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Ice fishing hut owners reminded to “Take it off” before April 1

Mar 21, 2018 | 6:19 AM

Lacombe County and the Sylvan Lake Management Committee (SLMC), are reminding people to remove their ice fishing huts before April 1.

They are urging ice hut owners to do the right thing and remove the ice fishing huts before the spring thaw arrives.

While ice huts do not need to be legally removed from local lakes – including Sylvan Lake, Gull Lake and Buffalo Lake – until March 31, it’s important to get them off before the ice surface deteriorates.

“On behalf of the committee, I urge owners to think of safety and the health of the environment when they consider their decision,” said Roger Dufresne, SLMC Chair. “We all want our lakes to remain healthy, so we can enjoy them – safely – all year round.”

“Our lakes contain sensitive ecosystems, and by removing your ice hut from the ice before the lake begins to thaw will protect the animal and plant life, as well as the water quality,” said Jennifer Berry, Environmental Coordinator for Lacombe County. “We all want our lakes to remain healthy, so we can enjoy them safely all year round, and not have people swimming or boating in contaminated water.”

Most anglers on area lakes ensure their ice fishing huts are removed before the spring thaw, but unfortunately, some huts have sank in past years.

The effects associated with abandoned huts left to settle to the bottom of the lake are detrimental to lake health and the safety of those that enjoy the lake, particularly in the summer.

Debris can include wood, gasoline, furniture and plastic, which ends up settling to the bottom of the lake or floating to the surface, and are hazardous to the many ecosystems living in and around the lake.

Take It Off is managed by The Sylvan Lake Management Committee, with the support of the five Summer Villages of Sylvan Lake, Sylvan Lake RCMP, Alberta Environment & Sustainable Resource Development, Sylvan Lake Fish & Game Association, Lacombe County and Red Deer County and the Town of Sylvan Lake.

People can register their huts year-round at http://www.sylvanlake.ca/take-it-off.

Take It Off for Gull Lake and Buffalo Lake is managed by Lacombe County, in partnership with Camrose County, Ponoka County, Stettler County, Summer Village of Gull Lake, Summer Village of Parkland Beach, Summer Village of Rochon Sands, and Summer Village of White Sands.

People can register their huts on at www.lacombecounty.com/take-it-off

(Gary McKinnon)