Lesser Slave Lake focus of S.L. workshop

Tina Kennedy
South Peace News

Development on lakeshores is inevitable, and showing people how it can best be done and what to plan for only ensures the lakes health. That's why the Alberta Lake Management Society is hosting a two day workshop in Slave Lake Sept. 22 to 24.

Leanne Osokin, Alberta Conservation Association fisheries technician, and organizer of the event, invited surrounding municipalities, businesses, organizations and individuals in the hopes that they will come to learn more about just how important the Lesser Slave Lake really is.

"It goes so far beyond any one industry."

Osokin sent out feelers about the event more than a year ago. She approached municipalities asking that they help sponsor it and learn more about their back yard at the same time. Much of the reception was lukewarm. M.D. of Big Lakes insisted on simply using their representatives that currently sit on the Lesser Slave Lake Watershed Committee.

Last year there was concern that it was an attempt to organize another group to look at water levels.

Enilda councillor Craig Bissell told his fellow councillors it was too much.

"They want to get people interested in watershed management. We've been involved for six years now. There's a mechanism in place," adds Bissell who later went on to oppose the motion.

When an invitation to the event was in the Aug. 24 agenda, Big Lakes councillors again voted to send their representative, Joussard's councillor Myler Savill.

At the Town of High Prairie's meeting, councillors voted to send the invitation to George Keay, former mayor, current watershed committee chairperson.

Councillor Mike Daubert expressed an interest in the workshop saying it was something they should attend.

"This portion is very interesting. There's stuff to be learned."

Osokin says there is a great deal to be learned. Everything from agriculture, forestry, oil and gas to municipal developments are visible around the lake every day.

That Lesser Slave Lake is the largest lake entirely inside the province, makes it a very important one. Given recent pressures to increase development along the south shore and even open up the North Shore should be enough to bring people to the workshop.

"There's a whole education gap that doesn't get addressed," says Osokin.

The ALMS workshop will bring people who have dealt with many of the same problems this area faces, and lived with the repercussions.

"They can talk to the experts who wrote the book and learned the lessons."

There's something for everyone and it allows all those affected by the lake to be on the same page.

Anyone can attend the event, says Osokin. The more that do the better the conference is. An $85 registration fee gives the participant access to the banquet, wine and cheese, field tours, lunches and breakfasts for both days and an ALMS membership for a year.

They can register by going to www.alms.ca or calling Osokin at 849-7349.

"This conference touches on all of it and why I hope everyone realizes that."