Lacombe County, the Town of Blackfalds, and the City of Lacombe are partnering
to develop a comprehensive Lake Management Plan for Lacombe Lake. The
project will establish a shared, non-statutory framework to guide land use,
watershed health, and stormwater management in a coordinated manner.
Lacombe Lake, located in Lacombe County between the City of Lacombe and the
Town of Blackfalds, is a shallow body of water that stretches three kilometres long
and is approximately 500 metres wide. At its deepest point, it reaches only about
three metres. The lake serves as a habitat for various wildlife species, including
nesting shorebirds and waterfowl, while also acting as a stopover for migratory
birds like trumpeter swans. Locally, the lake is cherished as a hidden gem for quiet
paddling and is home to the Central Alberta Rowing Club.
Lacombe County also holds a license under the Water Act for the Lacombe Lake
Project. This project was initiated and completed in 1971 by the Prairie Farm
Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA) with Lacombe County as the project licensee.
This license requires Lacombe County to operate and maintain two control gates,
a weir, and a diversion channel, which are used to influence the water level of
Lacombe Lake. During periods of high flow, water from Whelp Creek would be
diverted into Lacombe Lake and stored for subsequent release in the summer for
agricultural use downstream. Water is no longer diverted from Whelp Creek due
to nutrient runoff concerns; however, the control gate is still operated to maintain
lake levels within the licensed elevations.
Lake Management Plans are intended to help lake stewards protect
lake ecosystems through the setting of ecological outcomes for each lake. Lake
management planning is also a strategic process that is intended to help lake
stewards develop and implement actions to maintain or improve lake ecosystems.
This includes managing human activities on land that may impact aspects of lake
water quality and quantity, and the associated fish, vegetative and wildlife
communities. The creation of Lake Management Plans not only link science,
opportunities, processes and potential partners in a shared plan to get specific
results for each lake but also allow for greater synergies across the parties
involved with lake management.
A Lake Management Plan:
- Encourages partnerships between concerned citizens, including
lakeshore owners, watershed residents, local and provincial government,
resource management agencies and special interest groups.
- Summarizes information on how the lake functions and its current
condition.
- Identifies concerns that people feel are important to address.
- Sets realistic goals, objectives, and actions to achieve desired outcomes.
- Identifies needed funds, resources, and personnel to implement
and monitor the plan.
Currently, no Lake Management Plan exists surrounding Lacombe Lake. There is
a need to create a Lake Management Plan as per the Town of Blackfalds Water
Act Approval for the Town’s northwest area stormwater management system:
Water Act Approval Number DAUT0015736
5770. The Approval Holder shall develop a Lake Management Plan for
Lacombe Lake, in cooperation with the County of Lacombe, the Lacombe
Lake Watershed Stewardship Society, other local stakeholders and Alberta
Environment and Protected Areas officials as noted in Report Nos.
00387959-R001, 00387959-R003 and 00387959-R004, as specified in
5250.
By linking science, opportunities, and community input in a shared plan, the
Lacombe Lake Management Plan will enhance collaboration, ensure sustainable
watershed health, and create long-term value for residents and municipalities alike.
