Lakes Appreciation Month: Minister Nixon
2021-07-15

“Lakes are one of the most treasured features on the Alberta landscape.

“Our lakes have been the summer weekend destination of choice for many Alberta families for generations. Healthy lakes allow Albertans to connect with nature and enjoy time swimming, fishing and boating with family and friends.

“Lakes and our waterways are also immensely important to Indigenous peoples, and a traditional way of life for food and transportation for centuries. The ancient stories of lakes connect Indigenous peoples to their cultures and nature.

“Albertans place a high priority on maintaining a vibrant and balanced ecosystem, something that would not be possible without our lakes. In every corner of our province, lakes offer a healthy aquatic environment to a variety of fish species and provide vital habitat features to Alberta’s diverse range of wildlife species.

“Maintaining the health of our lakes is a shared responsibility. Across Alberta, the Alberta Lake Management Society and other lake watershed stewardship groups help maintain healthy lakes by providing education, sharing best management practices, supporting water quality monitoring and doing their part to help keep our lakes free of aquatic invasive species.

“Lakes also play a key role in the flood and drought resiliency of Alberta’s watersheds and in many ways are the primary function of the same lakes we fish and recreate on throughout the province. That’s why Alberta’s government is investing in flood mitigation projects and providing $10.5 million in grants over three years for the Watershed Resiliency Restoration Program, which helps improve the health of Alberta’s watersheds and reduce the impacts of both flood and drought.

“In recognition of the tremendous environmental, social and economic value Alberta’s lakes provide to our province, I’m proud to declare July 2021 Lakes Appreciation Month in Alberta.”