INTRODUCTION

The Parlby Creek-Buffalo Lake Water Management Project is a five phase multiple use water management project in Central Alberta, designed and constructed for Water Resources Management Services, a division of Alberta Environment (the proponent). The project was designed to provide agricultural flood control, fish and wildlife habitat enhancement, municipal water supplies and the stabilization of water levels in Buffalo Lake. Construction began in 1985. Phase I, completed in 1987, consists on a 3.8 kilometer (km) channel form Buffalo Lake to Highway 21; Phase II, also completed in 1987, consists of a 1.9 km channel from Highway 21 to Spotted Lake; Phase III was completed in 1988 and consists of a 4.1 km channel through Spotted Lake;  to Highway 50 near Mirror. Phase IV entails construction of a channel from Highway 50 to Alix, construction of a backflood structure and dyke near Mirror, and construction of a wildlife conservation wetland. An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was carried out for the fifth and final phase of the project. The EIA was announced in 1989 and was conducted by Environmental Management Associates of Calgary in 1990. The EIA was the subject of an interdepartmental review and was accepted.

The results of the EIA were released in March, 1991 by the Minister of Environment, the Honorable Ralph Klein. At the same time, Mr. Klein announced the appointment of the Parlby Creek-Buffalo Lake Water Management Project Review Board.

The Review Board was directed to hold public hearings on the project; to review the environmental impact of the project and proposed mitigative measures; to review the degree to which local citizens' concerns were addressed by the proponent; and to provide advice on the environmental acceptability of the project, including the recommendation of appropriate terms and conditions for inclusion in required permits and licenses.

THE FORMATION OF THE BUFFALO LAKE MANAGEMENT TEAM

PROVINCE OF ALBERTA

DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT

MINISTERIAL ORDER NO. 04/91

THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT ACT

WHEREAS the Minister of the Environment (the "Minister") may establish a board to act in an advisory capacity in connection with any of the policies, programs, services, or other matters under his administration.

AND WHEREAS the Minister has established a policy and program to identify and assess the environmental impacts of proposed developments in Alberta through the Environmental Impact Assessment Guidelines for the preparation of environmental impact assessment reports.

AND WHEREAS the Minister, pursuant to Section 8 of the Land Surface Conservation and Reclamation Act, has the authority to require the preparation of an environmental impact assessment report.

AND WHEREAS it has been proposed that a multi-purpose water management project for the purposes of agriculture, flood control, wildlife habitat enhancement, municipal water supply and stabilization of water levels in Buffalo Lake be implemented by the pumping of water from the Red Deer River (the "project").

AND WHEREAS the Minister has required on November 7, 1989 pursuant to Section 8 of the Land Surface Conservation and Reclamation Act, the preparation and submission of an environmental impact assessment report.

AND WHEREAS it is required that public consultation be undertaken in the preparation of an environmental impact assessment so that the public is able to identify potential environmental impacts and concerns.

AND WHEREAS Environmental Management Associates has prepared and submitted an environmental impact assessment report to the Minister entitled "Parlby Creek-Buffalo Lake Development Project Environmental Impact Assessment" together with associated supplemental information.

AND WHEREAS it is necessary and desirable to conduct public hearings regarding the environmental impact assessment report of the project.

THEREFORE I, RALPH P. KLEIN, Minister of the Environment, pursuant to Section 6 of the Department of the Environment Act hereby establish a board to be known as "The Parlby Creek-Buffalo Lake Water Management Project Review Board" to advise and make recommendations on the environmental impact of the project upon the following terms and conditions:

A. Membership

1. The Review Board shall consist of the members set out on the attached Schedule "A"

2. The members of the Review Board shall be paid remuneration and reasonable traveling and living expenses as specified in Schedule 1, Part A of the Committee Remuneration Order being Order in Council 1175/80.

3. The term of the Review Board shall be until a final report as described in section "D" is accepted by the Minister.

B.  The Terms of Reference of the Review Board shall be to hold public hearings:

1. To review the environmental impact of the project and the proposed mitigative measures, including an examination of the following:

1. the expected impacts on the quantity and quality of the water supply for the villages of Alix and Mirror;

2. the expected impacts on the waterfowl, shore birds, and colonial nesting birds of Buffalo Lake;

3. the expected impacts on the Northern pike fisheries of Buffalo Lake and the Parlby Creek conveyance system;

4. the expected impacts on the water quality of Buffalo Lake and the Red Deer River;

5. the expected impacts on Alberta's requirement to meet its water quality and water quanity obligations under the Apportionment Agreement and the South Saskatchewan River Basin Plan, and

6. the expected impacts on the population, economy, resource/land use, and the services/infrastructure surrounding Buffalo Lake.

2. To review the degree to which the local citizens' concerns have been addressed by the proponent.

3. To provide advice regarding the environmental acceptability of the project and terms and conditions as appropriate for inclusion in the necessary permits and licences.

C. Procedures

1. Subject to the approval of the Minister and the procedures hereinafter described, the Board shall make rules or procedures governing the calling of meetings and hearings, intervenor funding, the procedure to be used at the conduct of the meetings and hearings, reporting, and any other matters as required.

2. The Review Board shall hold public hearings in the Village of Alix.

3. The Review Board will establish and announce the date of public hearings in a reasonable and timely manner.

4. The Review Board will receive written and oral submissions from the public upon the EIA and any matter falling within the Terms of Reference of the Board.
    

D. Reporting

1. The Review Board shall complete its review on a timely basis consistent with the Terms of Reference.

2. The Review Board shall provide a report to the office of the Minister of the Environment.

3. The Minister of the Environment will make the report public in a timely fashion.

DATED at the City of Edmonton, in the Province of Alberta, this 27 day of March, 1991

signed
Ralph P. Klein
Minister of the Environment

The Objectives of the B.L.M.T. are the Following.

 RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. Phase V of the Parlby Creek - Buffalo Lake Water Management Project should proceed.

2. A Buffalo Lake Management Team should be established. The team should consist of representatives of the proponent and major stakeholders who can work in partnership to reflect the multiple use nature of the project. The Management Team should have the benefit of input from special advisory groups for selected critical areas in the region

3. The Management Team should develop a detailed project management plan to address the following issues:

1. implementation of the construction phase of the project

2. development of an operational plan to reflect the multiple use nature of the project

3. the type and timing of mitigation measures

4. ongoing monitoring

5. planning to respond to unpredicted events

6. establishment of a land use, surface water shoreline plan to optimize the natural resource use, reduce potential conflicts, and ensure adequate public access.

4. The project must comply with all relevant provincial acts and regulations.