Environmental Advisory Committee
On behalf of the Spring Lake Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC), we want to tell you about ourselves. We are a volunteer committee that holds environmental issues close to our hearts. As a committee, our role is to advise the Village of Spring Lake Council on environmental issues and provide a forum for the Village residents to express environmental concerns that may impact our natural status.
Since 2005, the EAC has advised Council in several areas such as through feedback from the community via surveys and through the development of an Environmental Action Plan that is a living document and is presented to Council on an annual basis for acceptance, and implementation where feasible and affordable. We also initiate and support a variety of pursuits and educational opportunities such as the posting of prohibited and noxious weeds, handing out tree seedling kits to the community, sponsoring the annual rain barrel sale in partnership with the City of Spruce Grove, the Town of Stony Plain and the County of Parkland, shoreline cleanups, we participate in Pitch In Canada and present educational workshops on topics such as composting, septic systems, and healthy wells as examples. We developed and support the Community Photo Boards which have been showcasing our community through the eyes of our residents since 2015.
Our members track a variety of information such as annual freeze/thaw dates of the lake, lake water levels, loon chick hatching and survival rates, and in partnership with the Alberta Conservation Association, the oxygen levels of the lake and the putting in and taking out of the aerators each year.
Should you have any environmental questions or concerns, contact the EAC through email at eac@springlakealberta.com, leave your name and phone number or email address and an EAC member will contact you. We will do our best to provide you with the information you request or to help address any concerns you may have as new member of our community.
TO PROMOTE EDUCATION, AND ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS, AND, PROVIDE ADVICE
FOR THE ENHANCEMENT OF THE VILLAGE OF SPRING LAKE
Sincerely,
Village of Spring Lake EAC
Spring Lake Loons
Loon Platforms
The Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) sets out the loon platforms on the lake every year.
The EAC takes pride in this so please make sure to stay clear of the platforms and admire the loons from the distance.
If you have any questions in regard to this please contact the EAC at
eac@springlakealberta.com
Recent Loon Counts in Spring Lake
2020 SPRING LAKE LOON COUNT.pdf
2021 SPRING LAKE LOON COUNT.pdf
2022 SPRING LAKE LOON COUNT.pdf
Caring for Shoreline Properties
Changing the Way We Look at Owning Lakefront Property in Alberta
The Village would like to encourage residents to take a look at the "Caring for Shoreline" publication as part of our increasing effort to educate the public on better practice options for our lake and the environment...
Environmental Advisory Committee Newsletters
2022 EAC Winter Newsletter.doc • 484.4 KB
2021 EAC newsletter.docx • 37 KB
2019 EAC newsletter.pdf • 93.4 KB
Recent Loon Counts in Spring Lake
2020 SPRING LAKE LOON COUNT.pdf
2021 SPRING LAKE LOON COUNT.pdf
2022 SPRING LAKE LOON COUNT.pdf
Did You Know?
Spring Lake Information: Eutrophication
Eutrophication - Summary Version.pdf • 16 KB
Black Knots - Black Knots Information
Wild Boars in Alberta - Wild Boars - Alberta
Invasive Wild Boar - Newspaper Clipping April 2022.pdf • 186 KB
A Good Reason to Pick Up Your Dog's Droppings
Environmental & Health Consequences of Dog Poop
• The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency in the States) deemed pet waste a “nonpoint source of pollution” in 1991, which put dog feces in the same category as oil and toxic chemicals!
• Dog feces are NOT a good fertilizer for grass. It is actually toxic, causing burns and unsightly discoloring.
• It has been estimated that a single gram of dog waste can contain 23 million fecal coliform bacteria, which are known to cause cramps, diarrhea, intestinal illness, and severe kidney disorders in humans. The EPA even estimates that two or three days’ worth of droppings from a population of about 100 dogs would contribute enough bacteria to temporarily close a bay and all watershed areas within 20 miles of it to swimming and shell fishing.
• Dog feces are one the most common carriers of the following diseases:
- Heartworms
- Whipworms
- Hookworms
- Roundworms
- Tapeworms
- Parvo
- Corona
- Giardiasis
- Salmonellosis
- Cryptosporidiosis
- Campylobacteriosis
• Picking up dog waste reduces flies and their lifecycle. The same flies that lay their eggs in dog waste can then come into our homes and spread diseases as they pause on our counters and our food. Reducing dog feces reduces fly prevalence.
• Picking up dog waste reduces flies and their lifecycle. The same flies that lay their eggs in dog waste can then come into our homes and spread diseases as they pause on our counters and our food. Reducing dog feces reduces fly prevalence.
• Believe it or not, dogs will eat their own feces. While most dog owners think this doesn’t apply to their dogs, the truth is that most dogs will engage in this unsavory practice at some point in their lives. Dogs evolved as carnivores/scavengers and feces were considered fair game in lean times. To prevent this occasional indiscretion from becoming a life-long habit, feces should be cleaned up as soon as possible, especially in young dogs where the problem is most prevalent.
• There is a tremendous amount of information including scientific documentation of the harmful effect of dog feces available on the internet.
Environmental Advisory Committee 2019 Survey Summary
To promote environmental awareness & education, and to provide advice for the enhancement of the Village of Spring Lake.
There were a total of nine surveys returned. Here are the responses…
What do you believe are the biggest environmental issues affecting:
Our lake?
- too many fishermen, too much public access to the lake, preventing blue green algae
- run off, septic contamination
- over growth of the bulrush (cattails) (I realize its needed for the health of lake, but can there be too much?)
- the lake boat (power) activity
- na
- is higher with the rain, fish are still muddy in summer, can’t eat them
- lake level
- no concerns
- no comment written
Our lake’s shoreline?
