Jeff Burgar

Edmonton has what they are calling, an “accidental beach.”

According to news reports, construction work on a LRT bridge at the Cloverdale district affected water flow of the North Saskatchewan River which flows through the middle of Edmonton. A few months ago, this led to a big area of sand flats being exposed downstream from construction. The sand soon became an attractive beach area. So, when the sun came out, hundreds of Edmonton sun worshippers have taken to lolling about on the beach, tossing Frisbees, catching rays, or showing off. You know, whatever it is ordinary people love to do on a nice day beside water, on sand.

Unfortunately for those folks, there are now health warnings about the river water. The river, although used by boaters, gold panners and the occasional swimmer, also carries E. coli bacteria – the bug that comes from human poop.

In actual fact, human excrement isn’t the only stuff found in river and stream water, or on sandy beaches. Excrement from cows and other domestic animals finds its way into watercourses.

Oh well! Just stay out of the water!

But there’s more!

Dogs and cats like to relieve themselves on sandy beaches. To the point in fact, there is a particularly nasty little bug that lives part of its life cycle lurking on tropical sandy beaches. That bug makes its way into animal bodies via animals, and yes, even people, walking barefooted, or even just laying or sitting on infected sand. After multiplying inside the host body, the bugs are excreted, hopefully into sand again, where the cycle starts anew.

It makes one want to think twice about laying on the beach on some tropical island. Ugh!

But, human fascination with sandy beaches continues. City folk love visiting mountains. They love visiting lakes with beaches. Fortunately for our Lesser Slave Lake, there are some magnificent beaches. Devonshire Beach at Slave Lake. Spruce Point Park. The west side of Driftpile First Nation which may one day be turned into a campsite. Shaw’s Point. Other spots along the north shore.

It’s interesting there are also huge expanses of shallow water, along with rocks and vegetation, and even some nice grassed areas. For most local people, these areas are just as welcoming as any sandy beach anywhere. It all has to do with natural habitat, waterfowl, wildlife and marine life. These days, most locals don’t even bother to brag about their lakes to a city slicker. Too many there have somehow brainwashed themselves that they need a beach to appreciate what nature offers.

So, the popularity of the Edmonton beach will continue, possibly for another two years until construction is done. After that, officials say waterflow must be restored to what it was. As it should be.

And for those who need their “beach,” all we can say is, “Come to Northern Alberta. You really don’t know what you are missing.”