Muriel Lake Basin Management Society
The Muriel Lake Basin Management Society (MLBMS), which represents some 400 property owners, was formed in 1999 with the intent of finding answers as to why the water level of the lake continued to decline with no sign of recovery. Lobbying of local counties and politicians resulted in detailed study being conducted by Dr. Donahue, Hydrogeologist from Edmonton. In 2006, the “Historical Interpretation of Water Supply to Muriel Lake in the 20th Century” report was completed. Dr. Donahue’s team drilled core samples in the lake’s sediment that went as far back as 1885. From those samples he determined that the lake was never this low even during the dry periods of the 1930s and 1950s. He further concluded that the dry years of the 1980s and 1990s were contributing factors in the loss of water, but believed other elements are having an impact on the water levels by interrupting water flow in to the lake including: new road systems, surface water usage, pipelines, etc. Dr. Donahue recommended further study be undertaken to determine if indeed these were factors.
The MLBMS has been requesting authorities to have these studies undertaken, but to date requests have not been successful. A formal request in April 2011 to the Energy Resources Conservation Board by the MLBMS to have a study undertaken on the impact oil companies may have on the loss of water was declined on the basis that Alberta Environment and Alberta Sustainable Resources have determined the lake’s decline is due to prolonged drought. MLBMS does not agree and is actively attempting to have a detailed and comprehensive study undertaken.
