Moose Lake Provincial Park Beach

Bonnyville, Alberta

Managed by North Saskatchewan Riverkeeper

Blue-green algae advisory for Moose Lake. Click for more information.

Moose Lake Beach is typical of many of the public beaches on Moose Lake. It is sandy and wide with a shallow slope to the water, which is great for families. The sand is fine and white and there is a playground nearby. It is about a 200-metre walk downhill from the parking area to the beach.

The shallower, warm waters of Moose Lake are susceptible to a lot of algal growth including blue-green algae blooms in late summer. Heavy recreational development along the lake and removal of riparian buffers have been identified as a major contributor. The Moose Lake stewardship group has been very active in commissioning studies on watershed reports and solutions.

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COVID-19

Keep your distance from other people.

Practicing social distancing is essential right now. Follow the advice of the health experts. If your community has asked that you remain indoors and away from others, do so. Heading to the beach should only be considered an option if social distancing practices can be followed. Spending a day in any crowded place is the worst thing we can do for our most vulnerable right now and will counter the efforts to curb the virus’ spread.

For more information, please visit the World Health Organization public resource on COVID-19.

Water Quality

Special health or safety status in effect
Special Status
This means the affiliate organization managing a beach has set the beach status based on special local knowledge or information. Check the beach description and the Sources section for details.

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Current Weather

-14°C

A mix of sun and clouds

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 ContaminationUnder 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 mLANDA geometric mean < /= 200 CFU/100 mL over a 30-day periodWhere 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. CyanobacteriaRecreational 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 StatusA 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