Water Levels

The licensed level for Jackfish Lake is 529.44 meters or 1737 feet above sea level which means that the gate remains open when the lake is above that level and closes when the licensed level is reached.   That occurred on Tuesday June 26th.  Water Security Agency monitors the lake level via satellite and directs the timing of the opening and closing the gate which is done by JLWA Board members. The level of Jackfish Lake can be followed daily on Water Security Agency’s website.  It is important to note that JLWA does not have legal authority to deviate from the licensed level.  

This licensed level has been in place since the control structure was built in the 1960’s and was based on what worked best for both impacted farmers and recreational users.  Considerations  included loss of farm land, risk of flooding and ice damage to cottages as well as the health of the lake.  There has been controversy about raising the licensed level 6” since the control structure was put in place.  During the dry cycle of the early 2000’s there was an effort to get all impacted property owners to sign easements to allow this to happen, however, there were a number opposed and the project could not proceed.  Beginning in 2015 JLWA again approached the property owners who had not signed easements to determine if they were prepared to reconsider.  To date, the effort has not brought success.

The controversy over the water level has intensified again this year.  The unusually high water levels of the past few years contrasted with memories, and fear, of the unusually low levels referenced above (along with the long term weather forecast)  have brought the issue into focus.  Property owners who have enjoyed the higher levels may be concerned while others may be relieved to see less erosion to their property, along with reduced risk of flooding and ice damage.  There is no easy answer that will please everyone, and at the end of the day, Mother Nature seems to have the most influence.

In an average year, runoff contributes 13”, precipitation contributes 15”, groundwater contributes as much as 8”, and summer inflows contribute an inch to the water level increase.  Evaporation removes 32”, and all other uses remove less than an inch.

 

There are a number of other lake related matters that you may be interested in hearing about.  The presence of algae is emerging as a significant concern.   This prompted a small unfunded volunteer group to reconvene as the Stewards of Jackfish and Murray Lakes a couple of years ago to look at water quality.  This group has been working under the umbrella of the North Saskatchewan River Basin Council, whose mandate is surface water protection.  This group was able to do some water testing last year to attempt to determine changes since the last regular testing which ended in 2007, however, expertise for interpretation of results is scarce and lab work is costly.  This year limited testing is being done by the Stewards through the “Citizen Science “ program with the University of Regina.  NSRBC has made application to the University of Saskatchewan for a Masters student to develop a water quality monitoring plan.  The availability of a student to undertake the project will be known in September.

Getting back to the algae, my understanding from those more knowledgeable is that the increase is largely the result of nutrient loading.  Sources of nutrient loading typically a combination of factors including runoff bringing fertilizer from lakefront lawns and farming/livestock operations, grey water from leaking or by-passed septic tanks, shoreline erosion, and disturbance of the lake bottom by wake board boats with on board ballast bladders churning up sediment.   Additionally, the loss of riparian areas/reeds that filter and cleanse the water impacts water quality.  These are factors affecting water quality that we can influence.

NSRBC ‘s “Love Your Lakes” initiative which provided individual reports with observations and voluntary recommendations to the majority of shoreline property owners last year,  will be  completed this year with the remaining properties assessed.  Some property owners worked with NSRBC last year to take advantage of “The Natural Edge” Shoreline Naturalization Program which assists with creating a natural shoreline through planting aquatic vegetation.  This program continues to be available this year.  More information can be obtained by emailing info@nsrbc.ca.

Both lakes are being monitored by NSRBC for Aquatic Invasive Species (quagga and zebra mussels) through volunteers.  AIS have the potential to do irreparable damage to the lakes should they be brought in by a contaminated watercraft.  You will have noticed the “clean, dry, drain your boat” posters at launch sites and on the highway. 

You may also be interested to learn that the Stewards of Jackfish and Murray Lakes have researched liability and methods related to marking Rock Island in Jackfish Lake due the the number of boats damaged yearly.  The RM has agreed to fund the Stewards to the purchase of the recommended buoys.  The buoys have been shipped from the maritimes and are expected soon.  

If you have questions which I may be able to answer, or are interested in volunteering with the organizations concerned with the well-being of the lakes, please get in touch.



Ruth Seime