December 2023 Newsletter

This is the quarterly newsletter informing the BLESS membership about ongoing environmental issues, events and achievements around Big Lake. We hope the membership finds this newsletter useful and interesting. Comments, questions and suggestions from anyone reading this newsletter would be much appreciated. Please submit your feedback to the BLESS board of directors at board@bless-env.ca.

Happy New Year!

Current Board Members

President – Al Henry

Vice President – Kevin Aschim

Treasurer – Miles Constable

Secretary – Teresa Marshall and Jillian Dyck

Directors at Large – Pat Collins, Lyn Druett, Tony Druett, Linda Brain, Meagan Dyck, Nick Parayko, Victoria Burman

Regular Board Meetings

These are usually held at 7 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month. Board meetings are currently conducted using ZOOM. In addition to the board, all members of BLESS are welcome to attend the meetings. Anyone wanting to be added to the list of ZOOM invitees should submit their request to board@bless-env.ca.

Financial Report

BLESS continues to be in good financial shape for the end of 2023. We have just over $14,000 in the chequing account and about $120 in the casino account. This will be just enough to see us through the summer employment season for a Nature Interpreter.

Speaking of casinos we have one finally coming on May 26 and 27, 2024 at Century Casino in St. Albert. The money earned by our volunteers goes directly to our Summer Nature Interpretation program. With a casino in May, we will receive our proceeds sometime in early October. In previous years we have received as much as $21,000 and as little as $15,000. With the effects of COVID on our society the number of charities wanting casinos has gone up, and the funds available for distribution have gone down, so it is hard to predict the funds we will receive after completing our casino. If you wish to volunteer for our casino please send us an email to board@bless-env.ca.

St. Albert West Area Structure Plan

The proposed St Albert West Area Structure Plan (ASP) was an important item on the agenda for the December 12, 2023 meeting of the City of St. Albert’s Standing Committee of the Whole. Tracy Tsui from the City’s planning department gave an update on the ASP that included a revised version of their main plan for the area.

To date neither this version of the plan (or the revised version that was presented to the Councilors in February 2023) has been posted on the City’s ASP website. However, you can find this revised version of the plan on the agenda for the Dec. 12th meeting. Tracy’s presentation can be viewed on the meeting video posted on the City’s website. Tracy went through a list of some of the topics and information that will be included in the text of the proposed document.

The meeting was attended by four members of the BLESS Board of Directors. Kevin Aschim and Tony Druett gave a 10-minute presentation at the start of the meeting (before the City gave their presentation). In the first part of our presentation, we outlined some of the meetings and correspondence that we recently had with various parties who may be potentially affected by what is proposed in this ASP. City of St. Albert councillors had previously suggested that we engage with these parties and facilitate ongoing dialogue with them.

In the latter part of our presentation to the Committee of the Whole, we outlined our ongoing concerns regarding the proposed ASP. Those concerns and our suggestions for the next steps with this Area Structure Plan are outlined in the longer version of this article posted on our website.

We continue to be very concerned about the possibility that there will be industrial parcels and buildings developed along the south side of Meadowview Drive. We do not object to there being industrial parcels fronting into the neighbourhood on the north side of Meadowview Drive. Tracy Tsui has now confirmed that there will be appropriate Stormwater Management lakes and/or wetlands installed on the south side of the road. She has also confirmed to us that the City still intends to install the trail system that was outlined 5 years ago in the City’s Red Willow Park West (RWPW) plans for the area south of Meadowview Drive. Over the last four years, we have been lobbying the St. Albert City Council and City Planners to implement those plans. We believe that the RWPW plans provide an ideal framework for the area, which protects the environment and does not need to include industrial parcels on the south side of the road.

We feel it is essential to have a new round of public involvement meetings before the revised ASP is submitted for first reading by Council. The revisions that the City staff have made to this ASP in January 2023, and now in December 2023, are not just minor adjustments. The reports supporting what is in the ASP document have still not been revealed to the public. We feel there should now be an in-person open house where the public and the other stakeholders can review the entire document, and its accompanying reports, and then formally submit their comments on the revised ASP document.

BLESS Meeting with the Province’s Forestry and Parks Division – Central Region

Four members of BLESS had a very productive meeting with six staff members of the Province’s Forestry & Parks Division on November 20, 2023. Here are some key extracts from the minutes of the meeting that have been provided to us by Hannah Schroeder-Wolfe, Senior Parks Planner, Government of Alberta Parks Division. They give a summary of the major topics that were discussed at the meeting and the positions taken by each of the participants.

