Miquelon Lake Provincial Park

Managed by North Saskatchewan Riverkeeper

July 12: Water Quality advisory posted for Miquelon Lake – Do not swim or wade in water

Miquelon beach is a very popular camping and day-tripper beach because of the close proximity to Edmonton. The beach is sandy and the water is usually clear and shallow. The water of the lake is more saline than other lakes in the region so algae is less of a concern. The beach has a lot of room for activities and picnicking and the gradual slope and shallow waters in the swimming area makes it popular for families with young children.

The water close to the beach can become foamy and soupy and the sand sticky in the months of July and August. The beach area close to the water has an odour on still days but this was usually a nuisance concern not a health concern in previous years. The day use area and campground are both very popular and have all of the upgraded amenities required for a day at the beach including a playground and modern WC/change rooms/showers. It is a 100-metre walk on paved sidewalk to the beach from the parking lot.

From Alberta Parks Website: Miquelon Lake is not ideal for swimming due to natural water quality issues. The lake contains naturally high levels of salts and sulfates that become more concentrated when lake levels are low like now. This diminishes water quality for swimming and contributes to odours in summer.

WATER QUALITY

Failed to meet water quality standards
Special Status
This status is based on the latest sample, taken on . North Saskatchewan Riverkeeper updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on at

For water quality icon legend, click:

CURRENT WEATHER

7°C

Mostly clear

Report Pollution

MONITORING FREQUENCY

SOURCE INFORMATION

AHS monitors public beaches from approximately June 1 (weather permitting) to September (around Labour Day weekend). Most sites are monitored on a weekly basis, though some sites are monitored less frequently.

Water quality testing done by AHS is based on standards outlined in the General Nuisance and Sanitation Regulation, under Alberta’s Public Health Act. AHS tests for fecal coliform and blue-green algae (cyanobacteria).

Faecal Contamination

Under the guidelines put forth by AHS, no person shall operate or permit the operation of a beach or constructed beach unless the water quality in the swimming or bathing area meets the following standards:

Two consecutive values at < /400 CFU/100 mL
AND
A geometric mean < /= 200 CFU/100 mL over a 30-day period

Where the water quality in swimming/bathing areas of a beach or constructed beach does not comply with these standards, an executive officer may erect a notice or require the owner or operator to erect a notice to the effect that the beach or constructed beach is unfit for swimming or bathing.

If a beach does not meet the standards, a Contaminated Water Health Advisory is issued. Signs are posted at the recreational site and an advisory is posted on the AHS website (http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/1926.asp). They are also communicated through the Swim Guide app and website and sent out to all local-area media surrounding a lake, as well as tweeted by AHS. Health advisories are rescinded when the above standards are met.

Cyanobacteria

Recreational water bodies and associated recreational sites are monitored by AHS EHOs and Practicum students for cyanobacteria. AHS personnel completes visual inspections of the lakes and also collects water samples for lab testing. For more information on cyanobacteria, AHS has developed an FAQ: http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/news/advisories/ne-pha-bga-faq-2015.pdf.

AHS issues Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria) Advisories when blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) blooms are identified, as that presence can pose a risk to human health.
Advisories are posted online to www.albertahealthservices.ca/1926.asp. These advisories are sent out to local-area media surrounding a lake, tweeted by AHS and communicated through the Swim Guide app and website. When a bloom is identified, related signage is posted around the entire water body (public beaches, access points, campgrounds, etc). These advisories remain in place for the duration that the health risk persists.

Monitoring Status

A beach is marked Green when two consecutive single sample results are under 400 CFU/100 mL AND the geometric mean (average of 5 samples) is less than 200 CFU/100 mL over a 30-day period.

A beach is marked Red when two consecutive single sample results are equal to or above 400 CFU/100 mL AND the geometric mean (average of 5 samples) are equal to or greater than 200 CFU/100 mL over a 30-day period.

A beach is marked Grey if there is no current results or no available information.

WATER QUALITY GRAPH