The LSWC strives to ensure people understand their watershed, how it functions and are able to find resource to give them subject specific information. 

 

The LSWC produced information sheets on various topics relating to our watershed

(NOTE: some project information may date back to 2008) Click the titles to download the PDF.

• Watershed Health Indicators
• LSWC Mission and Goals
• Project LSL Shoreline
• LSWC Past Projects
• Paleolimnology
• Watershed Hydrology
• Aquatic Environments
• Water Quality
• Water Allocation
• Riparian Areas
• About Sedimentation

Robert Holmberg, Ph.D., at the University of Athabasca, created a presentation (broken in parts) to help people understand water and its crucial functions.

• Part 1. The Earth's Water 

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfTWyb-EzVg

• Part 2. Transitions from Dry to Wet 

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrNNefM6rDQ

• Part 3. Rivers and Lakes 

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-OmWhZbKx0

• Part 4. Surface and Ground Water Interactions 

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGa_29oyf5s

• Part 5.Classifications of Water Bodies 

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTovNV15fbI

• Park 6. Ecology of Lakes and Rivers 

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43uo_7dGudg

• Part 7. What You Can Do To Protect Your Water Supply

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-daT_i-lpng

   

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Cows & Fish - Riparian areas, wetlands and beavers

Cows & Fish (The Alberta Riparian Habitat Management Society) has produced excellent information sheets about Riparian and Shoreline Health. Click the titles to download the PDF.

Management resources:

• Caring for the Green Zone - How riparian systems work, the things that can disturb their healthy function and grazing strategies to keep them healthy. (40 pages) 
• Beaver - our Watershed partner - This booklet has been written for the people who can most effectively influence watersheds and riparian areas - landowners, municipalities, conservation groups and industry.
• Riparian Areas: A users guide to health 

 

Fact Sheets (hard copies available at the LSWC office)

• Growing Restoration
• Looking at my Stream Bank
• Lakes and Wetlands
• Crops, Creeks, and Sloughs
• Riparian areas and Water Quality
• The Value of Wetlands
• Protecting Shorelines
• A pond of Gold - beavers
• Looking at my stream bank  
• Protecting Shorelines & Stream banks - Naturally 

Be sure to check out the great videos from cow's and Fish about the producers who have worked wuith them over the years on wetland and riparian conservation and enhancement. Link HERE

 

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For Municipalities

• Aquality Environmental - Muncipal Water Bootcamp Presentation
• Stepping Back From the Water - A beneficial management practices guide for new development near water bodies in Alberta's settled region (2012)
• North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance Municipal Guide
• Riparian Setbacks Matrix Model - a tool for determining setbacks for development

 

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 Aquatic Invasive Species

Alberta waters are at risk of becoming infested with Aquatic Invasive Species. The movement of watercraft into Alberta is the highest risk of infecting our waters.  

Presentations from the April 12, 2017 AIS workshop in Faust, AB
Kate Wilson - Aquatic Invasives (PDF)

 

• Aquatic Invasive Species Quick Facts - Quagga & Zebra Mussels and Eurasian mil-foil
• Whirling Disease Quick Facts 
• ALMS - Aquatic Invasive Guidebook 

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• List of Noxious and Prohibited Noxious Species in Alberta
• Alberta Invasive Plant ID Guide

The Respect Our Lakes (ROL) program was developed within the Government of Alberta and aims to support and engage Albertans in lake stewardship. The program provides the tools and resources to help lake users understand, value, and actively manage lakes through the application of relevant legislation and science.

Respect our Lakes Brochures (.pdf)

• Aquatic Vegetation and Lake Health
• Cyanobacterial (Blue-green Algae) Blooms
• Keeping Alberta’s Lakes Healthy
• Understanding Lake Legislation
• Understanding Lake Science

Riparian Rights and Shoreline Modifications - Alberta Environment Fact Sheet

Water boundaries  - Alberta 

High Water- Alberta

The Shore Primer - Guide to naturalized shoreline property - Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)

Parkland County has developed wonderful video resources for recreating, living and developing around lakes. Check them out by clicking the links below. Although developed by Parkland the information applies to all lakes in Alberta. 

Introduction to the Guide to Lakefront Living 
Episode 1 - Shorelines
Episode 2 - The Buffer Zone
Episode 3 - Construction Projects
Episode 4 - Septic Systems
Episode 5 - Shoreline Landscaping
Episode 6 - Erosion
Episode 7 - Shoreline Access
Episode 8 - Who's Shoreline is it anyways? 

Alberta Water Act forms - Alberta Environment and Parks

Private Sewage Codes and Standards - Alberta Municipal Affairs
Measures to Avoid Causing Harm to Fish and Fish Habitat (Fisheries Act)- Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Dredging Approvals and Regulatory Information - Alberta Environment and Parks

Shoreline and Waterbody Modifications - Legislative Requirements Fact Sheet - Alberta Environment and Parks

Legislation affecting Waterbodies in Alberta - Graphic - Alberta Environment and Parks

Partnership & Engagement Strategies in Northern Alberta
Meghan Payne, LSWC Executive Director
2014 WPAC Summit in Edmonton
Watch Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE4r_h_8JH0

Water Management and the Lesser Slave River
Meghan Payne, LSWC Executive Director
2013 CWRA Conference, Red Deer, AB
Watch Video Here: http://youtu.be/HW-mFQHmR3E

LSWC Highlights
Sherrie Hay, LSWC Director
2012 WPAC Summit, Milk River, AB
Watch Video: http://youtu.be/2zXbNbXcnwQ