The Living by Water Project will arrive in Sylvan Lake this summer to educate residents living on the lake's shoreline and within the watershed on how they can improve the quality of the lake.
Property owners living within these areas are encouraged to schedule a free and confidential consultation with a shoreline advisor to ensure their property management habits are positively impacting the lake, fish and wildlife habitat.
The project encourages people to be responsible in managing their property in ways that will benefit the health of the lake, according to project co-ordinator Jenna Curtis.
Curtis said the community has shown strong interest in the project, with around 80 consultations having been conducted in the past five years.
She said shoreline advisors during consultations are able to focus on and address any specific concerns a property owner may have relating to invasive species or erosion.
“We make sure the visit is tailored to the land owner so they are getting the most out of the experience,” Curtis said. “It's completely confidential. We don't share people's information. It's not about judgment in any way; it's about awareness.”
Curtis added some people may tend to forget how their actions can negatively affect the lake’s shoreline and the rest of the watershed, ulttimately contributing to a cumulative effect.
“It's re-learning some of the behaviours that we typically think would be all right, and realizing that maybe that's not the best for that area.”
Consultations can be scheduled for the weekends of June 25-27, July 16-18 and Aug. 13-15 by calling 780-427-8124, or emailing lbw@naturealberta.ca. More information is available online at www.naturealberta.ca.