Gull Lake water levels continue to decline

PONOKA COUNTY -- Ponoka County's Gull Lake continues to see a year-over-year reduction in its water levels.

This is according to the latest data from the Gull Lake Watershed Society, which presented the statistics to Ponoka County Council at their last meeting at the end of June. The data shows that the lake's water levels dropped to a historic low in 2024, and have continued to fall by approximately six centimetres annually.

The decrease in water levels at Gull Lake was first noted around 1960 but has picked up pace over the past ten years. While license volume adds about two-and-a-half inches a year -- slightly more than the historic rate of loss -- it's noted that the current levels are nearly a meter below target.

The Gull Lake Watershed Society says that the decreasing water levels are concerning for a variety of reasons. The first being that the diminished water volume will allow for higher temperatures in the lake, which will create ideal conditions for algae while providing less oxygen for marine life. They also add that this could also reduce recreational visitors to Ponoka County and also dry out the shorelines. 

The organization is now working on several initiatives in hopes of improving water levels, including water pumping, which is planned for sometime early in 2026. Despite this, they say that returning the lake to previous levels could take many years.