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Alberta Environment considers removal of Moose Lake weir

Residents living around Moose Lake will be flooded with anticipation to hear the MD of Bonnyville has been given the green light to remove the lake's weir.
16.news.moose lake weir
In 2017, Moose Lake experienced extremely high water levels, resulting in the flooding of properties, basements, and outbuildings to those living along the shoreline. Residents felt the weir was to blame, and after conducting studies of their own, Alberta Environment has decided to remove the structure.

Residents living around Moose Lake will be flooded with anticipation to hear the MD of Bonnyville has been given the green light to remove the lake's weir.


Alberta Environment and Parks recently met with the MD to discuss the future of the Moose Lake weir, and their options for resolving the flooding issues in the area.


According to Matt Janz, director of ag and waste services for the municipality, they were given a handful of alternatives.


“They gave us four scenarios they could do. The first was to remove the weir and all of the beaver dams and reed beds. The next one was to just remove the weir, but not the beaver dams or reed beds. The third was not to remove the weir and just remove the dams and reed beds, and the final option was not to remove anything,” he explained. 


The MD decided to go with option two, but with a slight adjustment.


They would like to remove the weir, with the option of removing beaver dams down the road, should they prove to be a problem.


In terms of the reed beds, Janz said they're better left alone.


“The reed beds would be very hard to remove and it would need extensive approvals (from the province)."


Because the weir is provincially owned and maintained, Alberta Environment will be in charge of its removal, which could take up to a year.


“It’s an Alberta Environment structure, so they're responsible for the removal of the weir. As far as the beaver dams go, we do have approvals to remove them at certain times of the year,” he explained, adding the MD has requested to extend their dam removal season, and hopes to hear back by the end of this week.


Removing the weir became an option after residents voiced their concerns last spring, when they faced severe flooding in their homes, properties, and fields.


Many living around Moose Lake were quick to point the finger at the weir itself, however, Janz said it might not be the problem.


“We had a lot of moisture in 2017, with a lot of spring run off... there’s a lot of it within the whole Moose Lake basin area. There’s a lot of water around. Even if that weir is wide open and flowing, there would still be a lot of water,” detailed Janz. 


He added, even once the weir has been removed, that doesn't necessarily mean their problem will be solved.


“They can’t find evidence of whether or not it will change the flow in that creek, they don’t seem to think so, but it doesn’t help the cause either."


During their regular council meeting, the MD discussed the issue of the weir. Coun. Dana Swigart was fast to agree with Janz.


“The problem is, the water level on either side of the weir is level. The comment was to take it out and it will make a difference, but it won’t,” he expressed.


The MD supported the demolition of the weir, and have put in a formal application for its destruction, along with a request to extend their beaver dam removal season.


For the time being, Janz said the MD is still providing  sand bags to residents around Moose Lake with flooding issues.

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