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Lac La Nonne Watershed. Situated in the counties of Barrhead and Lac Ste Anne, Lac La Nonne is a small watershed emptying into the Pembina River, part of the Athabasca River basin. Here are found two of central Alberta’s recreation lakes, Lac La Nonne and Nakamun Lake.
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Lac La Nonne Watershed Situated in the counties of Barrhead and Lac Ste Anne, Lac La Nonne is a small watershed emptying into the Pembina River, part of the Athabasca River basin. Here are found two of central Alberta’s recreation lakes, Lac La Nonne and Nakamun Lake Lac La Nonne Enhancement and Protection Association
Possibly named for the White-winged Scoter found on the lake, Lac La Nonne was the home in the 1700 & 1800’s of a Mission and Hudson Bay fort, serving the Klondike trail which followed along its shores Lac La Nonne
Near the end 1800’s farms appeared in the area and shortly after the earliest recreational cabins were being built on lake. Today the dozen subdivisions and five resorts are home to year round residents, seasonal cottagers and campers • Subdivisions: • Chrystyna Beach • Fisherman's Cove • Greendale • Idlehours • Lac La Nonne South • Moonlight Bay • Moonlight Bay Estates • Mortensen Beach • Murray’s Beach • Whiterock Beach • Williams Beach • Winkleman Beach • Summer Village of Birch Cove • Resorts & Campgrounds: • Camp Encounter • Elks Beach Campground • Killdeer Beach Resort • Seniors Lakeside • Willowbend Resort Bird Sanctuary Crown Reserve walking trails
All seeking the benefits of lakeside living and to enjoy the various recreational activities to be found summer and winter
Anglers come for the Whitefish, Perch, Turbot and Northern Pike including a 28 lb’der caught by a visiting youngster this spring
Much of Lac La Nonne’s shoreline and the surrounding area is still covered by arboreal forest teaming with - - Natural Areas
A vast array of wildlife and species of birds including a pair of nesting Bald Eagles. Oh ya, and an occasional cougar has been seen in the area
Lac La Nonne Enhancement and Protection Association OBJECTIVES1. To protect the physical and biotic integrity and to prevent environmental damage to the area of land commonly known as "Lac La Nonne" in the Counties of Barrhead and Lac Ste. Anne and S.V. of Birch Cove in the Province of Alberta, 2. To ensure the preservation of the character and biological diversity of "Lac La Nonne" for educational and recreational purposes, 3. To encourage and promote nature oriented and recreational activities. For greater certainty, but not so as to restrict the generality of the foregoing, these activities shall involve pedestrian traffic only and shall not involve motorized, vehicular or equestrian traffic except for maintenance and safety purposes. 4. Generally to encourage, foster and develop among its members and the public, recognition of the importance of environmental conservation and responsible management of natural areas with the least possible disruption when used by man. 5. To acquire lands by lease or otherwise, and to implement management or other plans to further objectives of the Association. The Lac La Nonne Enhancement and Protection Association LEPA Is One of two groups active in the Watershed Our programs over the last 25 years have varied from assisting Alberta Lake Watch to building a cairn to area Pioneers, and in 2004 we initiated “the Water Quality Improvement Project”
This Project involved establishing three riparian On-Farm Best Management Practice demonstration sites along streams in the watershed in 2004 & 2005
A (2) Shallow Well or a Dugout with either a solar system or a windmill were developed on the sites, and each equipped with distribution systems and troughs providing clean easily accessible water for the landowner’s livestock. This included building 5 km of fence, by a core of volunteers resulting in Four riparian pastures totalling approximately 100 acres, These projects assisted the agricultural producers to manage livestock access to streams supplying water into the watershed lakes
another of the project’s outcomes was the restoration of destroyed stream riparian areas, necessary eco-systems to improve stream and lake water quality for fish, wildlife and all users Riparian Areas support 80% of all wildlife around Lac La Nonne and native bird populations are 2 to 3 times higher in healthy riparian areas than in unhealthy ones stream bank riparian area
First Provincial Volunteer Our Water Quality Project also included three years of sampling Lac La Nonne and Nakamun for human sewage and area streams for levels of Phosphorus, E-coli, pesticides and other nutrients Stream Sampling - 2004, 2005 & 2007
Cottagers & Agricultural producers, volunteered to take the necessary training and meet bi-weekly to fill sample bottles from eight watershed streams during early spring, water temperature - bloody cold! Samples were then taken into an Edmonton lab for analysis Results are incorporated into the ‘State of the Watershed Report’ and have provided a base for developing water improvement projects
Communication Website: www.lepa-ab.com Lake Booklet Annual Newsletters Annual General Meeting Lakeside Presentations Project Tours Information Sessions • Information Brochures, • Books and Pamphlets • Annual Outreaches • Silent Auction & Supper • August Boat Regalia • Membership in LWSS, WERG An ongoing initiative of the Association is to increase the awareness of our members and lake users on how their actions affect the health of the lake and its shoreline. In partnership with the Waters Edge Resource Group a unique Handbook for residents and recreational users was developed. Many tips on being stewards of the lake and watershed were highlighted along with area History
Through tours of our project and area workshops, we have extended our outreach efforts to the surrounding region and beyond
Fun is also part of our outreach activities. Each fall we hold our silent auction fundraiser followed by a family supper. And Last year we sponsored our first Boat Regalia. This Parade of decorated watercraft toured 15 km of shoreline to the enjoyment of participants and onlookers alike. Prises were awarded the two groups shown
Whether to write an article, assist at casinos, pound nails, deliver annual flyers, sit on our Board or just support us by purchasing an membership, OurVolunteers are an major asset. We are always open to new members and volunteers desiring to assist in our objectives Volunteers
Lac La Nonne Enhancement & Protection Association - a non-profit society established in 1983, now with charity status - Our membership is comprised of local agricultural producers, recreational users, lake residents and resorts operators. LEPA's mandate is to preserve the biological integrity of the Lac La Nonne Watershed and to protect it from environmental damage. We encourage among our members and the public recognition of the importance of the sustainability of all natural areas. “Working Harmoniously” to improve the health of the watershed; it’s waters and riparian areas. Site 1, Box 14, RR#1 Gunn, AB. T0E 1A0 www.lepa-ab.com