1976 to present​

​​

A Project That Has Protected Gull Lake for Nearly 50 Years:

Since 1976, controlled pumping from the Blindman River has played a critical role in stabilizing Gull Lake during periods of severe decline. In 2018, pumping was voluntarily suspended to prevent the potential transfer of invasive Prussian carp and their eggs into the lake.

​

What followed was not a pause. ​It was a transformation.

​

Over the decades, dedicated volunteers and past board members invested thousands of hours advancing research, regulatory coordination, and technical planning to protect Gull Lake’s future.

 

Their persistence laid the groundwork for the engineered solution now moving forward.

​

From Concept to Engineered Infrastructure:

Beginning in 2022, GLWS initiated a detailed investigation into pressurized filtration systems capable of preventing carp egg transfer while maintaining pumping capacity.

 

Two filtration technologies were pilot-tested under real pumping pressures. Testing demonstrated:

• Successful operation at 1,000 USGPM

• Filtration down to 200 microns

• Carp eggs averaging approximately 1,000 microns

• Independent oversight from provincial departments, municipalities, and engineering consultants

 

Engineering review by Stantec concluded that:

     “A properly designed pressurized filtration system with failure mitigation will be

100% successful in preventing carp eggs from entering Gull Lake.”

 

That foundation gave the project confidence. But it did not stop there.

​​

Engineering Enhancements:

When detailed design advanced under MPE Engineering Ltd., the project evolved significantly beyond the original conceptual scope.

 

The finalized design now includes:

• A two-stage filtration system for layered protection

• Expanded structural works

• Significant concrete infrastructure upgrades

• An elegant expansion to the existing pumphouse

• Modernized operational controls

 

The result is a more robust, durable, and future-ready facility than originally envisioned.

 

This is not a retrofit. It is a generational infrastructure upgrade.

​

Provincial Procurement Process:

Due to the scale of the engineered design, the project advanced through Alberta’s formal lump-sum public procurement process.

 

The competitive bidding period concluded in early February 2025.

 

The project has been indicated for award to the lowest qualified bidder, with formal confirmation pending provincial posting.

 

This formal process ensures:

• Transparency

• Competitive pricing

• Public accountability

• Long-term infrastructure reliability

 

While this process extended the original timeline, it strengthened the legitimacy and durability of the final outcome.

​

Government Support:

In spring 2025, GLWS Board members met with:

• Danielle Smith

• Rebecca Schulz

• RJ Sigurdson

 

Their engagement and support signaled strong provincial alignment on the importance of stabilizing Gull Lake.

 

The project has since progressed within formal government infrastructure channels.

​

Current Lake Conditions:

Gull Lake water levels are now the lowest recorded in modern times (since 1924).

 

As of 2025, the lake sits at approximately 898.0 metres — nearly 1.2 metres below the established target level of 899.16 metres.

 

This represents the most significant recorded departure from target levels in the past century.

 

The urgency for stabilization is no longer based on historical comparison — it is based on current measured conditions.

 

A level trend diagram illustrates the sustained downward trajectory and reinforces the need for proactive, science-driven intervention.

 

This is not alarmism.

 

It is measurement.

​​

Construction Timeline:

With detailed engineering complete and the provincial procurement process advanced, construction is anticipated to proceed through 2026.

 

Pumping will resume following:

 

Construction completion
System commissioning and operational readiness

 

The project has received Alberta Environment approval, and once construction and commissioning are complete, pumping can resume under the existing approved framework.

 

The timeline reflects the scale of the filtration addition and the formal processes required for public infrastructure delivery.

 

Momentum is real.

 

Execution is underway.

​​

Why This Matters:

This project represents:

• Five decades of water management history

• Three years of filtration research

• Independent engineering validation

• Multi-department provincial oversight

• Competitive public procurement

• A fully modernized stabilization facility

 

It is the most comprehensive stabilization investment in Gull Lake since pumping began in 1976.

 

It protects:

• Aquatic ecosystems

• Shoreline integrity

• Property values

• Recreational use

• The long-term sustainability of the watershed

​

The Next Chapter:

The Blindman River project is no longer conceptual.

 

It is engineered.
It is funded.
It is advancing through construction.

 

And when pumping resumes, it will do so with greater protection, stronger oversight, and deeper resilience than ever before.

 

Gull Lake has faced historic lows before.

 

Each time, action made the difference.

 

This time will be no different.

​

How You Can Help:

Gull Lake is on the path to renewal — and you can be part of its comeback story:

• Spread Awareness: Share updates and news with friends, neighbors, and the broader community.

  • Ask friends and family to bookmark www.gulllakewatershed.org and to join the Gull Lake Waterhed Facebook page​

• Stay Connected: Join GLWS and receive monthly newsletters with project updates and a message from the President.

• Support the Next Phase: Consider a donation to help accelerate the remaining improvements.

​

Stand with us. Share the story. Become a member. Support the next chapter. Together, we can restore Gull Lake and keep it thriving for generations to come.