Recreation Lake Safety Management Plan - Draft Lake Use Bylaw

In 2018-2019 the City embarked on the development of a Recreation Lake Safety Management Plan to detail how the City can help to improve safety on Chestermere Lake for all users.

In 2019 the Recreation Lake Safety Management Plan was completed and approved by Council. Based on the recommendations made in the Plan, pilot safety initiatives were successfully implemented during the 2019 spring/summer season. The initiatives included an electronic boat launch permit system, a lake safety education program and a safety and speed limit buoys system.

To find out more about these initiatives please visit: www.chestermere.ca/boats

Draft Lake Use Bylaw Update, Jan. 29, 2021

Lakefront Stakeholders and the general public were consulted through a 4-week online engagement process to review and provide feedback on the draft Lake Use Bylaw. Administration found that public feedback on the draft bylaw was mixed, with areas of concern regarding the proposal of increased boating permit requirements, possible fees and unhappiness regarding the increased Municipal involvement in regulating recreation activity on and around the Lake. Lakefront commercial and not-for-profit stakeholders mirrored the same sentiments as the general public.

Additional consultation with Transport Canada revealed areas of the bylaw that were in contravention with Federal laws and upon further analysis of the draft, suggested that sections of the bylaw be reviewed to ensure that the goal of safety improvement was being met while ensuring public access wasn’t being compromised.

Vessel Operator Restriction Regulations (VORRs)

Transport Canada suggested that some safety concerns surrounding events and boating near WID infrastructure could be better managed with the application of a VORR. It is Administration’s intention to take this route and apply for VORRs for event management and to ensure boaters are required to stay a safe distance away from the weirs. This process can take up to two years due to the public consultation and documentation requirements the Federal government necessitates.

Revised Lake Use Bylaw

Based on all the data and feedback collected, Administration has adjusted the bylaw to include essential clauses that will support a safer experience for users on the water, at public beaches and the winter lake ice surface in 2021. Administration believes that more public engagement needs to be completed, to ensure in future that the bylaw captures the outstanding safety needs that require more in-depth discussion and collaboration with the public and lakefront stakeholders.

Administration now plans to present an updated draft of Lake Use Bylaw 004-20 for discussion with Council on Feb. 9, 2021, and if approved, bring it forward for first reading on Feb. 16, 2021. Additional public engagement opportunities will be planned for future years to collect further data to inform future amendments to the bylaw to better encapsulate safety needs on the lake.

To review the updated bylaw visit the forum tabs on this page. There you can read the redline version and final draft bylaw and provide comments, questions and general feedback.

The forums will be open until Feb. 9th.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Do you have more questions about this project?

Please contact Kate Richards, Community Recreation Coordinator at krichards@chestermere.ca or (403) 207-2807