Request for Proposals - Lacombe Lake Management Plan

Lacombe County, the Town of Blackfalds, and the City of Lacombe are partnering to develop a comprehensive Lake Management Plan for Lacombe Lake. The project will establish a shared, non-statutory framework to guide land use, watershed health, and stormwater management in a coordinated manner. Lacombe Lake, located in Lacombe County between the City of Lacombe and the Town of Blackfalds, is a shallow body of water that stretches three kilometres long and is approximately 500 metres wide. At its deepest point, it reaches only about three metres. The lake serves as a habitat for various wildlife species, including nesting shorebirds and waterfowl, while also acting as a stopover for migratory birds like trumpeter swans. Locally, the lake is cherished as a hidden gem for quiet paddling and is home to the Central Alberta Rowing Club. Lacombe County also holds a license under the Water Act for the Lacombe Lake Project. This project was initiated and completed in 1971 by the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA) with Lacombe County as the project licensee. This license requires Lacombe County to operate and maintain two control gates, a weir, and a diversion channel, which are used to influence the water level of Lacombe Lake. During periods of high flow, water from Whelp Creek would be diverted into Lacombe Lake and stored for subsequent release in the summer for agricultural use downstream. Water is no longer diverted from Whelp Creek due to nutrient runoff concerns; however, the control gate is still operated to maintain lake levels within the licensed elevations. Lake Management Plans are intended to help lake stewards protect lake ecosystems through the setting of ecological outcomes for each lake. Lake management planning is also a strategic process that is intended to help lake stewards develop and implement actions to maintain or improve lake ecosystems. This includes managing human activities on land that may impact aspects of lake water quality and quantity, and the associated fish, vegetative and wildlife communities. The creation of Lake Management Plans not only link science, opportunities, processes and potential partners in a shared plan to get specific results for each lake but also allow for greater synergies across the parties involved with lake management. A Lake Management Plan: • Encourages partnerships between concerned citizens, including lakeshore owners, watershed residents, local and provincial government, resource management agencies and special interest groups. • Summarizes information on how the lake functions and its current condition. • Identifies concerns that people feel are important to address. • Sets realistic goals, objectives, and actions to achieve desired outcomes. • Identifies needed funds, resources, and personnel to implement and monitor the plan. Currently, no Lake Management Plan exists surrounding Lacombe Lake. There is a need to create a Lake Management Plan as per the Town of Blackfalds Water Act Approval for the Town’s northwest area stormwater management system: Water Act Approval Number DAUT0015736 5770. The Approval Holder shall develop a Lake Management Plan for Lacombe Lake, in cooperation with the County of Lacombe, the Lacombe Lake Watershed Stewardship Society, other local stakeholders and Alberta Environment and Protected Areas officials as noted in Report Nos. 00387959-R001, 00387959-R003 and 00387959-R004, as specified in 5250. By linking science, opportunities, and community input in a shared plan, the Lacombe Lake Management Plan will enhance collaboration, ensure sustainable watershed health, and create long-term value for residents and municipalities alike.