Lacombe County wants to know what the power bill will be if it is expected to share the pumping cost for a long-running program to stabilize Gull Lake water levels.
Since the 1970s, the Alberta government has paid to pump water out of the Blindman River into the lake, which is not fed by a river and can see water levels drop dramatically during dry periods.
But the province sent word last fall that the program and its $114,000 annual cost was part of a government review of water projects. The government wants to see municipalities around the lake share some of the cost.
Lacombe County commissioner Terry Hager said Environment Minister Rob Renner recently sent a letter to municipalities saying the department was willing to look after the management, operation and any capital costs, such as equipment. Municipalities would be responsible for pump power costs.
Hager said the county wants to know exactly how much it could be on the hook for before it agrees to anything. More information has been requested from the province.
County officials have been cool to the province’s proposal to pass on costs.
“From our perspective, is it a positive move? Probably not, because we haven’t had to pay for it in the past,” said Hager.
“When we look at Gull Lake, we look at it and say well, who is really benefitting from it? Most of the users of Gull Lake are not really residents of Lacombe County.”
However, Hager acknowledged that it does not look like the government is willing to budge from its position that municipal cost-sharing is required.
pcowley@www.reddeeradvocate.com