INNISFAIL – When the town completed its trails master plan in 2018 it came with a desire from many citizens to see a looping shoreline trail completely around Dodd's Lake.
It was just one of many new amenities talked about in recent years for the lake, a once forgettable, nasty-looking slough in the town’s north end but transformed into today’s revered natural jewel by the Llewellyn family.
The shoreline trail idea was probed further with an expectation it would be a hot topic of discussion in the public engagement phase for the new Dodd’s Lake Area Community Recreation Plan, a process launched July 24 and continuing until Aug. 31 to help outline the lake’s enhancement potential for recreational amenities. To get there the town hired Stantec as project consultant at a budget cost of $55,000.
However, the grand idea of having Dodd’s Lake's entire shoreline trailed has already been deemed a non-starter.
“From the perspective of Stantec and staff at this point the practicality of doing that just doesn’t make sense,” said Meghan Jenkins, the town’s manager of community planning and sustainability. She is also the town’s lead staff member for the new plan.
She noted the many private properties close to the shoreline, making any future trail technically challenging to create, and ending up more like a boardwalk. “There isn’t space. There isn’t support by those property owners either,” she said.
There is a strong possibility that only about half the lake’s shoreline -- the northeast section -- will some day have a trail, one part of new development and not going back onto properties of existing homeowners.
In the meantime up to 100 citizens have so far added their input into the plan’s public engagement process, which included a virtual public information session on Aug. 6. From the public input so far, Stantec and the town are getting a clearer picture from citizens that Dodd’s Lake is jewel not needing much more of a shine.
“The general themes is that most people like it the way it is now, don’t mess with it too much,” said Jenkins. “Wildlife is a big comment we are seeing. There was support for low intensity amenities, like picnic tables, view points, walking trails, and that boardwalk is wonderful but could use an update.”
Jenkins noted the identified amenities needed are the smaller things, like garbage cans, dog waste bags and washrooms.
However, this is all easy stuff for Stantec and the town to figure out for a final design concept. In the meantime, there are tougher issues to deal with, like Dodd’s Lake’s future for motorized boating, fish and angling, and whether a beach is feasible.
There is also the big question of enforcement of rules and regulations for the lake, an issue that has never been properly defined. Jenkins said the town is hoping the plan will help lay out new guidelines, even bylaws to educate and ensure long-term protection of all wildlife, on and surrounding the lake.
“There are no real written rules right now, and that is a challenge as to what we would be doing or telling people,” said Jenkins. “The more people we can get to take part in the survey, and get their thoughts out there we can then make an informed decision.
“What is the vision for the lake, those big questions of the fish, the boats and wildlife,” she said, noting there are strong competing public interests for the lake. “What are the priorities and how do we want to encourage the things the community tells us what they want on the lake.”
Even if the town gets that input there is another big challenge ahead - navigating through the multiple overlapping jurisdictional responsibilities between the town, province and federal government.
Innisfail has the legal authority to have direction, control and management of all bodies of water within its boundaries. The town owns a portion of land abutting the shoreline but the province owns the water, and up to the lake’s natural high-water line.
As for regulating the types of boats on the lake, that responsibility falls to Transport Canada. If Innisfailians want to pursue swimming or fishing the province is bound to be involved with water testing and safe water quality guidelines. If fish stocking is desired then the Alberta government has stocking programs, along with many rules and guidelines. Dodd’s Lake was already turned down in 2015 for the program as it was considered unsuitable.
The town and Stantec are still pushing for more public input until Aug. 31. In September, Stantec will draw up preliminary designs, specifically for the boat launch/dock area and what that could look like, with new picnic tables, an upgraded boardwalk, and even a playground. Jenkins said Stantec will also come out with an overall plan outlining uses and operations for the lake.
The public will once again be asked in October for more input, and then in November and December Stantec will prepare a final plan that will be brought back to council in early January. It will then be up to council to decide Dodd’s Lake’s transformation budget, and when it will all happen.
For more information on the future of Dodd’s Lake go to the website.
