Lac Ste. Anne County and Regional Partner Endorse Development of Lake Management Plan
LILSA to lead collaborative stewardship initiative with full provincial regulatory alignment
A region-wide coalition of municipalities and summer villages has officially endorsed the development of a comprehensive Lake Management Plan to address pressing environmental concerns facing Lac Ste. Anne, Lake Isle, Matchayaw/Devil’s Lake, Big Lake, and surrounding watersheds.
The plan will be developed by the Lake Isle Lac Ste. Anne Stewardship Society (LILSA), a regional non-profit with a strong track record in lake protection and scientific stewardship. The work will be conducted in full alignment with Alberta’s regulatory framework and with a clear call for provincial and federal support.
“We know these challenges don’t stop at municipal boundaries—and neither can our solutions,” said Reeve Joe Blakeman, Lac Ste. Anne County. “This work is grounded in science, driven by local leadership, and done in a way that opens the door to provincial and federal support.”
The region’s lakes are under increasing stress due to agricultural and urban runoff, invasive species, and growing weather variability that has resulted in extended dry periods and shifting water levels. The Sturgeon River, which connects many of these lakes, has been named one of the most endangered rivers in Canada.
The Lake Management Plan will serve as the first step in evaluating potential long-term solutions, including—but not limited to—water control structures, improvements to riparian zones, and enhanced monitoring efforts.
LILSA has worked closely with Indigenous partners, including the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation (ANSN) and local Métis communities, on several environmental initiatives, including the control of flowering rush, an invasive aquatic species that continues to threaten regional water bodies.
“All levels of government have a responsibility to help protect Alberta’s lakes,” said Bernie Poulin, Chair of LILSA. “We’re doing our part. This plan is how we lay the groundwork—credibly, responsibly, and in line with the Province’s own expectations.”
The motion passed by each council outlines that the Lake Management Plan will:
- Develop strategies to protect and improve water quality and quantity;
- Conduct an assessment of historical and current lake levels;
- Investigate the potential need for water control infrastructure, and its implications for communities and ecosystems;
- Be undertaken in accordance with provincial regulatory standards.
Work will begin in the coming months, with updates shared publicly as data collection, community engagement, and regional coordination progress.
“We know these challenges don’t stop at municipal boundaries—and neither can our solutions. This work is grounded in science, driven by local leadership, and done in a way that opens the door to provincial and federal support."
For more about the Lake Isle Lac Ste. Anne Stewardship Society, please visit LILSA.ca.
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