Invasive Weed Watch Educational Materials
The WWMC has been made aware that the invasion of noxious and probibited noxious weeds is starting to become an issue at Lake Wabaman. The good news is that this invasion is not yet out of control, but it could
turn out that way without the concerted efforts of all watershed residents and users. To this end, the WWMC organized two Invasive Weeds Workshops in June of 2012 to raise awareness and understanding on this issue. Invasive weed removal at Wabamun took place in areas of extreme infestation through the joint efforts of Parkland County, TransAlta and ESRD with support from the Stony Plain Fish and Game Club.
For more information on Invasive Weeds, please view the following documents:
Invasive Weed Watch Introduction (pdf)
Invasive Weeds FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions (pdf)
Invasive Weeds Legislation Fact Sheet (pdf)
Purple Loosestrife Fact Sheet (pdf)
Flowering Rush Fact Sheet (pdf)
Himalayan Balsam Fact Sheet (pdf)
Scentless Chamomile Fact Sheet (pdf)
Common Tansy Fact Sheet (pdf)
Boat Launch Sign 2012 (pdf)
Nutrient Reduction Educational Materials
The Wabamun Watershed Management Council, after reviewing and prioritizing issues around the lake, identified nutrient loading as the most significant issue to act on. After learning more
about the issue themselves (see presentations under Information Sessions), they prepared a nutrient reduction strategy to address this problem.
The reason nutrient loading is such an issue is that phosphorus build up in lake sediments (called internal loading) now accounts for as much as 56% of total phosphorus releases annually. If we allow too much
nutrient into a lake undesired amounts of aquatic vegetation and algae will occur. While we cannot do much about the nutrients contained in sediments, we can do our best to limit the nutrients entering the lake due to our activities on the land (called external loading).
Members of the Council attended events throughout the watershed over two summers to discuss this issue further with watershed residents. A specific focus
in 2008 and 2009 was to work with the Living by Water Program and the Alberta Conservation Team (ACT) to do free homesite consultations at Seba Beach in 2008 and with Moonlight Bay, Kapasiwin & Lakeview in 2009. These consultations helped to provide guidance specific to what homeowners can do to maintain healthy lakes and improve water quality.
Of special interest was a Shoreline Naturalization Information Session that was held at the end of August to outline the proper steps and techniques a cottage owner would use in order to naturalize a lakefront property.
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