A plan to stabilize water levels in Lacombe's Elizabeth Lake got a $1.9 million boost from the provincial government.
The provincial Drought and Flood Protection Grant will cover about 70 per cent of the project, leaving around $600,000 for the City of Lacombe to fund.
Elizabeth Lake is tied into the city's stormwater management system, which means during heavy rainfalls the lake level can rise dramatically. That has caused erosion problems, undermined slopes around the lake and flooded riparian areas.
"The damage from it is kind of an ongoing thing. The bank erodes and sloughs into the lake in various areas, affecting our trail system and the back of certain lots," said Lacombe Mayor Grant Creasey.
"This will just stabilize things and hopefully go a long way to making that part of our drainage system more sustainable."
The project will see a new outlet system installed to allow sudden deluges of water to be better controlled as they pass through the lake and into the stormwater system, which eventually empties into Wolf Creek.
The need to stabilize the lake has been known for many years, but the high cost of the project and the need to tackle other priorities left it on the back burner until funding could be found.
"It's one of those things that's certainly the right thing to do. However, we're always competing for funds and projects across the city. So, it's just fallen by the wayside and this (funding) will certainly kick it into gear now," said Creasey.
Another benefit of stabilizing the lake is it will allow land that cannot be developed because of fluctuating lake levels to be safe to build on.
Creasey said he expects development plans will be coming forward in the "not too distant future."
How soon the project will happen will depend on how soon the project can be designed and tendered and the money found in the city's budget.
Creasey expects it to happen within the next two years.
The project will control rising water levels, reduce erosion, and stabilize slopes by installing an outlet system, protecting infrastructure, riparian zones, residential properties, and enhancing the lake's ecological health.
“Lake Elizabeth and its surrounding natural space are a treasured part of our city. Rising water levels over the past decade have eroded the shoreline, flooded natural areas, and threatened both private property and city infrastructure. The Drought and Flood Protection grant is critical to stabilizing the water levels and restoring these valuable natural spaces, ensuring that Lake Elizabeth remains a community asset for generations to come.”
