Lakeland Provincial Park and Recreation Area
Reports from the provincial government described the recreational infrastructure as "minimal" and suggested improving the "limited road access.The excellent beaches on the larger lakes [Pinehurst, Seibert, Touchwood, and Spencer] provide focal points for intensive use camping, boating, swimming and fishing.The upland areas are prime wildlife habitat and provide abundant opportunities for dispersed recreation such as viewing, photography, hiking, nature study and hunting.[3]In 1975 a government task force was struck to provide Premier Peter Lougheed with management options pertaining to resource conflicts in the area.The Minister of Lands and Forests, Allan Warrack felt a formal recommendation to establish the park could be submitted for government consideration in 1976.Mayor Tom Maccagno and MLA for Athabasca-Lac La Biche Mike Cardinal jointly made the announcement at a local fish fry, which was being held to celebrate the creation of Lakeland.The Blackett name is likely taken from a group of early settlers, who may have been fleeing legal trouble stemming from the Yukon Gold Rush.The second argues that the northern pike in the lake rarely exceeded three to four pounds, and their long sinuous bodies resembled those of snakes.The bottom of Ironwood lake also varies significantly, with some sections covered in muddy silt, and others in clean sand or glacial debris.One of the largest impediments to the creation of Lakeland Provincial Park and Recreation stemmed from concerns of nearby Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake.During public consultations on the park, base officials expressed concern that complaints over the noise from low-flying jets could jeopardize the operations of CFB Cold Lake.Major Jim Christie, then the Deputy Base Operations Officer, stated "We would prefer to see it called something other than a park so there is no connotation of peace and quiet that would be disrupted by aircraft activity."[26] In response, the provincial government provided base officials the opportunity to influence where facilities and trails were situated in the park.These included:[27] In the mid-1990s, Lakeland Provincial Park was the site of a unique protest by float plane pilots in Alberta.Pilot Stan Elchuk, of Edmonton, attempted to organize a protest landing of float planes on Jackson and Kinnaird Lakes in June 1996 to bring attention to perceived discriminatory provincial regulations.The pilot felt the province was discriminating against float plane operators because they required special permission to land in the park, while other motorized users, in this case powerboats, were free of regulations.
IUCN categoryLac La Biche CountyAlbertaLac La BicheEdmontonAlberta Tourism, Parks and RecreationLac La Biche, AlbertaPinehurst LakeCold Lakeprovincial governmentDeputy MinisterSand RiverPeter LougheedAllan WarrackGovernment of Albertajob growthtourist revenueAthabasca-Lac La BicheMike Cardinalfish fryFirst NationMétisprison inmatescriminal justice systemjudgesjustices of the peacedrainage basinsriver systemsAthabascaBeaverChurchillAthabasca Riverdrainage basinArctic OceanBeaver RiverHudson BaysettlersYukon Gold Rushgroundwaterwhite sprucecattailswillowsblack spruceaspen poplarvegetationsurnameNorth Dakotapressure ridgesandbarcommercially fishedCalgarysloughmarshyquarter sectionnorthern piketrappersgarter snakesleechesspawninglake waterwalleyeburbotlake whitefishboat launchcampgroundMaximumSurface AreaShoreline LengthDrainage AreaTotal dissolved solidsSecchi disk transparencySurface pHConductivityCanadian Forces Base Cold Lakepublic consultationsadvertisingnoise complaintsDepartment of National Defencesonic boomsCold Lake Air Weapons Rangetrespassfloat planeprovincediscriminatingpowerboatsborealNorthern pike - Esox luciusgame fishyellow perchfishingWalleye - Stizostedion vitreumBoreal regioncommercial fishingrecreational anglersLongnose suckerWhite suckerSpottail shinerIowa darterBrook sticklebackFathead minnowLake chubCommon loonwater-based recreational activitiesbackcountryhikerscanoeistslead weightsrecreational fishingPied-billed grebemarshesRed-necked grebeshorelinebulrushespower boatsEared grebeWestern grebeAmerican white pelicanDouble-crested cormorantendangered speciesGreat blue heronwetlandscolonyTundra swancanoeinghikingbirdwatching