Welcome to Mewatha Beach

Welcome to our corner of the world. Our community is a nice mixture of retired people, active working men and women, and young families. The community is also a blend of new neighbors, and those who are here with a history of family. We are all proud to be residents of Sunset Beach. Most of us love the simplicity of village life, and enjoy the peace and harmony with nature that the village offers us.

We hope this Information will help you find your way around the Summer Village of Mewatha Beach, provide you with important contacts, and provide resources to answer questions to enhance community life in our village, Skeleton Lake, the Town of Boyle and the County of Athabasca.

We love it here and hope you will be as happy here as we have been.

Values

Since we are a minimally managed community we believe in two key values that our Summer Village survives on:

  1. Respect your neighbors right to enjoy; and
  2. Environmental

 

  1. Respect your neighbors right to enjoy. The "right to enjoy" works both ways; your neighbors' right to enjoy as well as your right to enjoy. The goal is to balance both. Each of us has the right to enjoy privacy, freedom, quiet, fishing, watersports, fires, and other privileges of lakeside ownership. Please try to be considerate of your neighbors needs, and if there is a problem, please try to settle it between the two of you.

 

  1. Environmental Stewardship Each member of the community shares the responsibility of actions that impact the quality of the environment. This includes but is not limited to the protection and restoration of the fish and wildlife, and the land, lake and lakeshore we enjoy and share. Please, consult before you act. Your actions could take years to restore.

 

Natural Environment & Stewardship

Aquatic Vegetation Removal and Shoreline Modifications

Some waterfront properties have an environmental reserve that parallels the shoreline. This strip of shoreline is owned by the Province of Alberta. Lakeshore property owners should know that it is unlawful to modify environmental reserve lands without permission from the municipal authority, and that it is equally unlawful to alter the shore or lake bed below the bank without permission from provincial public lands and water management agencies.

Aquatic plants are an important feature of natural aquatic ecosystems. They provide habitat for fish to spawn, feed and hide from predators and are essential to healthy fish populations. Aquatic plants also help maintain water quality by stabilizing sediments and using nutrients that, in their absence, become available for nutrient uptake by less desirable organisms such as blue green algae, and can lead to algae “blooms” which are a common concern to recreational lake users.

Under the Water Act (Alberta), an approval is required for all aquatic vegetation removal or other activities resulting in the alteration of the waterbody.

  • In addition to provincial legislation requirements, approval under the federal Fisheries Act may be required for aquatic vegetation removal.
  • Government agencies are increasingly enforcing existing regulations to protect aquatic vegetation such as reed beds and other natural features of waterbodies.
  • As more and more people buy lakefront property, and more of these fragile lake ecosystems are damaged, there is a real need to look at why regulations protecting aquatic vegetation exist, and to enforce these
  • Further, public viewpoints are that it is socially unacceptable to damage the aquatic environment.
  • Under the Public Lands Act (Alberta), it is prohibited to disturb the bed and shore of a water body without prior The Public Lands Act states that the beds and shores of all naturally occurring lakes, rivers, and streams, belong to the Government of Canada or (usually) to the Province, unless your land title (rarely) specifically states that your property does include the bed and shore.
  • Anyone planning work that might affect the bed or shore of a lake, or the environmental reserve immediately above the bank should first inquire as to how Alberta’s public lands laws and the municipality’s environmental reserve bylaws could affect their plans.

Significant penalties and restoration costs may result where cottage owners have carried out unauthorized work on the bed, shore or the environmental reserve of lakes in Alberta, or where aquatic vegetation has been removed from Alberta lakes without the necessary approval. Be diligent in your observance of these laws.

Cottage owners may feel that because a neighbor did it, they can do it too. Not so! Keep in mind that public lands are public. Work on the bank, bed or shore of a lake, or aquatic vegetation removal may require permits before the project begins. Make sure you inquire first.

