After two years of the water levels in Skeleton Lake not decreasing, a ditch that was dug has now been filled.
The ditch was filled in last month by crews from Athabasca County on orders from Alberta Environment due its impact on the neighbouring watershed.
“The work (…) had significantly exceeded the scope of the work plan and survey by extending the ditch works farther, resulting in alteration of surface drainage patterns including negative impacts on the neighboring watershed and Flat Lake,” said Jason Penner, public affairs officer with Alberta Environment.
The Skeleton Lake Stewardship Association (SLSA) was formed in 2005 with the sole purpose of saving the heavily populated lake. They thought they had the solution with the ditch along Range Road 192.
They were authorized by both Athabasca County and Alberta Environment to clean out the ditch, as long as they followed the plan they gave the provincial government in 2012.
And, it worked for a time.
“We know typically how much the lake has dropped on average during those 16 years. The fact that the lake did not go down suggests to us that we probably saw about 300 million gallons of water moving through ditches and culverts out there on the west end into the lake,” said Hugh Harper, SLSA board president.
However, Penner stated that by spring of 2013, it was discovered the SLSA had done much more than they said they would.
“The non-compliant work changed the natural location and direction of water flow from Flat Lake into Skeleton Lake,” he said.
“(It) increased the velocity and level of water in the country ditch road which destabilized the road and caused severe erosion of the county road ditch.”
Athabasca County was told the ditch needed to be filled in – work that was completed last month.
According to Harper, they were never told why; instead, they were left out of the discussions.
“We have our suspicions and, in fact, we discussed that with the minister (on Dec. 3), but they have never been totally forthcoming with regard to exactly why and that may be the area of biggest contention,” Harper stated.
This disconnect is something that the SLSA is trying to fix, starting with their meeting with the minister. They still plan to save the lake and they believe it’s something that both Alberta Environment and Athabasca County should stand behind.
“We want to find solutions, because this lake is important to the County of Athabasca,” said Harper.
Harper believes there is an easy fix, they just have to find it.
