Water level drop prompts marina closure at popular central Alberta lake

Summer looks different this year for Pelican Point, a lakeside community located on Buffalo Lake.

Typically bustling during the warmer months, the hamlet is now seeing a shift in activity as low lake levels have disrupted boating plans at the popular central Alberta destination.

"I've lived here all my life, I've never seen it this low," said longtime resident Neil Kostenuk.

The lake previously had a water stabilizing system to help manage water levels, but it was shut down years ago due to concerns over the invasive Prussian carp. Now, some who live in the area want the pumping to resume to help restore water levels. 

The sharp drop in water levels forced the closure and dismantling of the community marina for the season. 

The low water levels mean Pelican Point, which offers a destination for summer tourists, is seeing a big decrease in visitor traffic, as are neighbouring communities like Bashaw.

Erin Elder, president of the Pelican Point Community Association, said the community is split on what the best solution is.

"Some people feel that those pumps should be turned back on and that we should maintain our lake level," Elder said. "Some people feel like we just really need to, at this time, focus on our access to the lake."

About 90 kilometres west, Gull Lake has been grappling with similar water level concerns.

Pumping from the Blindman River into Gull Lake was suspended in 2018, due to the risk of introducing Prussian carp into the ecosystem.

But plans are now underway to install a filtration system at the lake's pumphouse to prevent invasive species from entering the lake. The province approved the move after the government found overwhelming support for the project in a community survey. 

Norval Horner, president of the Gull Lake Watershed Society and a professional engineer involved in the research for the filtration system said he's glad the province stepped in.

"At this point, the provincial government has taken the lead on it and they're going to pay for the installation of the pressurized filtration and the restarting of stabilization," something he said he's "grateful for."

Construction of the filtration system on Gull Lake has begun with the goal of resuming pumping by spring 2026.