Buffalo Lake project raises concern
The Canadian Press
Red Deer

Communities that could be
helped by a plan to divert water
into Buffalo Lake have welcomed
Alberta government plans to res­
urrect the project, shelved in 1984.
But a retired botany professor
has voiced concerns over a recent
Alberta Environment report which
says the proposed $15-million
scheme to divert water from a riv­
er will not cause a serious algae

problem at the shallow lake, 19 ki­
lometres northwest of Stettler.
Charles Bird said he can under­
stand the desire of residents to
raise the level of Buffalo Lake.
Proponents of the plan say it will
boost tourism in the area.
"But studying this report leads
me to the conclusion that quite a
bit of additfdnal ecological work
needs to be done before a firm
commitment is given to go ahead
with the project," Bird said.
Five years ago the province

mothballed the proposal aftef
studies determined algae would
bloom on the lake to unacceptable
levels if river and lake water were 2
mixed.
Alberta Environment now feels
the river will not pump as much
algae-producing phosphorus into
the lake as predicted in three
earlier studies.
It intends to begin an environ­
mental impact assesement early
next year.