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Muriel Lake water level cause for concern

Members of the Muriel Lake Basin Management Society (MLBMS) and the Beaver River Watershed Alliance (BRWA) are concerned about the decreased water levels at Muriel Lake.
Due to the receeding water level, trees and shrubs have grown over this old boat lift at Muriel Lake. Corey Neufeld, Muriel Lake Bason Management Society member, has had
Due to the receeding water level, trees and shrubs have grown over this old boat lift at Muriel Lake. Corey Neufeld, Muriel Lake Bason Management Society member, has had property along the lake’s expanding shoreline since 1974. He said the boat lift, which is located at Miller Beach, was once sitting in water more than 2.5 metres deep.

Members of the Muriel Lake Basin Management Society (MLBMS) and the Beaver River Watershed Alliance (BRWA) are concerned about the decreased water levels at Muriel Lake.

MLBMS was first formed in the early 1990s but the society was reformed in 1999 to determine why the lake is receding and how to replenish the water, fish and environment.

Today, the deepest part of the lake is only 15 feet deep and that is only in a small area of the lake, explained Harry Keess, BRWA program manager. Prior to the lake receding, the deepest section was 30 feet.

Lyle Kortzman, MLBMS president, said the decreased water levels have greatly impact the fish and environment surrounding the lake. Muriel Lake, which was once filled with fish, now has very few fish left and even fewer types.

He said much of this is due to the “fish kill” in 2010-11, when the lake froze and being so shallow, did not allow for many fish to survive the freeze.

“What we want is for people to recognize that this is a very, very serious situation. Alberta has very few lakes that are fishable. There are about 800 lakes in the province compared to about 80,000 in Saskatchewan and 100,000 in Manitoba that produce fish. And to lose this one that has never ever had experienced this type of thing in the past is really, really a shame and we want people to recognize that,” said Kortzman.

In July, the Alberta government made a report regarding Muriel Lake, which was provided to more than 400 landowners living next to the lake. Minister of Environment Diana McQueen also met with the MLBMS during their July 8 AGM to discuss the study, which showed according to the government, weather is the only factor in the water receding.

However, MLBMS and BRWA disagree with the government. They believe weather is a major factor, perhaps the dominant factor, in why the water has decreased but feel there are other factors to consider.

“They continue to say that the lake's decline is strictly due to prolonged periods of drought,” said Kortzman.

“We were in a period of drought and we thought once the water started coming back we would be fine. And then we had a very wet year in 1996-97 and most of the other lakes overflowed and Muriel Lake just kind of hung on. So people then started to get concerned, saying ‘It can't be all weather related,' so that's led us to where we're headed now.”

Cory Neufeld, MLBMS member, and Kortzman explained there are a number of factors, most of which involve land changes, that they believe should be considered as factors in the water reduction at Muriel Lake.

“We're of the opinion that there are other factors included, particularly tied to land-use changes and by that I'm referring to Highway 657, which has been upgraded around over two thirds of the lake. There's been very few culverts built and whatever culverts are there are blocked and not running smoothly. Beavers have trapped the surface water, preventing any normal flow to the lake,” said Kortzman, explaining some of the physical changes over the past years.

However, they also believe an increase in the oil and gas sector has had a hand in the land's changes and should also be studied.

“There are 236 active oil pads in the basin, all connected with access roads, few of which have culvert insulations. We're concerned that the pad and the roads may be preventing surface water from reaching the lake. There are 13 pipelines in the basin – eight of which may be preventing ground water and surface water from reaching the lake. So it's our contention that these factors may be one of the reasons the lake cannot recover during higher than normal participation,” said Kortzman.

Neufeld, whose family has owned property at Miller Beach on Muriel Lake since 1974, said he and many of his neighbours have sold their boats to buy quads since boating on the lake is dangerous. He said there is much more land in front of their cottages and homes since the water has receded and less water to enjoy recreational activities in.

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