BONNYVILLE – Located in the boreal plains of east central Alberta and west central Saskatchewan, the Beaver River Watershed encompasses the lakes, rivers and streams just below the Hamlet of Lac La Biche, up past Cold Lake and into western Saskatchewan.
The Beaver River Watershed also falls within the boundaries of Treaty 6, 8 and 10 territories and Métis homelands.
To assist landowners, municipalities, Indigenous communities and those responsible for managing water and land resources within the boundaries of the watershed, Lakeland Industry and Community Association (LICA) is developing an Integrated Watershed Management Plan (IWMP) specific to the region.
The purpose of the IWMP is to identify benchmarks for improving and maintaining the watershed’s health while making recommendations on how to reach goals needed to support a healthy Beaver River Watershed for years to come.
At the beginning of February, Kayla Hellum, LICA’s environmental coordinator, presented at both the Town and MD of Bonnyville’s regular council meetings to outline the purpose of the IWMP.
Municipal councillors were also invited to attend the upcoming second round of public engagement sessions that will help form the final watershed plan.
The next community engagement sessions are set to take place on March 3 at the Bonnyville and District Centennial Centre, with another session to be held virtually on March 7.
Following the first of three rounds of engagement sessions, LICA developed the first draft of the Beaver River IWMP, which contains indicators, targets and thresholds and early recommendations. This document is expected to be available on the organization's website prior to the March engagement sessions.
The final version of the Beaver River IWMP is expected to be complete by the end of the year, Hellum told both councils.
The IWMP is only a guidance document designed to be a planning tool, Hellum added.
“It's not an approved water management act. So, while the watershed plan is not legally binding, developing the plan collaboratively means that it's more likely to be supported and implemented by decision makers in Beaver River Watershed,” she said.
“Once the plan is finalized, LICA will be seeking implementation of the recommendations of our partners.”
Hellum went on to say that the Beaver River IWMP will not replace existing watershed plans, such as the Cold Lake – Beaver River Water Management plan created in 2006, but rather compliment and add to them.
LICA is a community-based not-for-profit association that operates as one of 11 Watershed Planning and Advisory Councils (WPAC) and an Airshed Zones in Alberta.
The LICA boundary not only covers the Beaver River Watershed, but also an airshed and Deposition Monitoring zone.
The Town of Bonnyville falls in the middle of the designated boundary monitored by LICA.
