Lesser Slave Integrated Watershed Management Plan Lesser Slave Watershed Council ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Lesser Slave Watershed Council thanks all members of the IWMP Steering Committee and the Technical Advisory Committee for their contribution to the development of the Lesser Slave Integrated Watershed Management Plan. In addition, special acknowledgement is given to the contribution made by Ducks Unlimited Canada Boreal Conservation Partnerships & Services Branch for its assistance with the biodiversity tool and spatial data mapping. IWMP Steering Committee Arin MacFarlane-Dyer, Alberta Environment & Parks Meghan Payne, LSWC, Executive Director Bob Popick, Oil and Gas Industry Peter Freeman, Driftpile First Nation Brad Pearson, MD of Lesser Slave River Robert Nygaard, Big Lakes County Claude Smith, Agriculture Roderick Willier, Sucker Creek First Nation Jamie Bruha, Alberta Environment & Parks (AEP) Ron Matula Big Lakes County (Alternate) Joy McGregor, Town of Slave Lake Spencer Zelman, Oil and Gas Industry (Alternate) Jule Asterisk, Non-Government Organization Tammy Kaleta, LSWC, Chair Linda Cox, Town of High Prairie Todd Bailey, Forest Industry Lisa Bergen, AEP Tony McWhannel, Member at Large Mark Missal, Town of Slave Lake (Alternate) Municipal Working Group Brad Pearson, MD of Lesser Slave River Mark Missal, Town of Slave Lake Joy McGregor, Town of Slave Lake Meghan Payne, LSWC, Executive Director Linda Cox, Town of High Prairie Murray Kerik, MD of Lesser Slave River Pat Olanksy, Big Lakes County Robert Nygaard, Big Lakes County Peter Keay, Town of High Prairie Shawn Gramlich, Town of Slave Lake Richard Simard, Big Lakes County IWMP Technical Advisory Committee Ahmad Asnaashari, AEP, Regional Hydrologist Laura Johnson, AEP, Land Integration Specialist Bill Berzins, CAPP Water Working Group Paul Havenggard, Alberta Conservation Association Chaudhry Ali, AEP, Water Operations & Infrastructure Robyn Woywitka, Alberta Culture and Tourism, Darryl Bereziuk, Alberta Culture and Tourism, Archaeology Archaeological Survey Ron Zurawell, AEP, Water Quality David Matheson, Ducks Unlimited Canada Sulman Umar, AEP, Water Operations & Infrastructure Jana Tondu, AEP, Limnologist Tom Churchill, AEP, Geographic Science Team Jim Castle, AEP, Wildlife Biologist Kerri O’Shaughnessy, Cows and Fish Thank you to the many Government of Alberta advisors Kristy Wakeling, AEP, Fisheries Biologist who participated in the thorough review of this plan. Special Thanks Alan Dolan, Alan Dolan & Associates Al Richard, Ducks Unlimited Canada Cover Photos: Cathy Wilcox Cori Klassen Kaylyn Jackson Sandi Riemersma Lesser Slave IWMP Prepared and Compiled by Sandi Riemersma, Palliser Environmental Services Ltd. LESSER SLAVE INTEGRATED WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLAN The Lesser Slave Integrated Watershed Management Plan has been endorsed by the Municipal Councils of Big Lakes County, Town of Slave Lake, Town of High Prairie, and MD of Lesser Slave River. The Lesser Slave Watershed Council looks forward to collaborating with all stakeholders to implement actions outlined in the Plan that strive to meet watershed management goals and objectives. Big Lakes County supports the Lesser Slave Integrated Watershed Management Plan and will use the Plan as a guide and planning tool for improving and protecting the state of the Lesser Slave Lake watershed for future generations. – Reeve Richard Simard The Town of Slave Lake endorses the Lesser Slave Lake Watershed Management Plan. Townof High Prairie endorses the Lesser Slave Lake Watershed Management Plan and looks forward to working with the LSWC to implement the Plan. – Brian Martinson, CAO MD of Lesser Slave River accepts the final Lesser Slave IWMP as a referece document that supports the development of best management practices and policies for the municipality. – Councillor Brad Pearson Alberta Environment and Parks congratulates the LSWC on the completion of the Lesser Slave Integrated Watershed Management Plan. AEP will continue to work with the LSWC to advance actions and recommendations as part of the implementation of the Plan. Lesser Slave Integrated Watershed Management Plan TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................ 1 2.0 PURPOSE, INTENT AND AUTHORITY ................................................................................................ 2 3.0 PLANNING AREA ............................................................................................................................... 3 4.0 INFORMATION ASSEMBLED ............................................................................................................. 9 5.0 SUMMARY OF ISSUES ....................................................................................................................... 9 5.1 Water Quantity ............................................................................................................................. 9 5.2 Water Quality .............................................................................................................................. 10 5.3 Biodiversity ................................................................................................................................. 11 5.4 Riparian Areas and Wetlands ...................................................................................................... 12 5.5 Lake Management ...................................................................................................................... 12 5.6 Crown Land ................................................................................................................................. 13 6.0 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ................................................................................................................ 13 7.0 INDICATORS, TARGETS AND THRESHOLDS .................................................................................... 15 8.0 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ....................................................................................................... 16 9.0 ENGAGEMENT PROCESS ................................................................................................................. 20 9.1 Indigenous Communities ............................................................................................................ 21 10.0 RECOMMENDATIONS AND IMPLEMENTATION ............................................................................ 22 10.1 General Plan Administration ....................................................................................................... 22 10.2 Water Quantity ........................................................................................................................... 22 10.2.1 Goals and Objectives (from Section 6.0) ............................................................................. 22 10.2.2 Targets and Thresholds ....................................................................................................... 22 10.2.3 Water Quantity Recommendations .................................................................................... 23 10.2.4 Implementation Table for Water Quantity ......................................................................... 28 10.3 Water Quality ............................................................................................................................. 30 10.3.1 Goals and Objectives (from Section 6.0) ............................................................................. 31 10.3.2 Targets and Thresholds ....................................................................................................... 31 10.3.3 Water Quality Recommendations....................................................................................... 35 10.3.4 Implementation Table for Water Quality ........................................................................... 42 10.4 Riparian Areas ............................................................................................................................ 47 10.4.1 Goals and Objectives (from Section 6.0) ............................................................................. 47 10.4.2 Targets and Thresholds ....................................................................................................... 47 10.4.3 Riparian Area Recommendations ....................................................................................... 48 10.4.4 Implementation Table for Riparian Areas ........................................................................... 53 10.5 Wetlands ..................................................................................................................................... 56 10.5.1 Goals and Objectives (from Section 6.0) ............................................................................. 56 10.5.2 Targets and Thresholds ....................................................................................................... 56 Lesser Slave Watershed Council Page ii Lesser Slave Integrated Watershed Management Plan 10.5.3 Wetland Recommendations ............................................................................................... 59 10.5.4 Implementation Table for Wetlands ................................................................................... 61 10.6 Biodiversity ................................................................................................................................