Serving the communities of Rimbey, Bentley, Bluffton, Winfield, Alder Flats and Buck Lake
Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013
Volume 15 Number 35
www.rimbeyreview.com
Toxic water advisory for Gull Lake raises concerns and questions By Treena Mielke Alberta Health’s toxic water advisory shutting down Gull Lake has left at least one person somewhat perplexed about the validity of the report stating the lake is contaminated with algae. Alberta Health Services issued the advisory Aug. 21 and residents living near the shores of the lake, as well as visitors, are advised to not drink the water, nor swim or wade in the lake and avoid contact with algae
on the shoreline. Craig MacLeod, president of the Alberta Lake Management Society, who has a summer home at Meridian Beach on Gull Lake, is not convinced the numbers are correct. “There is no evidence of any blooms,” he said. “The water is shining. It is better than ever.” While MacLeod is not ready to swallow the report hook, line and sinker, he is not discrediting Alberta Health, but simply wants more clarification.
“We need to get our head around this, the numbers seem odd as there is no evidence of any blooms on the lake.” But Deena Hinshaw, medical officer of health for the central zone of Alberta Health Services, said the algae in Gull Lake is more than two million cells per ml, 20 times over the acceptable level of 100,000 cells per ml as set out in the Canadian Guidelines for Recreational Water. “The algae blooms don’t have to be on top to cause a problem,” she said. “While
there is no surface blooms, the water is cloudy below the surface.” The extremely high algae count prompted Alberta Health Services to issue the advisory, she said. “It is our duty to provide the information and an advisory. We are not closing the lake, but making recommendations so the public can make safe choices.” Hinshaw expects the advisory to be in effect for the rest of the summer. Continued on page 10
Work in progress: An 27-metre-long Erickson Air Crane was used to continue work on the Western Alberta Transmission Line, lifting and placing sections of transmission structures into place. Work is expected to be underway in the Rimbey area in September. Constuction of the line is scheduled to continue until spring 2015. APN Photo
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