Abandoned ice fishing huts have become an annoying and destructive spring tradition on Sylvan Lake.
Last year, 25 huts were still sitting on the lake, two weeks after ice fishing season was over, said Sylvan Lake Mayor Susan Samson.
Sometimes, good samaritans will pull the huts off to the side of the lake for their owners. But too often the huts are left on the lake until it is no longer safe to get them and they sink or are washed ashore when the ice melts
To try to put a stop to the problem the Town of Sylvan Lake has joined forces with other municipalities around the lake, the province and RCMP to get the message out that when the season’s over the huts have got to go.
Brochures have been printed and will be put in locations where fish licences are sold and provincial and municipal offices. A free voluntary registration program is also being promoted.
Ice hut owners can register their shacks at the RCMP station. They will be assigned a one-time number that is to be displayed on the hut. When it’s time to haul it ashore, the owner can be phoned with a reminder.
Samson said abandoned huts create environmental and safety hazards. Often old couches or gas tanks and other makeshift comforts sink to the bottom in the spring, polluting the lake and creating potential hazards for boaters.
Leaving that kind of mess is also a violation of provincial environmental laws, she said.
Ice hut owners are supposed to remove them by April 1 when the season closes. Owners will be given a few days respite but after April 10 the huts will be pulled off and hauled to the dump.
“Our problem is if we don’t react fairly quickly then it becomes unsafe to go out there with trucks to get them off. It’s a real small window of opportunity.”
Samson and a representative from one of the summer villages plan to visit the ice huts in February to let owners know about the registration program and remind them of their responsibilities.
“It’s education piece that we’re trying to work on, but we’re also going to back it up with some action in April.”
pcowley@www.reddeeradvocate.com