The Echo Dale boat lake recently underwent upgrades to install a new aeration system to help improve conditions for aquatic life and hope to restock the lake with rainbow trout next year.-- NEWS FILE PHOTO
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Recently city crews have installed a new aeration system in the Echo Dale boat lake to help improve oxygen levels and control temperatures for wildlife living in the lake.
Boaters and paddlers may notice six locations around the boat lake that are producing bubbles, and will slowly help improve the water quality in the lade for aquatic life.
Last year the city was unable to stock the lake with fish due to issues with the lake including its temperature increasing. This occurred after a heavy wind storm destroyed trees in the park a couple years ago.
“We saw some high temperatures and when the temperatures went up, it created less fish,” said Orlando Whetter, parks manager, during a recent committee meeting.
Aeration systems add oxygen to bodies of water by typically using mechanical systems that include diffusers or bubblers, or even fountains.
The system will not interfere with boaters or paddlers who are able to safely navigate over the bubble diffusers. The city hopes the new system will have an impact this year and plans to restock the lake with fish next year once oxygen levels improve.
“So hopefully going into 2026 we’ll be ready for a very healthy lake with healthy fish out at Echo Dale,” said Whetter.
The new aeration system took city crews two days to instal and began functioning in the middle of July. The boat lake was closed between July 15 and 16 for crews to install the aeration system.
The Alberta Conservation Association typically stocks Echo Dale boat lake with approximately 1,800 rainbow trout annually and the fish usually grow to an average of 20 cm in length, however this year the lake was not stocked due to oxygen level concerns.