199 St to 137 Ave Road Realignment - The City of Edmonton plans to fix the road where it bends from 199 Street to 137 Avenue by developing and realigning this arterial road. Government of Alberta staff expressed their support for the Edmonton road realignment. Tony provided documents outlining concerns with the proposed realignment; showing suggestions for potential redesign. BLESS has been lobbying against the arterial road, but we agree that a road is needed. Government of Alberta staff propose that it does not need to be arterial and instead can develop a road bordering the property line between Alberta Parks property and private property. BLESS supports a road realignment because of the future opportunities it could provide for Lois Hole Provincial Park (e.g., parking lot, environmental learning centre (ELC), access, etc.), however, we shared concern that the location of the City of Edmonton’s proposed traffic circle at the top of a hill is not suitable from a visibility standpoint. Rather, BLESS suggests that the proposed roundabout be moved east so that the new road will run north/south parallel to the property lines. This would prevent the need for an additional creek crossing; the option to add/retain area within the Park boundaries; be more cost-effective to construct; and not require a bridge.

Horseshoe Creek drains at Glendale Lake, and the proposed road alignment would intersect the Creek. BLESS noted that having the road run north/south along the property boundaries would benefit future development on the private land to the east by providing better access and design opportunities.

East Facility Zone – Intention of the east facility zone: Access, natural trails, natural playground, and day-use area. BLESS agrees with what is proposed in the Plan for the area. There is a possibility of an Environmental Learning Centre (ELC) in the northern portion of the east facility zone. Merit to having the ELC in the southwest portion of the east facility zone. BLESS prefers this design as it is located near higher populations. The area is much larger than other areas within the east facility zone. The approach to the ELC is unique because it is an urban destination that is not typical of Alberta Parks. BLESS expressed the potential for possible development along the western portion of the east facility zone.

The City of St. Albert has said that they will amend their designs of the area to accommodate Alberta Parks once the park boundaries are established and the settlement is complete via Order in Council. BLESS expressed prioritizing trails that extend south and connect to the southwest portion of the east facility zone. Potential issue: getting the trails across the north end of Trumpeter Lake, as this would involve purchasing more land from Parkland County.

St. Albert West Area Draft ASP – This ASP is a plan from fall 2022 that has been subject to public scrutiny. Portions of the southern lands are classified as “alternate jurisdiction”. Another plan was submitted to St. Albert City Council but was not released publicly. Can be found in the meeting minutes from February 2023. These plans show an additional industrial zone now designated in the area Parks is obtaining. This is likely because the City has not yet seen an updated Order and Council, and the designs will be changed once the settlement is complete. Industrial areas will not be permitted on Alberta Parks land. BLESS expressed support for the Parks zoning of the lands and opposed industrial.

Northern Portion of Big Lake - BLESS wants these lands to be protected and have little to no development including no bike trails, walking trails, etc. BLESS would like to see this land conserved as a natural area only. The City of St. Albert currently has a plan for a trail in this area. Potential issues could include flooding. Parks suggested a buffer between potential trails and the high water mark or flood zones for waterbodies. The City’s development plan says there should be a 50-metre setback between Carrot Creek and the valley break. BLESS expressed a desire for this buffer to be included in the ASP. BLESS also shared that the City of St. Albert verbally confirmed that a small portion of land designated for industrial development will not be used for industrial activities and, instead, it will be used for a SWMF or something similar; no businesses.

Nature Alberta and World Migratory Bird Day

On Thursday, December 7, Nature Alberta held an Open House at the Percy Page Centre in Edmonton to welcome their new Executive Director – Stephanie Weizenbach. BLESS Board members Lyn and Tony Druett dropped in to offer congratulations to Steph on behalf of BLESS. BLESS has worked closely with her and her staff at Nature Kids to put together BLESS’s annual World Migratory Bird Day events over the past few years. Steph has been our main contact, so we asked her who we should get in touch with regarding the upcoming WMBD event in 2024.

She assured us that Nature Kids will continue to be involved. Kethu, who organized the Nature Alberta display and children’s crafts for the past two years, now works for them full-time. She has offered to help with the planning and organizing of the 2024 BLESS event and will contact us in the New Year. In the attached photo, Steph is standing in front of three canvases. The one to her left was created by children who attended BLESS’s 2023 WMBD event. Sponge “bird footprints” were dabbed in trays of paint and “walked” across the canvas, resulting in a colourful and interesting display.

The theme for the 2024 WMBD is “Insects”. Nature Alberta has contact with several nature groups who may be interested in joining our event. They also have access to funding which would help with expenses.

Although we have had a mild winter so far, it is good to look forward to the Spring and all the possible activities ahead next year - starting with our Bird Day event in May.

