Jackfish Lake and Murray Lake area residents attended the meeting on Saturday. (Google Maps)

By Angela Brown

Development planning

Study on impact from development on Jackfish and Murray Lakes to help guide future decision making

Aug 30, 2021 | 5:51 PM

Close to 90 area residents attended a public engagement and information meeting at the Cochin Community Hall on Saturday to discuss a study related to how development impacts Jackfish and Murray Lakes.

Municipalities surrounding Jackfish and Murray Lakes commissioned the development study. Consulting firm Urban Systems Ltd., which has an office in Saskatoon, is involved in the initiative.

“Its [The study’s] goals were to determine how the current level of development is affecting the lakes, and how to manage land use and development decisions while prioritizing and protecting the natural and recreational attributes of the lakes,” the firm’s community planner Daniel Gray said.

The study itself may be able to assist local authorities to work co-operatively in making land use decisions in the future.

In comparing current conditions with historical data, Gray said it’s apparent that a variety of factors, including changes to the environment, boat usage and land use, over the years have had a detrimental impact on the lakes. However, he added, “the lakes are by no means unhealthy.”

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Gray mentioned there was some concerns expressed at the meeting about algae in the lakes currently. He noted that algae wasn’t tested specifically, although he is aware algal growth has been high this year, not only in Jackfish and Murray Lakes but also across Western Canada.

“We have had low precipitation rates and we really haven’t had a lot of run-off coming through in the winter,” he said. “So those are all perfect environments for algal growth. Algae itself is not detrimental to the lake. Fish and the vegetation around there are supported through algal growth.”

He noted it would be the Water Security Agency’s responsibility to determine if there were any concerns about algae toxicity in the lake, if that were an issue.

Looking ahead, Urban Systems will provide their recommendations to municipalities to consider development or redevelopment around the lakes based on the study’s findings.

“It’s up to them to include that within their Official Community Plan and zoning bylaw amendments, and create policies or educational platforms to help improve behaviours and improve outcomes related to development and lake usage,” Gray said.

He said the firm would be finalizing its report and bring it to the steering committee to share some of its recommendations and findings, and meet with municipalities on the issue.

“We will be working to have a final report authorized by the steering committee by September 30,” he said.

RM of Meota Reeve Sherry Jimmy was pleased with the number of ratepayers from the various municipalities around Jackfish and Murray Lakes who attended the information session.

“There are multiple municipalities that border Jackfish and Murray Lakes…So it was timely that the partners, or the majority of them, get together and take a look at development from the sense that what one may approve in one municipality inevitably has some type of an impact on the lake or the lakeshore. That impacts everybody, because we share that boundary around the lakes.”

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow