The Village of Spring Lake is proud to share some archived articles
and pictures that we have come across.
You will find these pictures throughout some of the stories
and articles within the site as well.
Located in this photo gallery are some pictures from the past
of people young and old enjoying Spring Lake to the fullest.
North Saskatchewan River Basin
SPRING LAKE
North Saskatchewan River Basin
SPRING LAKE
Spring Lake is a small, picturesque lake located 28 km west of the city of Edmonton in the County of Parkland. Because of the lake's close proximity to Edmonton and the town of Stony Plain, which is the closest population centre, the lake is popular with cottagers, resort patrons and day-users, and it receives moderate to heavy recreational use during summer. To reach the lake, exit Highway 16 at the turnoff for the summer village of Edmonton Beach, about 6 km west of Stony Plain. Continue west for another 2.5 km, turn south and drive 3 km to Edmonton Beach Resort. Permission for walk-in public access to the lakeshore for fishing can be obtained at the resort, but free public facilities are not provided.
The area surrounding Spring Lake was homesteaded in 1894. In the early 1900s, the lake became popular among residents of Edmonton and the surrounding areas, and small acreage and cottage lots were sold; Edmonton Beach was established by cottagers and was incorporated as a summer village in 1959 (Stony Plain Dist. Hist. Soc. 1982).
In 1894, Spring Lake was called Schimpf's Lake. In the years that followed, the name was changed several times as ownership of the surrounding land changed; the lake has been called McCoppen's, Cottage and Barrie's lake (Stony Plain Dist. Hist. Soc. 1982). In the 1940s, the lake level began to decline. Underground springs were thought to feed the lake and attempts to find and clear the springs with dynamite prompted a final name change, to Spring Lake. The lake itself is also referred to as Edmonton Beach.
Edmonton Beach Resort is a commercially operated facility located on the southeast corner of the lakeshore. Popular activities include swimming, hiking and fishing. The resort provides 336 campsites, a beach, a boat launch, boat rentals, a playground, a sewage disposal station and tap water (Alta. Hotel Assoc. 1989). Power-driven vessels are permitted on the lake, but are restricted to maximum speeds of 12 km/hour (Alta. For. Ld. Wild. 1988).
Spring Lake is shallow and moderately productive. Algal biomass is low and the water is fairly clear, but aquatic vegetation flourishes in shallow areas. Spring Lake is stocked annually with rainbow trout and the sport fishery is popular, particularly with members of the Edmonton Trout Club, who have been fishing at Spring Lake for 30 years. Fishing for bait fish and the use of bait fish is prohibited (Alta. For. Ld. Wild. 1989).