Pumping of Cochrane Lake to the Bow River began on Aug. 28, as the province works to bring the flooded lake back down to 1,281 meters before winter arrives.
“Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (AESRD) has identified a way to safely expedite Cochrane Lake pumping activities and is proceeding with the interim Bow River line strategy,” according to an Aug. 25 press release issued by the province.
Rick Deans, senior manager of infrastructure for the Town of Cochrane, confirmed the water being pumped into the Bow River is upstream from the town’s water intake and that the town foresees no concerns with the capabilities of the town’s water treatment plant.
It has been identified for months that the temporary solution of pumping water into Big Hill Creek and Horse Creek has not been sufficient at bringing the water levels down (with another six feet to go).
Pumping into the two creeks is currently continuing.
Rocky View County (RVC) Councillor Jerry Arshinoff confirmed that he and Councillor Al Sacuta will continue to push the county to scrap the notion of pumping into Horse Creek as a long-term solution.
“It’s only viable (to pump into Horse Creek) until we get too much rainfall,” said Arshinoff.
He explained that in the event of heavy rainfall, the only body of water that could sustain the pumping would be the Bow River — which “may prove to be more costly in the short term, but more reliable in the long run.”
Arshinoff said he has been advised by county administration that the proposed Land Improvement Tax (LIT) that was brought forward by Councillor Bruce Kendall is now, not going to be recommended by county administration.
The move to not recommend the LIT comes after 44 residents submitted a petition on July 25 to voice their opposition to the tax.
Arshinoff said that he is also familiar with the concerns of advocates for the watersheds at Horse Creek and Big Hill Creek— including the damage the current pumping appears to be having on the brook trout spawning at Big Hill Creek.
“This silt (from the pumping) will not only destroy this fall’s spawning activity on Ranch House Spring Creek, but it will most likely destroy the brook trout and brown trout spawning activity in the main stem of Big Hill Creek, a known spawning tributary to the Bow River,” explained Guy Woods, director of Bow Valley Habitat Development (BVHD).
According to Woods, he has received correspondence from AESRD that the flooding problem of Cochrane Lake has taken precedent on the possible negative impact on the watersheds that the flooded lake is being pumped into.
Arshinoff said he would push to see four areas addressed: the continued pumping of the flooded lake into the Bow River as part of the short-term solution; scrapping the notion of an LIT; devising a permanent solution (favouring the Bow River rather than Horse Creek); and looking to the county to compensate residents for the property damages.
Thirty-year Cochrane Lake resident Gloria Wilson said that her concerns linger on the notion of an LIT, as well as compensation for those affected property owners.
She said she is also concerned over whether these matters will all be resolved before a new developer takes over Phase 3, 4 and 5 of Monterra.
The LIT will come back to RVC council during the September council meetings.
