Cellphone photographers could help track changing lake landscapes if Lacombe County is successful in getting funding for a wetlands preservation project.
In its pitch for funding, the county says it plans to set up fixed-point photography sites at Gull, Sylvan, Buffalo and Lacombe Lakes. They involve a post topped with a guide frame allowing photographers to place their cellphones in exactly the same spots.
The posts will have details on how to send them into the county, where staff will create time-lapse compilations to show how the lakes have changed over time. Interpretive signs will explain the benefits of riparian areas and the dynamic nature of water levels.
The photo initiative is part of a submission the county will make to the province’s Watershed Resiliency and Restoration Program, which supports projects aimed at improving natural watersheds to make them more resilient to droughts and floods.
Restoring, enhancing and conservation wetlands initiatives are encouraged along with promoting stewardship and the collection of data and research to be used in future decision making.
Lacombe County will apply for $123,000 for a Surface Water and Wetland Assessment and Monitoring Program. It would include an assessment of about 183 acres of wetland on three km of Gull Lake’s eastern shoreline as well as a natural asset inventory within the Gull Lake watershed.
As well, the county would join forces with local stewardship societies to host a “bioblitz” to provide information on stewardship, ecological services, citizen science data collection and county reserve management initiatives.
County environmental coordinator Jordan Nakonechny said the grant application was fine-tuned after a similar proposal was not successful last year.
“We dialled it back,” he said.
The wetlands assessment is expected to cost $60,000 to $70,000 and the natural asset inventory around $40,000.
County council unanimously approved a motion directing staff to make the grant application.
“It looks like a great way for citizens to get involved and know what’s going on with our lakes,” said Reeve Barb Shepherd.
In all, Lacombe County oversees nearly 550 acres of waterfront environmental reserves on the shores of Gull, Sylvan and Lacombe Lakes.