The group studying lake levels on the Lesser Slave could ask the province’s permission to temporarily raise the weir at the east end of the lake a foot as it tries to ensure there’ll be enough water for industry this summer. But that won’t happen without feedback from several public meetings and blessings from federal and provincial governments.
Meetings will happen tonight in High Prairie’s Elk’s hall, in Slave Lake Thursday evening at the Legion, and at the Faust Royal Purple lodge Friday evening.
Councillor Denny Garratt told fellow councillors for the Municipal District of Lesser Slave River last week the Watershed committee learned that raising the weir a foot would only raise the lake by an estimated inch. But at the same time, the temporary structure will give the committee a chance to create enough of a reserve as the snow melts that it can release the water as needed over the summer, rather than watching all the water run down the river and away in the spring.
He said raised levels would also represent a boon for sport fishermen who’ve been fighting with access through a severely reduced channel at the mouth of the river.
Four years ago lake levels dropped so low water stopped running over the weir, and the M.D. was forced to install siphons to coax water into the river to ensure there was enough to satisfy the needs of the several users at Mitsue Industrial Park. They’re contemplating doing the same again in coming months if nothing is done to keep water levels up.
Garratt said Slave Lake Pulp representative Peter Rippon is the master of the plan, adding that industry is anxious to do something quickly before spring sees the precious snowmelt draining down the river.
He said government representatives have taken an active role in the watershed committee’s meeting, and as yet have raised any opposition to the suggestion.
But there’s no concrete plans in place just yet, he admitted. Councillor Jerry Wallsten also sits on the Watershed committee and said nothing’s a given just yet.
“Nothing’s for sure,” he said, “but I think the more we mess the messier things become.” He said measures to conserve land base at the other end of the lake only created erosion problems, and in the end, less of a land base.

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