Environmental stewardship efforts continue at Wizard Lake

LEDUC COUNTY -- The Wizard Lake Stewardship Association continues its work in protecting the local watershed.

The association is responsible for annual water sampling as well as other stewardship initiatives at the lake. As part of their work for 2026, the organization will be undertaking measures in hopes of reducing the amount of nutrients entering the lake. These nutrients can lead to increases in algal blooms, reductions in water clarity, depletion of oxygen, and adverse effects on aquatic life.

The Wizard Lake Stewardship Association aims to complete this work by fencing and willow staking in a nearby ditch. Willow staking, often referred to as "live staking," is an environmentally sustainable technique that involves planting live, dormant willow branches directly into soft, moist soil, typically along stream banks or shorelines.

"We're going to some willow staking and fencing in the ditch, and then work as well with the farming community in putting in wetlands and nutrient uptake vegetation around the wetlands," said Association Chair Blake Bartlett. "So, what we're endeavoring to do this year is understand what we can get to the lake to slow it down, and the different methods, and then we're going to move on to the landscape."

Volunteers with the Wizard Lake Stewardship Association complete water sampling in the spring at twelve tributary locations take the samples to Bureau Veritas Edmonton to be analyzed. As part of this process, it was determined that there has been no further deterioration of the lake since the last sampling period was completed. However, Bartlett notes that controlling nutrient flow into the lake will be critical to ensuring the survival of Wizard Lake and its surrounding watershed.

"The wetlands are important and they deserve some recognition," said Bartlett. "If we can drop the nutrient load in the lake -- or maintain it -- we're going to save the lake. If we don't do that, we're going to lose it. We know that." 

As part of their annual operations, the association hosts regular engagement with lake users as part of events such as Parks Day and the "Try it" event. This past year, they also installed trail signage along the Jubilee Trail System.