What We Do

Caring for the lake together

Coordinating community action to preserve and protect the health of Pigeon Lake and its watershed.

The Pigeon Lake Watershed Association (PLWA) is a leader in watershed management planning in Alberta. Together with local partners, PLWA released the science-based Pigeon Lake Watershed Management Plan in 2018. The Plan has eight objectives and 49 actionable recommendations. Municipalities, senior government, the PLWA and the Pigeon Lake Watershed Management Plan Steering Committee have assigned roles in implementation of the Plan.

Pigeon Lake, shoreline, watershed lands, and working together are the priorities with a focus on:

Policy: statutory plans, bylaws, agreements,
Technical: Science and monitoring, and
Community action: advocacy, education, and voluntary action.

Our Work

PLWA plays a lead role in facilitating community action, advocacy and education. PLWA supports the Pigeon Lake Watershed Management Plan Steering Committee, Alliance of Pigeon Lake Municipalities (APLM), and other levels of government on community, research, and policy initiatives. To this end, PLWA:

Provides leadership and resources (including sourcing funds) to support specific Plan components
Collaborates with a network of experts, healthy-lake champions, working groups, and volunteers
Coordinates stewardship programs in the community

Engagement of stakeholders in environmental best practices such that visitors and residents, business, industry and municipal agreements located within the Watershed (or indirectly affecting the watershed) are committed and conforming to best practices, activities in planning, developing, maintaining and utilizing Pigeon Lake and its environment.

PLWA identifies, promotes and advocates land development and land use practices that are conducive to the accepted levels for environmental sustainability within the watershed.

PLWA provides regular updates to the APLM and reports directly to the PLWA Board of Directors.

PLWA Programs are designed to:

Promote Stewardship of the Lake, Shoreline, & Watershed

Welcome to the Lake: Stewardship opportunities for realtors and new property owners

Reduce Nutrients Loading

Alberta Clean Runoff Guide
Naturalization - A Guide for Lake-friendly Landscaping
Municipal and Residential Demonstration Gardens
Healthy Lake Lawn Tips
Municipal Drainage Guide

Rejuvenate the shoreline

Great Canadian Shoreline Clean Up
Annual Pigeon Lake Leaders Session
PLWA Self-Guided Property Assessment Tool
Living by Water Shoreline Naturalization Projects with Nature Alberta
Residential Demonstration Site - Johnsonia

Prevent the Spread of Invasive Species

Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Strategy
LakeWatch Citizen Science Mussel Monitoring
Invasive Species PSA
Noxious Weed - Community Awareness and Prevention Campaign
Clean Drain Dry Boat Launch Awareness Campaign

Expand our Knowledge

Lake Monitoring Research Partnership
10 years of LakeWatch Water Quality Data
LakeWatch Citizen Science Mussel Monitoring
Pigeon Lake Shoreline Assessment with Watersheds Canada and Canadian Wildlife Federation

Explore Lake Science

Children and Youth Education in conjunction
with other community programs
Love the Lake Family Fun Day (since 2008)

Work with all Levels of Government

Model Land Use Bylaw
Lawn Fertilizer Ban
Advocating for Watercraft Inspection Stations
Residential Construction Checklist, Watershed Management Provisions
Watershed Regulations, Land Use Bylaws

Programs & Reports