Big Lakes County is supporting a proposal by Winagami Lake Cottage Owners Association to create an environmental reserve (ER) plan to enhance and protect the area.
At its regular meeting Jan. 28, council directed administration draft an environmental reserve plan bylaw.
Association president Ron Pelensky and vice-president Darcy Beach discussed the proposed plan with council at its regular meeting Dec. 10.
At the Jan. 28 meeting, council directed administration to develop a vegetation management strategy for Plan 3707KS, Lot P1 within Winagami Lake Provincial Park.
Council passed a third motion they enter into an agreement with each Winagami Lake cottage owner who requests boat or dock storage on Plan 3707KS, Lot P1.
Motions and the environmental reserve plan were further explained by Pat Olansky, director of community services and planning.
“The three motions should address most concerns noted by the WLCOA in its proposal,” Olansky said.
“It provides clarity to the County’s expectations for the ER lot.”
A bylaw regarding the use of ER property can be written so it applies to all other ER lots within the county.
“A vegetation management plan for Plan 3707KS, Lot P1 will identify the vegetation work required to decrease wildfire danger within the lot for community safety,” Olansky says.
The vegetation work itself may involve removing dead, dying or fallen woody material, thinning dense brush and underlying vegetation, pruning lower tree limbs, chipping or removing material where required in proximity to the cottages.
“Historically, the County’s stance on environmental reserve properties has been that no ER lot shall be altered and it shall be left in its natural state as regulated in the Municipal Government Act.,” Olansky said.
Within the lot, located between the cottage lots and the lake, Alberta Parks maintains a cross-country ski trail along the length of the parcel and maintains a pathway with stairs within each block for access to the lake.
“The County has no concerns with the cross-country ski trail and the stairs down the bank to the lake as they are historical and add value to the area,” Olansky wrote in the report.
Over the years, the County has experienced ongoing issues with the Winagami Lake cottage owners clearing out trees and brush within Plan 3707KS, Lot P1.
The clearing has taken place to improve lake views, increase usable space adjacent to lots, provide easy access to the lake for launching boats and docks, and to create space for storage of dock systems and boats.
In the spring of 2025, on recommendation from Alberta Environment and Protected Areas and Alberta Forestry and Parks, the County sent letters to all cottage owners to remind them that any alterations to the state of ER property is a violation of the MGA.
The County also informed the cottage owners anyone with boats, docks and lifts stored within the environmental reserve lot must have permission from the County.
Big Lakes obtained legal opinion on the WLCOA’s proposal, Olansky noted.
“The County can approve of the continued use and maintenance of the already cleared areas within the ER lot,” the report stated.
Regarding the storage of boats and docks within the ER, the County may want some form of agreement in place between those individuals and the County, which provides that upon notice the individuals are required to remove their items, and that the County is not liable for any loss or damage to property stored within the ER.
Ideally, an indemnification clause in favour of the County for any claims relating to the storage of these items within the ER lands, the report stated.
The County should develop a vegetation management plan for this lot given that it is the owner of the ER lands.
It is not recommended that the waiver be entered into with the association, but rather with the individuals who will do the work.
Richard Froese
South Peace News