All Resources

2013 overview of Pigeon Lake water quality, sediment quality, and nonfish biota

Description

Severe cyanobacterial blooms in Pigeon Lake led to an increased concern about the lake's water quality. In order to better understand the ecology and chemistry of the lake and all the factors that... More ≫

Description

Severe cyanobacterial blooms in Pigeon Lake led to an increased concern about the lake's water quality. In order to better understand the ecology and chemistry of the lake and all the factors that may affect its water quality, an enhanced lake and watershed monitoring program was initiated in 2012 and expanded in 2013. Data was collected to provide insight into potential causes of blooms, to develop a nutrient budget in order to partition phosphorus sources in the watershed and to objectively evaluate what management approaches may be most appropriate for improving the water quality in the lake. This report provides a synopsis of all 2013 data collected.

Tags

Pigeon Lake phosphorus budget

Description

Occurrences of significant blue-green algae blooms have resulted in stakeholders at Pigeon Lake seeking management options to assist with reducing the frequency and intensity of such events. To... More ≫

Description

Occurrences of significant blue-green algae blooms have resulted in stakeholders at Pigeon Lake seeking management options to assist with reducing the frequency and intensity of such events. To more effectively target activities, a nutrient budget was developed to identify phosphorus entering the lake from external and internal sources. The results of the study showed a relatively even split of external and internal phosphorous sources. This indicates that while watershed management efforts must be pursued, there may be merit in exploring in-lake options for controlling phosphorus release to achieve a more timely reduction of nuisance blooms in the future.

Tags

Lake and watershed management options for the control of nuisance blue-green algal blooms in Pigeon Lake, Alberta

Description

Due to natural soil characteristics and proximity to major urban centres, the Pigeon Lake watershed has undergone significant urban and rural development in the past decades. In recent years,... More ≫

Description

Due to natural soil characteristics and proximity to major urban centres, the Pigeon Lake watershed has undergone significant urban and rural development in the past decades. In recent years, occurrences of significant blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) blooms have been documented at Pigeon Lake. The following report includes an overview of cyanobacterial ecology and provides a list of in-lake and watershed management options for control of nuisance blue-green blooms and outlines the benefits, disadvantages and applicability to Pigeon Lake. While several options are available for stakeholders to pursue, it is important that a cost-benefit analysis be conducted beforehand and that stakeholders ensure that all applicable permits and approvals be obtained.

Tags