| July is Lakes Appreciation Month | 
Sure, you may work on them, play on them, drink from them and dive into them, but have you recently taken the time to really appreciate your local lake, pond, or reservoir?
With increasing populations, development, and stressors on our waterbodies we really need to take the time to consider where we'd be without water. All life relies on this valuable resource and we often take for granted that these resources will always be there and always be useable.
Lakes Appreciation Month is also the ideal time to set aside a week, a day or even just an hour to celebrate your favorite lake, pond or reservoir by participating in one or more of the following activities:
- Assist with volunteer monitoring activities on your waterbody or in your watershed
- Participate in the annual Secchi Disk Dip-In. Read about it at http://www.secchidipin.org and contact Phil to enroll in the AB program.
- Take a day off and visit a local lake or pond
- Go boating, kayaking, canoeing, sailing or rowing
- Go swimming, snorkelling, or SCUBA diving
- Go fishing
- Organize a field trip for students
- Organize a family day at a local lake or pond
- If you live close to a lake have a Living By Water homesite consultation
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- Organize a lake or watershed clean-up event
- Organize an invasive weed pull on lakeshores
- Organize a watershed storm drain stenciling program http://www.yellowfishroad.org/
- Have your septic system pumped if you live close to a waterbody
- Think about green communities and smart growth
- Go birding or picture taking around a lake or pond
- If you are an artist, draw or paint a lake scene and put it up in your home or office to remind yourself of the great time you had at the lake while you were creating this work of art
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Most of all, remember to enjoy and appreciate these valuable freshwater resources!
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Greening Golf Courses
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 | | Audubon International - Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf |
By Jared Ellinor, ALMS Technician
With the beautiful weather finally here may of you may be reaching for your golf clubs and heading out for a round at one of the many courses throughout Alberta. Golfing is a great way to got together with friends, escape the city, and enjoy the outdoors. Typically constructed in scenic landscapes, many in lake watersheds, first appearances suggest golf courses preserve terrestrial and aquatic habitat however they may have significant environmental impacts.
The pursuit of weed free, green fairways can lead to excessive fertilization, chemical treatment, and water consumption, which can result in the eutrophication of water bodies and an overall degradation of water quality in the region. The inclusion of challenging and aesthetically pleasing water hazards may result in the partial or complete removal of riparian zones along streams or ponds, resulting in the degradation or complete loss of significant habitat for birds and amphibians. But are there differences in beneficial management practices between courses? Yes, and there are courses in Alberta that are striving to reduce their impacts. Learn more about it in our new fact sheet...
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| Smart Growth |  The height of summer is a great time to appreciate our lakes and also to think about ways our communities can protect their water both for natural habitat as well as for recreation and drinking water. Individual actions are important but so is the impact that the design of our communities has on water quality. The United States Environment Protection Agency just released the 2nd edition of "Our Built and Natural Environments: A Technical Review of the Interactions Between Land Use, Transportation, and Environmental Quality". They document the impact that development has on water quality and lists some recommendations for development and storm water management practices that will protect watershed health. Download report here.
In Alberta, communities and developers can take advantage of the expertise of the Alberta Low Impact Development Partnership to help implement many of recommended development and storm water management practices. ALIDP.org to learn more.
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| Workshop Agenda Announced | |
The ALMS Annual Workshop will be held September 27 & 28, at the Lakedell Hall near Pigeon Lake.
(draft, check back for final list of speakers and tour locations)
Early Bird Registration Open - only $85! |
| ALMS Scholarship Deadline is July 15 | |
$2000 Awarded Annually to support support students in the aquatic sciences, and related disciplines, and promote the objectives of the Society.
Guidelines for Applicants are available on the ALMS website. Deadline is July 15, 2013.
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| Watercraft Inspection Training |  | |
Kate Wilson, of ESRD, will be offering Watercraft Inspection Training to search boats for the presence of Aquatic Invasive Species.
Date: August 1 Location: Edmonton RSVP by July 29 to Kate Wilson by email or call 780-644-6989 |
| Share your Fish Stories to aid in Conservation Research |  | |
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