Beaver Deceivers installed at Muriel Lake

Over the weekend, volunteers came out to assist in putting in beaver deceivers in various locations around Muriel Lake. The hope is that less beavers will frequent the lake, blocking its water flow. A professional crew assisted in the building and placing of the deceivers.

The deceiver program was possible thanks to government grants, $39,000 over three years. The deceivers do not harm the animals and are placed by a professional crew, on creeks and rivers that flow into the lake. Essentially, there is a pipe placed in the dam that allows water to flow through.

For many years the lake has been depleting in its water levels, under half its original size in 2016. Last summer, the lake no longer had fish, there were no wildlife in the area, and no recreational activities on the water.  Not only was the lake too shallow to enjoy recreational activities in, it also has very high levels of toxic microcystin, known as blue-green algae.

This summer the lake was on the rise, 555.8 meters above sea level; however it is a far way from where it once was. The hope is with the beaver deceivers and continued efforts of discovering where other blockages may be and how to eliminate them, the lake will continue to rise to levels of its glory days.