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MD updated on Moose Lake weir

It’s all or nothing when it comes to the Moose Lake weir, and the province is sticking to their original plan.
The boat launch at Vezeau Beach on Moose Lake sits empty, following an Alberta Health Services blue-green algae advisory for the water-body just west of Bonnyville. The
The MD of Bonnyville put in a request for the province to remove the Moose Lake weir after residents experienced high water levels.

It’s all or nothing when it comes to the Moose Lake weir, and the province is sticking to their original plan.

Alberta Environment has provided the MD of Bonnyville with an update on the Moose Lake weir project, which will see the structure completely removed in fall 2020.

“They’ve gone out for first nations consultation and they’ve heard back. They still want to move ahead with the removal,” noted general manager of environmental and protective services for the MD of Bonnyville Matt Janz.

Janz provided an update to council during their meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 27.

Alberta Environment also received letters from the public opposing their decision, however, the province will still be forging ahead regardless and have passed off the project to Alberta Transportation, who will be decommissioning the weir.

The province still needs to find the money to do the work, and need to get the proper Water Act approvals.

According to Janz, part of the approval process is public consultation.

In the meantime, Alberta Transportation has been maintaining the weir.

“Right now, they’ve removed all guards, because there were some in place catching some of the debris. They’ve pulled that out since freeze-up and they will begin to relook at that in the spring,” Janz explained. “We’re planning on going downstream of the weir to make sure there isn’t any debris caught up down there, especially with everything freezing up, we will be able to easily access that.”

Over the past few years, residents living around Moose Lake have experienced flooding issues. Those impacted felt the weir was partially to blame for the high water levels in the area.

This was among the reasons why council reached out to Alberta Environment, who agreed in the fall to remove the structure “due to the ineffective nature of the weir,” the province said in a letter to the MD.

Janz said the municipality will hear more as the project progresses into the new year.

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