Lake Wabamun Water Quality and Sediment Reports

In the spring of 2002, Alberta Environment initiated an investigation on Wabamun Lake in response to complaints about murky water in the lake near the TransAlta Utilities Wabamun Power Plant ash lagoon discharge. Water and sediment samples taken within 100 metres of the TransAlta Utilities ash lagoon exceeded Canadian guidelines for aluminium, chromium, arsenic and copper. Elevated concentrations of these metals were also found in sediment within the lagoon itself.

To learn more about sediment and water quality in Wabamun Lake and how it compares to other area lakes, Alberta Environment started several comprehensive studies of the lake in the summer of 2002, including:

Additionally, a report summarizing the 20-year history of water quality of Wabamun Lake has been compiled to provide a historical perspective on water quality of the lake.

In addition, TransAlta Utilities is conducting an Environmental Risk Assessment, at the request of Alberta Environment, to determine the extent of the metal concentrations, determine the past and present contributions of the power plant to the heavy metals concentrations and evaluate the risk to the lake ecosystem.

Next Steps

These studies provide a great deal of scientific information on the current status of Wabamun Lake water and sediment chemistry, and some aspects of aquatic biota. They also identify areas where further study is needed.

Alberta Environment will continue to work with Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Alberta Health and Wellness, the local Health Authority, Environment Canada, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the University of Alberta, TransAlta Utilities and other stakeholders to:

• Gain a better understanding of the contributions of natural and various man-made activities to the lake, now and historically.
• Further investigate potential impacts on aquatic biota as a result of changes in lake water and sediment quality.
• Evaluate human health implications, if any, which may arise from power plant activities in the watershed.