It’s time to do some spring cleaning along Moose Lake.
From May 17 to June 1, the MD of Bonnyville and the Moose Lake Watershed Society (MLWS) are encouraging residents to help give the shoreline and waterbed of Moose Lake the cleanup it deserves.
”Based on the past couple of years with the high water levels, there’s been large items and debris floating in the lake,” noted Kellie Nichiporik, chair for the MLWS.
Pieces such as broken docks and boat lifts have been pulled out of the water previously. These objects can cause damage to the environment and pose a danger to those utilizing the lake.
Making the lake user-friendly and improving its overall health were among the reasons Nichiporik encouraged locals to participate.
”There are items that can disturb fish spawning habitats, bird nesting sites, damage the vegetation that keeps that shoreline intact and prevents erosion, as well as for people who are boating around the lake or using the lake at all. Nobody wants to go swim onto a boat launch that’s kind of half sunk into the water, or they don’t want to kayak on top of it.”
While clean ups have been held in the past in specific areas, this is the first year residents will have a longer chance to bring these pieces to drop off locations. MD employees will pick them up June 1.
”We have five sites along the lake at different boat launches where they can drag those items to. They can pull them up and set them to the side,” explained Nichiporik.
In the past, picnic tables, patio furniture, umbrellas, and garbage cans have been cleared away.
The most notable item for Nichiporik was a hot tub that was found floating in the water last year.
Their new format gives more residents a chance to participate, and for more garbage to be collected.
”The large item clean up will allow residents and lake users to do their part to clean up the areas around their subdivisions and for recreational users to haul in large items they find floating around,” expressed Katlyn Macdonald, environmental coordinator for the MD.
Drop off locations include the boat launches at Northshore Heights, Birch Grove, Vezeau Beach, Bonnyville Beach, and Ferby subdivision.
”We’re also looking for things like sandbags, because there has been a lot of sandbags that have been issued around the lakes and not all of them were removed,” noted Nichiporik.
Macdonald stressed the importance of helping out.
”Even if the items aren’t yours, picking up or hauling broken and damaged docks, beach items, or old boat lifts to the pick up locations helps to keep them from getting into the water and becoming an issue later.”