To obtain more information, contact:

Alberta Environment                                                                  

Blue Green Algae (Cyanobacterial) Blooms

Alberta’s nutrient rich lakes, ponds and reservoirs can support blooms of blue-green algae, scientifically known as cyanobacteria, some of which can produce toxins hazardous to people, pets, livestock and wildlife. Some highly concentrated blooms can turn water green, blue-green, yellowish-brown, red or even purple. Blooms are most common on Alberta lakes from early July to mid-September.

If you suspect bloom conditions in a lake or pond, what action should you take?

  • Do not drink from any bloom-infested
  • Do not wade or swim in waters that have concentrated blue-green
  • Do not let children swim in or drink the
  • Do not allow pets or domestic animals drink bloom-infested
  • Provide an alternative source of water for pets and domestic

For information and a list of current advisories check Alberta Health

What if you suspect a health problem?

Contact your physician immediately if you experience fever, headache, dizziness, stomach cramps, vomiting or sore throat that you suspect may come from contact with an algal bloom.

If your pet or domestic animals show any of these symptoms, contact a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Permits

All developments require a development permit issued by the Summer Village. Development, as defined by the Land Use Bylaw, includes such activities as: excavation; construction, replacement, enlargement or structural alteration of a building, the change of use of land or a building; placement of refuse or waste material, and erections of signs.

Building, Plumbing, Electrical, and Sewage Permits are issued by the Inspections Group.

Please visit the Development Page of our website for more information.

For more information or questions regarding permits, contact Kim Bancroft.

 

Administrator

Contact information for the CAO can be found on the Contact Us page.

It is your responsibility to make sure that administration has your current mailing address.  Please make sure we also have your email address and phone number on file.  This will allow us to contact you faster in an emergency.

Other Village Information

Fire Bans

This is a Fire Smart community. The Summer Village follows the County guidelines for fire bans, and when in effect, the fire sign in the summer village is updated.  You can also check the current fire ban status by visiting Alberta Fire Bans. You can also sign up on the website to receive notifications by text or email when your municipality status is changed.

We urge Village residents to refrain from having open fires when a fire ban is in effect as your actions can have serious consequences to the rest of the community as well as being issued significant penalties from the RCMP.

Plowing of Snow in Winter

The Village contracts snow removal of the laneways. The contractors will make every effort to not block your driveway if flagged with red flags posted above the snow line. Residents are responsible for making and posting their own flags. If you have difficulties, please call the Administrative Officer.

Athabasca County plows the Mewatha Drive.

Distance to Firehall and Where it is Located

The closest firehall is located in the Town of Boyle.

Landfill

Website: www.athabascaregionalwaste.com

Contact:780-675-1117

Summer Village Notice Board

The Summer Village notice board is located at the East Entrance. There is space provided for residents to post public notices (e.g. sale items, garage sales, events and services). The board is checked periodically by council members or the administrator to ensure materials are time sensitive and relevant.  Please do not remove other residents postings unless they have expired.

Grey water Disposal

Grey water, including shower, dishwashing and water from sinks, needs to be captured and disposed of appropriately. It MAY NOT be disposed of into the lake.

Library

The Summer Village is a member of the Northern Lights Library System and residents are entitled to a library card at the Athabasca Library. The Athabasca Public Library is located at 4716 - 48 Street, Athabasca. Phone (780) 675-2735

Emergency Contact & Community Resources

Emergency Contacts:

Fire and Ambulance - 911

Forest Fire – Toll Free: 310-FIRE (3473)

Report a Poacher – 1-800-642-3800

Alberta Fish & Wildlife – Athabasca Office 780-675-2419

 

Athabasca Community Resources:

Hospital - Athabasca Healthcare Center: 780-675-6000; 3100 48 Avenue, Athabasca

Athabasca University: 1-800-788-9041; 1 University Drive, Athabasca

Athabasca Regional Multiplex 780-675-2967; 2 University Drive, Athabasca

Waste Management, Recycling & Bottle Depot Centre - 780 675-2900; 13 56 Avenue