Current News

Spring Lakescape

Our spring edition of Lakescape is available for download.

Highlights include:

• Springing Ahead

• Willow Staking Workshop

• Membership Renewal

• Join Our Board of Directors

• Lake Water Level Info

• Wabamun Fishery Info

• LakePulse

(April 19, 2024)

Seba Beach Bioengineering Workshop

The WWMC is organizing a FREE workshop on using bioengineering to stabilize steep slopes and eroding shorelines on May 11, 2024. Bioengineering is a technique using natural materials to stabilize soils. The workshop will consist of a brief introduction to the process, followed by hands-on training on willow harvesting and installation methods. Download the workshop notice for more information.

(March 9, 2024)

Can you Help the WWMC?

The Wabamun Watershed Management Council is seeking active and committed people to serve on its board of directors. If you are interested in serving with a group of engaged people who want to make a difference in how the lake is managed and conserved, download the position description for further information and how to apply.

(March 5, 2024)

Our Gold Sponsors—We thank the following corporate members for being Gold Sponsors of the WWMC. [Click on the image to go to the respective website.] For more information about Corporate Membership, please go to our Get Involved page.

Winter Lakescape

The winter edition of the WWMC newsletter Lakescape is now available for download on our newsletter page. Highlights include: Winter in the Watershed, WWMC Board Recruitment, Lake Level and Drought, and Management Plan Steering Committee.

(January 24, 2024)

2022-2023 Annual Report

The 2022-2023 WWMC Annual Report is now posted on the Annual Reports page. It provides a review of the WWMC’s many activities and milestones of the fiscal year: July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023. This fiscal year was marked by a significant organization milestone, strengthening stakeholder engagement and participation in field activities to advance lake stewardship.

(January 22, 2024)

ALMS Winter LakeKeepers Report

The Alberta Lake Management Society has published its 2022-2023 Winter LakeKeepers Report. You can download it off their website or from our Studies & Reports page. Each winter the WWMC works with the ALMS to do water quality monitoring of Wabamun Lake throughout the winter. The following ALMS report summarizes the data collected from a variety of lakes from across the province, including Wabamun.

(November 14, 2023)

Our Silver Sponsors—We thank the following corporate members for being Silver Sponsors of the WWMC. [Click on the image to go to the respective website.] For more information about Corporate Membership, please go to our Get Involved page.

WWMC Water Treatment Plant Position Paper

The WWMC has posted its position paper on the use of the TransAlta Water Treatment Plant. The paper can be downloaded here or the Lake Water Level page.

November 5, 2023

Bulrush Restoration Video

For thousands of years, much of the shoreline of Wabamun lake was populated by reed beds which provided protection from wave action and were home to aquatic, terrestrial and avian species. With lake front development, many of those beds have been removed resulting in increased shoreline erosion and degradation of water quality and natural habitat for many native species. On Wednesday August 16, the WWMC began a pilot project to see if reed beds could successfully be reintroduced to help improve water quality, provide habitat and reduce erosion.

Michael Short of “Let’s Go Outdoors” nicely captured the scope of the project in his video, available here.

(August 27, 2023)

Sundance Boat Launch and Recreation Area Opens

Seems the long-awaited day is about to arrive. Parkland County's Sundance Boat Launch and Recreation Area will be opening Monday July 31st just in time for the August long weekend. The launch is at the outflow channel of the Sundance power plant on the lake’s south shore. Visitors are asked to stay off the areas being landscaped but the picnic areas, gravel paths and the boat launch are ready for use.

Construction of the launch was not without its problems, the last one being the need to dredge the canal because of the low water. The dredging required that TransAlta temporarily suspend its pumping operations to prevent sediment being pushed into the lake. Pumping has since resumed.

There are many people to thank for getting this project completed. Firstly, the staff and Parkland Council for recognizing the need for an additional launch and stepping up with the significant funding to get it done. Secondly, TransAlta deserves the community's gratitude for allowing public access to the site and working cooperatively with Parkland County throughout the construction process. The WWMC’s own Stan Franklin also needs to be acknowledged for single handedly brokering the deal between Parkland and TransAlta to agree to get the launch built after a study determined that there were no other suitable access points in the lake's west basins.

Development of the launch was Phase 1 of the project to address lake access for boaters. Phase 2 will involve closure or restricted access to the many informal access points that are damaging the lakeshore and causing friction with many of the lake's residential subdivisions.

Here is the link to Parkland's Wabamun Lake Boat Access page for more details.

https://www.parklandcounty.com/.../wabamun-lake-boat...

(July 28, 2023)

2022 ALMS LakeWatch Report

The latest LakeWatch Report is now available for download at our Studies and Reports page. The report is a comparative summary of the results from water sampling the Alberta Lake Management Society did in 2022 from a variety of lakes across the province. From this report you can see how Wabamun Lake compares to other lakes for water quality. By comparing these results with those in previous LakeWatch reports, you can see how water quality is changing in the lakes over time.

(July 5, 2023)

The Wabamun Watershed Management Council has been involved with several programs to improve the health of the lake and inform lake stakeholders of the issues facing the lake and it watershed. The council is looking into Boat Launch/Recreation Management Issues, the Importance of Wetlands around the lake and misuse of natural areas by off-highway vehicles.

If you have concerns about these or other issues on the lake, contact the WWMC or come to a meeting.

For information about the current level of water in the lake, go to our Lake Water Level page.

The following are links to information about on-going WWMC programs. Click on a link to learn more about each, and how you can help.