Pigeon Lake, Alberta, June 3, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Caring for the Lake Together – Pigeon Lake Watershed Management Plan named the 2021 Alberta Emerald Award recipient for Water Initiatives. Thank you to the Alberta Emerald Foundation for this honour.

This award represents the hard work of the Pigeon Lake community, leadership from local municipalities, the Pigeon Lake Watershed Association, and guidance from our healthy-lake experts in implementing the Watershed Management Plan 2018 (the Plan).

The Plan identifies a broad range of beneficial practices, actions, and initiatives aimed at preserving, enhancing, and protecting the watershed and lake. Responsibilities for moving the Plan forward are shared by the municipalities, the Pigeon Lake Watershed Association and a multi-stakeholder watershed management plan steering committee. The Plan is advisory. Local municipalities are fulfilling their roles by adding policies into statutory plans. The Pigeon Lake Watershed Association is working with individuals and organizations to promote stewardship actions as well as improved lake monitoring and research. Initiatives motivated by the Plan, such as the Alberta Clean Runoff Action Guide, are helpful resources for Pigeon Lake property owners and have a broader Albertan audience.

“Working Together is a critical theme of the Plan. It requires ongoing engagement, evaluation, and course corrections,” says Robert Gibbs, Chair of the Pigeon Lake Watershed Management Plan Steering Committee. We are proud of our science-based plan and the ongoing research and monitoring that informs our actions for a healthy watershed, healthy lake, and healthy community.

We are gratified to receive this award but even more humbled with the degree of cooperation and good will from individuals, municipalities, Maskwacis Cree Four Nations leadership, the Chamber of Commerce and our healthy lake partners. Special acknowledgement goes out to PLWA donors and Government of Alberta for supporting the development of the Plan. We are all Caring for the Lake Together.

To learn more about the Plan and the Emerald Award:

Pigeon Lake Watershed Management Plan

Alberta’s Environmental Leaders Receive Award for Environmental Excellence, Alberta Emerald Foundation

Contact:

Catherine Peirce, Executive Director Pigeon Lake Watershed Association

587-487-2044

info@plwa.ca

www.plwa.ca

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The Pigeon Lake Watershed Management Plan (the Plan) is a comprehensive, science-based strategy to coordinate action for the protection and improvement of Pigeon Lake, its shore lands and its watershed. The Plan was adopted in 2018 by all municipalities in the watershed, Pigeon Lake Watershed Association, Pigeon Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce and other key stakeholders. The vision of the Plan is also endorsed by the Chiefs of the Maskwacis Cree Four Nations.