower. |
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