Pembina River Provincial Park

Entwistle, Alberta
Managed by North Saskatchewan Riverkeeper

Pembina River Provincial Park has a pebbly/sandy beach on the Pembina River right in a 62-metre gorge close to Hwy 16. This beach is unique to Central Alberta as it is a rocky/sandy river beach with clear waters and a mountain feel. There are day use and camping amenities nearby and the area above the riverbank is kid-friendly with a playground.

There are opportunities for tubing down this reach of the river when water flow and levels are lower (usually later in the season).

NOTE: This is a wading beach during low flow times and NOT a swimming beach. The Pembina can be a very fast flowing river and there is no "beach" area during high flow times in the spring and early summer.

WATER QUALITY
  • No data available
  • 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
13°C
Clear
  • Report Pollution
MONITORING FREQUENCY

Pembina River Provincial Park is sampled from May 30th to August 30th

SOURCE INFORMATION

Alberta Health Services (AHS) monitors 46 freshwater beaches across the province. AHS monitors the province’s five zones: Calgary, Central, Edmonton, North, and South. Water samples are collected and processed by summer students hired by AHS each season.

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

Pembina River Provincial Park

Entwistle, Alberta
Managed by North Saskatchewan Riverkeeper
WATER QUALITY
  • No data available
  • 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
13°C
Clear

Pembina River Provincial Park has a pebbly/sandy beach on the Pembina River right in a 62-metre gorge close to Hwy 16. This beach is unique to Central Alberta as it is a rocky/sandy river beach with clear waters and a mountain feel. There are day use and camping amenities nearby and the area above the riverbank is kid-friendly with a playground.

There are opportunities for tubing down this reach of the river when water flow and levels are lower (usually later in the season).

NOTE: This is a wading beach during low flow times and NOT a swimming beach. The Pembina can be a very fast flowing river and there is no "beach" area during high flow times in the spring and early summer.

  • Report Pollution
MONITORING FREQUENCY

Pembina River Provincial Park is sampled from May 30th to August 30th

SOURCE INFORMATION

Alberta Health Services (AHS) monitors 46 freshwater beaches across the province. AHS monitors the province’s five zones: Calgary, Central, Edmonton, North, and South. Water samples are collected and processed by summer students hired by AHS each season.

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



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