Susan Ellis, president of the Pigeon Lake Watershed Association, gives an update on Pigeon Lake to the Central Alberta Recreational Lakes Forum.
Regarding the health of the lake, she discusses the issues that exist, and the solutions they are implementing. There is a problem with amount of cosmetic fertilizers entering the lake; currently they are focusing on minimizing the use of lawn fertilizers. They have learned that the most effective type of positive change is a combination of annual education, and regulations, so they are implementing both.
They have created a pamphlet about healthy lawn maintenance, how nutrients enter the lake, and information about healthy soil, which they have begun to distribute, and have initiated a 12 step program to self-sustaining healthy soil. Sedimentary samples will be taken to learn what other changes are possible. They have hired a Summer Program Coordinator, and Summer Student to further their educational priorities, including the creation of summer and winter newsletters to inform and engage lake residents about what they can do to improve the health of the lake.
One of the biggest challenges remains blue-green algae, which instigated health advisories from Alberta Health Services for two consecutive summers. This included a ban on drinking, swimming or wading in the water.
This presentation was a part of the Central Alberta Recreational Lakes Forum at the Pine Lake Hub Centre, on May 10, 2014.
