News At Seba Beach
Wabamun Watershed - A Plan For All Seasons
Let's Go Outdoors says:
It was an absolute pleasure to work with the fantastic volunteers at the Wabamun Lake Watershed Council. In this video, I continue my understanding of the Wabamun Lake Watershed plan and how many partners representing various levels of government and volunteers have come together to work towards a common goal. As you will see, the work required to maintain a healthy watershed is a year-round process.
Click to Watch the video from Youtube: Wabamun Watershed - A Plan For All Seasons
Let's Go Outdoors is based in Alberta, Canada. Host Michael Short runs a fully integrated media company that provides outdoor enthusiasts and conservationists with news and info about Alberta's outdoors.
A Watershed For All
Take a look at the work being done by the volunteers of the Wabamun Lake Steering committee. These folks have been working on behalf of all of us who enjoy spending time at this wonderful Lake just west of Edmonton. Recently a Watershed Plan was released by the committee that worked closely with other stakeholders within the watershed. This is just a brief overview of some of the issues Wabamun Lake faces.
Watch the video: A Watershed For All
Let's Go Outdoors is based in Alberta, Canada. Host, Michael Short runs a fully integrated media company that provides outdoor enthusiasts and conservationists with news and info about Alberta's outdoors.
The State of the Lake
A Message from all of the Council for Seba Beach
For each of the last 3 years, Wabamun Lake has experienced Cyanobacteria (Blue-Green Algae) blooms. We know that these events reduce our already too-short use of the lake in the summer months. They are also deadly to pets and children, reduce our property values and result in fish kills. It is also known that algae blooms are directly tied to increased nutrient loading from many sources.
Your Summer Village council is committed to reducing the nutrient load on the lake from sources within our control. We should all be very proud that the SVs of Betula Beach, Lakeview, and Seba Beach was the first on the lake to enact fertilizer/herbicide bans to reduce runoff from lawns. If you haven't already, we ask that for the health of the lake, you stop the use of cosmetic fertilizers within the Village boundaries.
Another point source of nutrient loading is improperly handled sewage, both blackwater, and greywater. At a recent "Septic Sense" workshop put on by the Alberta Onsite Wastewater Management Association (AOWMA), it was made clear that all septic handling methods require regular maintenance and inspection to ensure they are not leaking effluent into the water table. It should also be noted that under current guidelines for new construction, only watertight holding tanks are permitted for Lake Lot properties! "
To help you assess how your wastewater management practices may be impacting the health of the lake, Seba Beach in conjunction with AOWMA will be hosting an online information session later this summer. Council sees this as the first step in a move to educate and improve wastewater disposal in the Summer Village. Everyone is encouraged to attend the seminar to better understand how we can all reduce our impact on the lake we enjoy so much. For more information on wastewater management and the fine work of the Alberta Onsite Wastewater Management Association, you can visit their website at aowma.com.
On Wednesday, July 20th, at 6:30 PM, the Summer Village of Seba Beach will be hosting an online, Septic Sense Workshop for anyone interested in helping to preserve the water quality in our lakes. The workshop will be presented by the Alberta Onsite Wastewater Management Association, (AOWMA) and will focus on the proper handling of sewage adjacent to water bodies.
Cyanobacteria, (Blue-Green Algae) blooms result from increased nutrient loading on our relatively stagnant prairie lakes. One major source of nutrients is improperly managed sewage leaking into the water table, or directly into lakes and streams. To better understand how to assess the effectiveness of your system and what to do about ensuring that it is not contributing to the problem, we encourage you to attend this free meeting. Whether your system is lakefront or anywhere in the watershed, this seminar will be of value to you as we will be addressing proper maintenance of all septic systems.
Registration for the workshop can be made by emailing the Administration Office at Svseba@telusplanet.net or calling 780.797.3863. A free information package and guide to the presentation will also be available at the Seba Village office. Please feel free to contact us for any additional information.
Fire Station Update
Parkland County indicated it was terminating our joint fire hall agreement in 2018 as it expected to develop a new staffed fire hall in the Wabamun area. With the completion of this facility, Parkland County will still provide fire protection services to the Summer Village but has withdrawn all fire suppression apparatus from the Seba Beach Station. Fire response times are expected to improve with the staffed hall in use. The nearest On-Call Fire Hall is Tomahawk (18km), and the Staffed Fire Hall is in Wabamun (22km). Reports on responses times are attached for public information below
It is recommended that residents update their insurance to reflect the closure of the Seba Beach Fire Station. Please remember insurance providers may have different ways of evaluating the risk (cost) of this change, but the Summer Village cannot recommend any one provider. A complete list of licensed insurance companies can be found here: https://www.alberta.ca/about-insurance-companies-alberta.aspx
SHORELINE MODIFICATION PROCESS
Overview
Property development is increasing on Alberta’s lakeshores. Shoreland development can have cumulative, detrimental effects on lakes and lakeshore areas. Concerns include:
- water quality changes
- erosion of banks and shores
- user conflicts
- increased boating
- loss of habitat and natural shorelines
Development approval
Landowners must obtain authorization before modifying shorelands. This ensures that:
- all aquatic and water resource management issues are reflected in the approval
- any unanticipated issues are addressed before construction
- construction does not occur during sensitive times when fish spawn or birds nest
Learn more here: Shoreline Modification Process
Wabamun Lake Levels
Resident Notices
Fire Station Update: Parkland County indicated it was terminating our joint fire hall agreement in 2018 as it expected to develop a new staffed fire hall in the Wabamun area. With the completion of this facility Parkland County will still provide fire protection services to teh Summer Village, but has withdrawn all fire suppression apparatus from the Seba Beach Station. Fire response times are expected to improve with the staffed hall in use. The nearest On-Call Fire Hall is Tomahawk (18km), the Staffed Fire Hall in Wabamun (22km). Reports on responses times are attached for public information below
It is recommended that residents update their insurance to reflect the closure of the Seba Beach Fire Station. Please remember insurance providers may have different ways of evaluating the risk (cost) of this change, but the Summer Village cannot recommend any one provider. A complete list of licensed insurance companies can be found here: https://www.alberta.ca/about-insurance-companies-alberta.aspx