- people cutting vegetation, preventing prohibitive noxious plants
- weed in grow
- Edmonton trout Club’s broken dock, Edmonton Trout club leaving garbage on shore by their dock
- Brochures – Village of spring Lake be sent out
- Na
- Where the pathway is property needs to be marked
- Trees cut down on crown/village land
- Replace rickety docks with village maintained docks
- People cutting and clearing natural vegetation
Our natural wildlife?
- Cats outdoors destroying our song birds
- Light pollution from village security lights
- Speeding boaters, people destroying the loons nests
- No comment written
- No comment written
- Is still there birds and skunks are around
- No comment written
- Fireworks scare wildlife, ignorance about how to behave around loons and other birds on the lake
- People cutting and clearing natural vegetation
What is your level of awareness in regards to shoreline policies and guidelines?
NOT AWARE - 1 SOME AWARENESS - 5 VERY AWARE – 2 NO RESPONSE – 1
Would you be interested in learning more? YES - 6 NO – 1 NO RESPONSE – 2
Are you concerned about the loss of trees, brush or lakeshore reeds within the lake perimeter or meadows?
YES - 6 NO – 2 NO RESPONSE – 1
Are there any workshops you would like the EAC to sponsor for our community?
- Xeriscapting and water conservation workshops
- No
- Not familiar with workshops available
- No comment written
- Possible
- No comment written
- No comment written
- Birds in the area - species, nesting, etc.
- An introduction to living by water, including the applicable laws
Do you practice shoreline and habitat protection and stewardship by not unsettling plants or trees on your property that edge the lake or ponds?
YES – 5 N/A – 3 NO RESPONSE – 1
Do you have any suggestions as to how we could make our Village more environmentally friendly?
- Plant more trees, reduce grass cutting on road access hills (other than meadow), where land can go back to nature safely
- Take light pollution more seriously, the new lights at the Village compound are still on at 3 a.m.
- Advertise more aggressively the Pitch In Canada date and time. I never see the announcement!
- All adhere to the guidelines for lakeshore use, plus just not shoreline
- Fix your path’s – they are overgrown weeds! Use tiraterbars (I cannot read what they wrote) made from logs or landscape timbers, filled with mulch
- There is no path on the meadow
- No comment written
- Yes, develop a community compost pile for leaves, greens, small trees
- More education for residents about the impacts their actions on their property have on wildlife and the lake
Do you have any suggestions that you would like to bring forward to the EAC?
- Attempt to be the first GREEN village in Alberta ie. EV cars, reduce aquifer water use
- Share the results of surveys. There is not much info that gets out to the taxpayers
- I have concerns on how fast the sunchaser boats (cruisers) go on the lake. I don’t know how fast 12 kms actually is, but I’ve seen them go what I think is too fast for the loons safety
- No comment written
- Yes, I bought my property for the lake view and now I have no view because the trees along the shoreline have grown in and the village has quit cutting ¾’s of the meadow grass. At one time, we had a dock to go and use, now we have no access. According to the village expenses, they have not decreased in this area! But less work is being done. So are the trees not absorbing the water! Soon to be no lake to enjoy!
- We are not near the lake, we should be able to see the lake. Why let 2 stories block the view. Do a walkout on the property instead of blocking the view of the lake
- No comment written
- Yes, would ask that EAC vouch for development of compost pile. Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback.
- No comment written
Village of Spring Lake EAC Action Plan Fall 2022 - 2023
Environmental Action Plan Fall 2022 - 2023.pdf • 209.5 KB
Village of Spring Lake EAC Action Plan Fall 2021 - 2022
Environmental Action Plan Fall 2021-2022.docx • 35.7 KB
Initiatives Through the Years (Not in chronological order)
EAC initiatives - October 2021.docx • 39.1 KB
From the Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC)
Welcome to the Village of Spring Lake!
On behalf of the Spring Lake Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC), we want to tell you about ourselves. We are a volunteer committee that holds environmental issues close to our hearts. As a committee, our role is to advise the Village of Spring Lake Council on environmental issues and provide a forum for the Village residents to express environmental concerns that may impact our natural status.
Since 2005, the EAC has advised Council in several areas such as through feedback from the community via surveys and through the development of an Environmental Action Plan that is a living document and is presented to council on an annual basis for acceptance, and implementation where feasible and affordable. We also initiate and support a variety of pursuits and educational opportunities such as the posting of prohibited and noxious weeds, handing out tree seedling kits to the community, sponsoring the annual rain barrel sale in partnership with the City of Spruce Grove, the Town of Stony Plain and the County of Parkland, shoreline cleanups, we participate in Pitch In Canada, and present educational workshops on topics such as composting, septic systems, and healthy wells as examples. We developed and support the Community Photo Boards which have been showcasing our community through the eyes of our residents since 2015.
Our members track a variety information such as annual freeze/thaw dates of the lake, lake water levels, loon chick hatching and survival rates and in partnership with the Alberta Conservation Association, the oxygen levels of the lake and the putting in and taking out of the aerators each year.
Should you have any environmental questions or concerns, contact the EAC through email at eac@springlakealberta.com, leave your name and phone number or email address and an EAC member will contact you. We will do our best to provide you with the information you request or to help address any concerns you may have as new member of our community.
TO PROMOTE EDUCATION, ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS, AND PROVIDE ADVICE FOR THE ENHANCEMENT OF THE VILLAGE OF SPRING LAKE
Sincerely
Village of Spring Lake EAC
Our Accomplishments!
To date, there have been a number of initiatives that we as the EAC have undertaken.
