By Sheldon Spackman

Sylvan Lake reveals Climate Resilience Express Action Plan

May 15, 2018 | 3:30 PM

The Town of Sylvan Lake aims to enhance its sustainability and be prepared for adverse weather through its new Climate Resilience Express Action Plan.

Work on the plan began in November when the All One Sky Foundation hosted a workshop with stakeholders from the Town, province, industry and local landowners. The workshop focused on assessing and identifying potential climate-related risks and opportunities and formulating actions to manage those risks and opportunities identified as priorities.

“Climate change is apparent in our region, certainly with us being located on the lake and having a real attachment to that lake ecosystem,” explains Joanne Gaudet, Town of Sylvan Lake Communications Officer. “Climate change is important to us, we’ve made that quite apparent in our Strategic Plan over the last few years and our project priorities. So when we took part in this workshop we identified some risks and priorities that require immediate action and a plan for tackling those.”

Historic climate data was also reviewed at the workshop, with the mean annual temperature in the area found to have increased 1.5 degrees Celsius from 1917-2016, a rate described as roughly 50 per cent faster than the observed global rate of warming over the same period. According to the data, the largest seasonal increase in temperature in Sylvan Lake occurred during the winter months from December to February.

Weather-related events that have impacted Sylvan Lake over the years include hail storms, flooding, fluctuating lake levels and road damage from intense precipitation.

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Temperatures for the town are expected to rise 2.9 – 3.4 degrees by the 2050s, while mean annual precipitation is projected to increase six per cent. Although mean annual precipitation is expected to increase, the region is projected to become drier overall because of warmer temperatures increasing the rate of evaporation.

Gaudet says the Climate Resilience Express Action Plan, approved in March, is a guide and tool kit to help maintain and support other communities also working through the development of a similar plan.

“It does help us identify means of addressing these concerns and proceeding with steps to minimize the risk of these happening,” she explains. “So whenever we’re working on any sort of project or work plan or associated items, we take this into consideration. We take this into account and implement it throughout those more tangible work plans.”

Gaudet highlights priorities such as windstorms, shoreline erosion and wildlife habitat, increased water temperatures and reduced water availability, as well as overland flooding. It is also designed to help the Town reduce the impact on the environment when municipal projects are being considered and developed.