WABAMUN WATERSHED MANAGEMENT COUNCIL

The Wabamun Watershed Management Council (WWMC) has 4 purposes: 1. To protect and improve the health of Wabamun Lake and its surrounding watershed by guiding the development management and stewardship of Wabamun Lake through collaborative planning research and education. o WWMC collaborates with municipalities to promote alignment of municipal bylaws/policies with protection of the lake and watershed - Volunteers reviewed discussed and recommended 'lake friendly' bylaws and policies (i.e. Wabamun Area Vision development) with municipalities situated by the lake. o The WWMC participated on the Wabamun Lake Watershed Management Plan Implementation Steering Committee. 2. To organize or participate in environmental projects designed to preserve and protect the water quality flora and fauna and the environmental ecosystems of Wabamun Lake and its surrounding watershed. o Wabamun Lake Water Sampling - Volunteers assisted the Alberta Lake Management Society to collect water samples during 4 days over the summer and 4 days over the winter. o Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Inspection event - Volunteers organized and participated in a one day AIS inspection station at Wabamun lake during the summer. o Hydrology review - Volunteers ongoing examination of the hydrological features (water quality and water quantity) of TransAlta Utilities Highvale Coal Mine reclamation plan as it relates to Wabamun Lake and watershed. 3. To educate and increase public awareness and understanding of Wabamun Lake and its surrounding watershed by offering seminars conferences and meetings and by collecting and disseminating relevant stewardship information. o Volunteers provided lake stewardship information booths at various public events and locations during the summer months. o Riparian area education session and restoration workshop at Wabamun Lake - Volunteers helped organize and participate with the County of Parkland's riparian area restoration workshops. o WWMC Website and Social Media (Facebook and Twitter) use for lake information and education - Volunteers maintained and updated the WWMC webpages and social media for lake information and education. 4. To conduct research relating to the protection of Wabamun Lake and its surrounding watershed. o Satellite-Derived Algal Monitoring Research project- WWMC participated as a collaborative partner in the cyanobacteria water monitoring project on Wabamun Lake. o Wabamun Lake Bulrush restoration project -