Sandy Lake Summer Village is a lake community of 278-300 residents, located 55 km northwest of Edmonton, in Rural Lac Ste. Anne County. The Village borders Sturgeon County and Alexander First Nation. The community thrives on the lake setting which is enjoyed by residents, campers, and day visitors alike. The community mission statement is "Providing quality public spaces for a safe, clean, healthy and vibrant diverse community in which businesses, organizations, individuals and all residents can prosper". The primary amenity of the community is the lake and associated recreational activities. The Council is dedicated to promoting lake stewardship, and protecting this natural asset for future residents. Water quality and lake levels have declined in recent years, and the community is looking for innovative solutions to guard against environmental impacts of climate change,
eutrophication, and water stewardship. The primary objective of this project is to develop a comprehensive and actionable plan that supports long-term sustainability and climate resilience for Sandy Lake and the Sandy Lake Summer Village. To achieve this, the project will focus on the following activities:
1. Lake water quality and quantity: Decreasing water level and quality in Sandy Lake has been observed over many years. With climate change effects, these concerns will likely worsen. Already there has been a loss of wetlands along portions of shoreline where connectivity to the lake has been cut-off, resulting in habitat loss and species loss. As water recedes, riparian degradation has been observed which will have negative effects on lake quality, riparian habitat, and species density.
2. Climate hazard assessment and risk level, including a risk mitigation plan. Risks will be ranked to ensure that further phases of planning and implementation provide the most impact for those affected.
3. A climate action plan to provide tangible action to address climate resilience in the community, including emergency planning.
4. Educational material (report, presentation, and infographic) for community engagement and alignment across the watershed to direct regional level decision making related to environmental stewardship, flood and drought resiliency, emergency planning and management, infrastructure projects that support climate resilience.
This project will include engagement with two other lakefront communities and the Alexander First Nation adjacent to Sandy Lake. The Nation has recently completed a similar project that was in part initiated due to decreasing surface water levels and quality on Nation. The watersheds for Nation and Sandy Lake are directly adjacent meaning that not only can resiliency and stewardship planning be aligned, but traditional ways of
knowing can be incorporated into each step of this project. This holistic approach to regional resiliency will have greater benefits to all communities involved.
The project outcomes are:
To carry out an assessment of relevant climate hazards and relative risk to community water security. This includes water quality and quantity analysis for Sandy Lake through watershed and local level data gathering, mapping, and modelling. Water supply, stormwater management, wastewater treatment, and land management strategies will be assessed as part of this risk assessment. This work will support lake ecosystem health that underpins recreation, community health, and businesses that depend on residents and visitors alike. To provide the community with a water health focussed Adaptation Action Plan mapping a pathway to address climate vulnerability which may include the following (as applicable):
A) Restore or arrest the loss of riparian and wetland habitat where lake water level decrease has affected ecosystem health and species habitat. This will contribute to improved lake health and biodiversity, and protect from flood and drought by providing water storage and groundwater recharge.
B) Identify specific climate risk levels for the community to allow for emergency planning and mitigation projects that will protect the health and safety of citizens. Prioritization of these risks will allow the community to focus funding to the key projects.
C) Suggest land management strategies that will support long-term community resilience. For example, solutions that reduce carbon footprint, water conservation measures, and sustainable land use practices that limit environmental impacts.
D) To provide a list of climate risk mitigation actions in a comprehensive, phased plan that includes prioritization based on risk and importance to the community. This will support the community in emergency and adaptation planning with a holistic understanding of the climate challenges and impacts that the community is facing now and in the future.
Training and engagement with the council and community will follow these two project phases. The goal is to increase community preparedness to climate impacts, increase awareness of climate change impacts, generate understanding and support for the mitigation actions, and facilitate improved processes and planning that will
reduce overall risk.
Deliverables will include:
1. Initial assessment and background reporting of all collected data (delivered as part of the Climate Risk Assessment Report)
2. Community engagement with residents of Summer Village of Sandy Beach, Alexander First Nation, Summer Village of Sunrise Beach, and Pine Sands. This will consist of education and feedback to assess the priorities and concerns of the community. This also provides an opportunity to incorporate traditional ways of knowing into the project assessment. End of project engagement will include dissemination of information and education on the
recommendations/results.
3. Climate Risk Assessment Report documenting the results of the hazard assessment and risk level, vulnerabilities, mitigation strategies, community feedback and prioritization.
4. Climate Resilience Action Plan which provides Summer Village of Sandy Beach with a roadmap to support climate resiliency through tangible actions, decision making, and infrastructure projects. The roadmap will be structured to align with the priorities identified by the community during the engagement.
