LAC LA BICHE - Whose wall is it?
That's a political question making waves in recent months as the long-standing retaining wall on the southern shore of Lac La Biche lake isn't so long-standing anymore.
Over the last year, sections of the corrugated metal wall have twisted away from the lakeside banks it has been protecting from erosion for more than 50 years. The cost to fix or replace the wall, the scope of the work required, and who will foot the bill are the current concerns, as the wall protects municipal property, is built on provincial shoreline and affects federally-sanctioned waters.
"There is a debate on whether it's ours, or the provinces, or quite frankly, even the feds," said Lac La Biche County interim CAO Ken Van Buul.
The 300-metre length of metal ribbing which runs along the rocky shoreline parallel to Lac La Biche's Churchill Drive, makes up one-fifth of retaining wall structures around Lac La Biche lake. In 2017, a mapping report of the lake, identified one-and-a-half kilometres of retaining wall structures within the 167 kilometres of shoreline. Many of those structures, notes the report, are adjacent to private properties and residential developments. The portion of retaining wall in need of repair is not on privately owned property. The wall is believed to have been put up in the 1960s when portions of the lakeshore, including a small, permanent dock were removed from the same area.
The wall is meant to stop potential erosion of the lakeside banks. Other measures to reduce erosion, including a covering mesh over a barrier of large rocks, are also in place along the same portion of lakeshore.
Van Buul says a meeting is scheduled in the coming weeks with regional Alberta Environment and Parks officials. One of the topics of the meeting will be the retaining wall.
Lac La Biche County's manager of Public Works Brian Shapka said some engineering studies have begun on the structure — along with some research on the history of the wall.
"Many of the people who did it, aren't around," said Shapka, adding that some former municipal councillors will be asked for their recollection of the wall's origins.
When asked if the repair of the wall was a top priority in the community, Van Buul said it could quickly become one.
"If the bank slides, so does our road in front of those residences on Churchill Drive. So sooner or later, yes, it's going to have to be a high priority."
While municipal administration don't know how much it will cost or who will pay, they do know one thing about the project — it's not going to be easy.
"It's an issue that is certainly not going to go away, and gets worse with every season. So whose-ever project it is, it's not going to be an easy one," he said.
There was no specific date given for the upcoming meeting with Alberta Environment officials. The POST has sent an email request for information on the retaining wall to Canada's Oceans and Fisheries department, but is still awaiting a response.
