Wabamun Lake Boat Access and Nutrient Management
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Project Background Wabamun Lake is an extremely popular destination for Parkland County residents and visitors. The ever increasing recreational use is causing a great deal of pressure on existing boat launches and informal access points. In 2013, Parkland County initiated the Wabamun Boat Launch Study. The results of the study identified a number of key recommendations for consideration: · Expand and enhance Village of Wabamun Boat Launch · Expand and enhance Wabamun Provincial Park Boat Launch · Develop a formalized boat launch on the south side of the lake · Maintain informal access points for use by local residents and formalize access controls What Are We Doing? Wabamun Provincial Park parking has been expanded and enhanced. Village at Wabamun is moving forward with upgrades and improvements to their boat launch facility with funding support from Parkland County and the Province Of Alberta. An Ad Hoc Committee, made up of representatives from surrounding Lake Wabamun Municipalities, Trans Alta, Wabamun Watershed Management Council and the Province has been established to address the immediate issues around the lake including: · Informal access points · Nutrient management WABAMUN LAKE BOAT ACCESS parkland AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT county 1. Ad Hoc Committee Recomendations The committee recommended solutions to the emergent issues which have been supported by each of the Lake Wabamun municipalities for implementation. · Parkland County is proposing to develop a new south side boat launch and park to provide another formal boat launch. · Parkland County and the other adjacent municipalities will be closing off all undeveloped lake access points only allowing limited access. · All adjacent municipalities will be establishing nutrient loading restrictions which will manage and control the use of cosmetic fertilizers. These projects will help address long standing access and environmental issues in a fair, balanced manner. It builds off of, integrates and supports a number of strategic, regulatory and policy frameworks, including Parkland County's: · 2016-2020 Strategic Plan · Environmental Conservation Master Plan · Parks, Recreation Open Spaces Master Plan · Lake Wabamun Watershed Land Use Plan · Lake Wabamun Boat Launch Study WABAMUN LAKE BOAT ACCESS parkland AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT county 2. Regional Context; South Shore Boat Launch and Park Fallis The Summit Lake Shore Rd. Skyland Gardens Lake Wabamun (Philips) Wabamun Lake McMahon Place Coal Point Whitewood Freeman Village of Provincial Park Sands Lake Wabamun Wabamun (Sherwin) S.V. Lakeview Old Mine Rd. S.V. Seba Beach Harbour Terrace Wabamun Beach Mattwa Bay Ascot Beach Prowse Park South Woodland Acres Willow Beach) Wabamun Rizzie Beach Rich's Point Moonlight South Seba Bay Sunshine Beach S.V. Betula Marine Drive Estates Lake Bay Beach Wabamun Lake (Woods) S.V. Point Alison Wabamun Lake S.V. (Moulds) Kapasiwin Beaver Bay Beach Estates Sundance Rosewood Meadows Beach Sundance Road Tamarac Retreat Wabamun Indian Gardener's Cove Reserve No. 13 Legend Water's Edge Boat Launch/Park Water body Private Land County Land Crown Land Reserve Lands Village/Summer Village Watercourse Sundance Cooling Pond Road Railroad Tracks Source: Parkland County 0 1 2 4km Local Context; South Shore Boat Launch and Park WABAMUN LAKE BOAT ACCESS parkland AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT county 3. Concept Plan WABAMUN LAKE COURTESY DOCK BEACH AREA FUTURE PARKING PROPOSED VEGETATION 19 16 21 CONTROL BOOTH VAULT TOILETS PARK SHELTER PLAYGROUND TYPICAL PICNIC SITE TRAIL SYSTEM SUNDANCE ROAD ILLUSTRATIVE SKETCH 5 0 5 10 15m MAIN ACCESS SCALE 1:250 WABAMUN LAKE BOAT ACCESS parkland AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT county 4. Nutrient Loading Several Alberta municipalities have bylaws restricting use of cosmetic fertilizer. Wabamun Lake Sub-watershed Land Use Plan identifies need for controls. Recommendations That all municipalities surrounding Lake Wabamun develop and implement a cosmetic fertilizer bylaw with the following key components: · That the use of cosmetic fertilizers defined as any substance mixture of substances, containing nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium or other plant food that is manufactured, sold or represented for use as a plant nutrient or aid to plant growth be prohibited within one hundred (100) metres of the shoreline of Lake Wabamun. That penalties levied be consistent for all municipalities. WABAMUN LAKE BOAT ACCESS parkland AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT county 5. Project Timeline Why Should You Participate? The recommendations made by the committee were accepted by the councils of Wabamun Lake's surrounding municipalities. Residents living near the lake may feel the effects of these changes. This is your opportunity to hear what is being done, and to provide your input on the design of the new boat launch and nutrient management bylaws. Stay tuned on how you can get involved with the phase two opportunities (June 2017) regarding the future closure of the informal access points along Lake Wabamun. Share Your Thoughts · Complete a comment form · Leave comments on sticky notes · Discuss with county representatives WABAMUN LAKE BOAT ACCESS parkland AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT county 6..