Alberta Lake Management Society Newsletter
August 2013
ALMS 2013 Scholarship Winner
Michelle Gordy
Michelle Gordy
Congratulations to Michelle Gordy, PhD Candidate at the University of Alberta, who won a $2000 scholarship from the Alberta Lake Management Society. 
 
Michelle is an impassioned researcher with a desire to improve health through education, outreach, and developing tools to better measure and monitor health risk. She is interested in understanding the dynamics of host-parasite relationships in freshwater ecosystems as they relate to infectious diseases and other conditions that affect the health and well-being of humans and animals alike. She is currently undertaking a large survey of the snails and the trematode parasites they host that are responsible for causing Swimmer's Itch in Alberta's lakes. She intends to gain a comprehensive understanding as to which environmental factors may have an effect on increasing transmission risk and using this information to help improve water management practices and in communicating health risk to the public.
Swimmer's itch in arm
A Case of Swimmer's Itch
 
To learn more about her research visit the scholarship page on our website. She will also be giving a presentation at our workshop this fall. 
 
Have you had swimmer's itch this year? If so, you can help Michelle and her colleagues at the University of Alberta's School of Public Health by filling out a short online survey. Visit http://swimmersitch.ca/ and report your itch!

 

The World's Deepest Lake
Lake Baikal
By Bradley Peter, ALMS LakeWatch Coordinator
 
When sampling lakes with the LakeWatch program, a general rule applies: the deeper the lake, the longer it takes. This year, the deepest lake being monitored is Wolf Lake, with a maximum depth of 38 m.  While this may sound deep to an Albertan, this pales in comparison to the world's deepest lake. With a watershed twice the size of the United Kingdom and a maximum depth of 1647 m, Lake Baikal in Siberia holds the records for world's deepest, world's oldest, and world's most voluminous lake.  
 
Formed 25 million years ago in a spreading rift valley, Lake Baikal holds 20% of the world's supply of freshwater. It is also an important site for biodiversity: because of its great age and isolation, 80% of the species found in Lake Baikal are found nowhere else in the world, including the world's only true freshwater seal. One of the most astonishing features of Lake Baikal is its oxygen concentrations, as it remains well oxygenated and un-stratified for the entirety of its 1647 m depth. Despite its vast size, however, Lake Baikal faces many of the same pressures as Alberta's lakes. Nutrient-rich runoff from agricultural and urban settings, oil exploration, and a pulp and paper mill all threaten Lake Baikal's unique ecosystem. With a water residence time of 400 years, pollution entering the lake has the ability to impact the ecosystem for a long time. In fact, researchers working on the lake have already identified shifts in algal communities which may be an early sign of eutrophication. So, despite its unique characteristics, it shares one thing in common with Alberta's lakes - responsible watershed development is 
key to managing the health of the lake.

For More Information:
Workshop Early Bird Prices Expire Aug 31
20th Annual Workshop Logo
September 27 & 28 at the Lakedell Hall near Pigeon Lake. 

The objective of the workshop is to discuss key changes necessary to improve lake water quality. The theme is "Healthy Watershed, Healthy Lake, Healthy Community" and there will be presentations and discussion on current research, planning and beneficial management practices.

You will benefit from many great speakers, exhibitors, and a chance to learn from a group in the process of lake watershed planning. Registration includes all food and a tour of beneficial management practices in the region.

For more details and to register online visit the ALMS website.
Lake Rule Book
Sylvan Lake Watershed Stewardship Society, with the help of the local RCMP, have posted the Lake Rule Book. 
 
It lists contraventions and fines for several Federal Acts as well as the Provincial Water Act and Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act.
Events
West Country Ag Tour - Aug 22. All day field tour to learn about research and innovations in Clearwater County. Contact Clearwater Ag Services to register 403-
845-4444 or by email
 
Upcoming Lake Watershed Stewardship Group AGMs or Events:
 
Pigeon Lake, AGM at Lakedell Hall, Aug 24

Wabamun Lake, State of the Watershed Report Release, Aug 25


Soap & Water: An important conversation about our role in water quality. Sept 9, Canmore Civic Centre Atrium. RSVP encouraged

soap & water poster

NALMS Symposium Registration Open
 
Oct 30 - Nov 1
Algae advisories and good information updated daily

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