Lesser Slave Lake is part of our regional identity. It supports a natural fishery, provides a water supply for communities, offers recreational opportunities year-round, and provides aquatic and terrestrial habitats for numerous species. The LSWC gathers data to better understand lake water quality, how it changes seasonally, and if there are trends over time.

Lesser Slave Lake is a large lake, making it resource-intensive to conduct comprehensive monitoring each year. About once every 10 years Alberta Environment and Protected Areas staff conduct comprehensive field sampling on Lesser Slave Lake.

Annually, the LSWC staff get out on the lake in open water, and during winter to collect samples, and take field measurements.

Open Water Monitoring

During open water between May and October, the LSWC collect samples and measurements from a boat at 2 locations on the east basin and west basin of Lesser Slave Lake.

Field measurements include: dissolved Oxygen, pH, conductivity and temperature. Laboratory analysis includes: total and dissolved nutrients, chlorophyll a, total suspended solids, and fecal coliforms. These parameters were chosen because they are economical to collect over the long term, and provide information related to local watershed concerns including algal blooms, sedimentation, and potential bacterial contamination from runoff.

Winter Monitoring – Winter Lakewatch

The Alberta Lake Management Society is a provincial organization who works with partners to monitor and report on Lake Water Quality. The LSWC participate in the Winter Lake Keepers program