By James Wood

Sherburne Lake boat launch closure waiting on solution

Aug 14, 2017 | 2:33 PM

The administration of the St. Mary River Irrigation District (SMRID) wants to keep zebra mussels out.

To that end, the organization shut down access to the boat launch in Sherburne Lake, which is not monitored. The shut down has been in place since the end of July, blocking unsupervised boat access to the lake.

According to Terrance Lazarus, the general manager of the organization, SMRID is waiting for a solution to be presented by users of Sherburne to make sure the boat launch is monitored.

“It was unsupervised, and to date, we’ve had eight boats with live mussels on them entering Alberta, and we’re extremely concerned about aquatic invasive species,” said Lazarus.

However, Lazarus didn’t want the lack of access to be thought of as a ban.

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“A ban might be a strong word,” said Lazarus.

“(We’re waiting) until somebody gives us a proposal, to control access to the reservoir, and have a supervised manner of going to the lake.”

Lazarus said that SMRID still allows fishing at the lake, as well as foot access at all reservoirs, and urged residents to be careful around the canal system.

Brian Brewin, the Reeve of the Municipal District (MD) of Taber, said a committee was formed last week, known as the Sherburne Lake Users Group. The group, according to Brewin, has representation from SMRID, the MD, fisherman who use the lake, and local residents.

The group will have a chance to take a proposal to the next SMRID meeting, which takes place this Thursday.

“They have to come up with a solution, and they believe the solution will be to erect a gate, and then hand out keys,” said Brewin.

“You would have to prove that your boat had been inspected, and then you would be given a key for the dock.”

Brewin appreciated the cooperation from all the groups involved in the matter.