Recent Meetings with the County of Parkland and the County of Sturgeon

BLESS recently met with the County of Parkland and presented an overview of BLESS activities and issues to the County Council.

We received a very warm welcome from Mayor Gamble and Council members and they thanked BLESS for our work and reaffirmed their commitment to protecting Big Lake.

BLESS received some excellent feedback from Council members. Many of these items BLESS is already acting on and there were some excellent new suggestions as well.

These include the following:

Parkland Council noted that there are over 50 lakes within their County and that there is a local citizens initiative group that is dedicated to protecting these lakes that BLESS should connect with.
There is a strong interest in preserving wildlife and biodiversity corridors between Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park, the Wagner Natural Area and other natural areas adjacent to Spruce Grove and Stony Plain, as well as lands west of Big Lake.
They would like to do a better job of planning development in areas adjacent to natural areas.
There was the suggestion that there could be a regional council of municipalities that would meet to discuss and harmonize planning and land management issues around Big Lake that the County of Parkland would support.
There is strong support to develop a trail along the south shore of Big Lake that would connect to the Big Lake Communities in Edmonton and into St. Albert.
On January 16, 2024, at 10 a.m., Parkland Council will be holding a meeting specific to trail development in Parkland County that is open to the public. BLESS is encouraged to participate.

BLESS was invited to attend a meeting of concerned landowners within the County of Sturgeon that also included Mayor Alana Hnatiw and Councillor Mathew McLennan. Landowners are concerned over development issues adjacent to their land that they fear would negatively impact flooding, drainage and degradation of water quality for their livestock as well as impact the Sturgeon River feeding into Big Lake.

Sturgeon County covers lands on the north shore of Big Lake as well as the Sturgeon River.

BLESS offered some planning suggestions and paths forward, which were well received.

BLESS also took the opportunity to offer up a presentation to Sturgeon County Council, which will be scheduled in the new year.

Recent Moose Collisions on Ray Gibbon Drive

Over the last 14 years, automobile collisions with moose have killed 236 Canadians. Deer, which are much more common, have also killed 136 Canadians in automobile collisions. And with many more injuries, associated property damage and the impact on wildlife populations.

Over the last two months, there have been two moose killed in collisions along Ray Gibbon Drive. In both cases, the moose struggled into an adjacent pond or into Big Lake, where they later died and were consumed by scavenging coyotes, bald eagles and magpies.

To our knowledge, no one was hurt in these collisions which is very fortunate.

BLESS recently met with Alberta Parks and Wildlife and brought up this subject and their response is that dead moose that present an immediate hazard to people are removed away from the site. Otherwise, they are left to re-enter the ecosystem. BLESS agrees with this statement.

Fall is the worst time for moose and deer collisions as this is their breeding season and they are very active with males chasing or defending females as well as warding off other competitive males. Moose and deer are much less aware of other environmental factors and are much more vulnerable as a result.

The current speed zone south of 137 Avenue in the City of Edmonton is 60 km/h, but once Ray Gibbon Drive crosses north into the City of St. Albert, the speed limit increases to 70 km/h and can be assumed most drivers are going 80 km/h. This speed creates a much greater probability of an unsurvivable condition in a moose encounter.

Several potential remedies could be implemented to reduce the risk of collision with a moose or deer, including:

Moose crossing signs with LED lights.
A reduction in the speed limit to 60 km/h to be consistent with the speed limit within the City of Edmonton.
Updates posted on the City of St. Albert Facebook page and website to make people aware of the risk of moose and deer collisions, especially in rutting season.
Recommendation to lower the speed limit to 50 km/h through the wetlands zone during rutting season. This can be accomplished by posting temporary speed limit signs similar to what are used for construction zones.

BLESS will continue to address this issue with area stakeholders and will keep the public informed.

St Albert Volunteer Fair and Community Information Day

BLESS participated in this event held at St. Albert Centre Mall on November 4 and sponsored by the City of St Albert.

We had a good turnout of volunteers to set up and operate our booth, introduce ourselves to the public and provide information about volunteer opportunities with BLESS.

Led by Meghan MacDougall, one of BLESS’s Summer Nature Interpreters, we signed up 40 new potential volunteers!

BLESS has since held a meet and greet event to welcome our new volunteers. If you are interested in being a volunteer please let us know by emailing us at board@bless-env.ca

White-breasted Nuthatch by Lasiru Wijesuriya

Pileated Woodpecker by Lasiru Wijesuriya

If you have any observations or photos of Big Lake or Lois Hole Provincial Park to share, please send them to board@bless-env.ca.

Happy New Year!

Millennium Park Issue

September 2023 Newsletter