The MD of Bonnyville is working on lowering water levels in the area.
Over the summer, the MD released their flood mitigation report, outlining the properties affected by flooding in the region and solutions they’ve been implementing.
Director of agriculture and waste services Matt Janz explained flooding has been from one end of the municipality to the other, and has impacted all types of properties.
“From croplands to pasture land to other properties, everybody is experiencing flood damage,” he said.
Regulations from the Government of Alberta have prevented some of the work from being done. Janz described this as one of the main barriers they face when addressing flooding issues.
“The municipality used to be able to go in and make a drainage ditch,” he explained. “Now, you can’t just drain water from one parcel of land to another without doing a lot of regulatory work through the province.”
One of the biggest concerns for municipalities to work around is not being allowed to release sediment in fish-bearing rivers because of fish spawning. Because of this, they have to remove beaver dams by hand.
Janz said, “People think that if a beaver dam has plugged a main creek, and its flooding hundreds of acres, that we can just get rid of it... People see it as the municipality not wanting to help out, but we just have to follow strict rules before we do anything.”
The beaver population influx is a result of the increase in water over the past couple of years. The flooding, Janz said, creates the perfect habitat for them to multiply.
“It makes it challenging for us because the staff that’s trained to remove beaver dams aren’t around everyday.”
One of the areas mentioned in the report was Crane Lake, and how it has experienced washouts and water running through the campground. The MD have added ditches with coconut matting as well as rocks to lessen the erosion, and to help protect the riparian area.
Moose Lake’s water levels were very high in 2017, and as a result the MD has requested the weir be removed to rectify the issue.
Janz said the province has been monitoring the weir, and that they’re seeing the water levels starting to drop in the lake.
A temporary bridge has been put in on Wolf Lake road to handle a portion being washed out. A larger culvert was also installed to prevent another washout.
Using dynamite, Janz’s department blasts any creeks holding back a lot of water. They use track hose to open plugged culverts in order to keep the water flowing to the rivers and lakes, however there are things they need to keep in mind.
“The trick my team is trying to work with is not flooding anybody out, and if we don’t open everything up all the way, someone could end up under water,” expressed Janz.
After talking to pest control around the area, they’ve determined the methods the MD has been using have had some successful results.
“We’re seeing some water levels starting to drop in creeks,” he noted.
The municipality plans to ensure drainage ditches are unplugged, culverts are running properly, and the beaver population is manageable going into the fall.
To report flooding on your property, call the MD at 780-826-3951.
