Responsible Recreation

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Responsible recreation means making the environment a priority when planning outdoor activities.

Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Operation

OHVs can be a lot of fun, but can also damage plants, soils and wildlife habitat. Areas that are not marked by trails may be sensitive to damage or have important wildlife species. Ride responsibly and stay on designated trails.

Review our Off Highway Vehicle Bylaw.

Environmentally responsible boating

Driving too close to the shoreline causes shoreline erosion and cloudy water, which has many environmental impacts such as:

Less photosynthesis of aquatic plants
Limited food sources and/or habitats for fish and other wildlife

Check out Parkland County's Interactive Guide to Waterfront Living to learn more about responsible waterfront living.

Selecting a boat motor

The type of boat you operate can have significant environmental impacts:

Four-stroke engines instead of two-stroke engines are more environmentally sound
Electric motors reduce boating related emissions and generate less noise Discover Boating offers many green boating tips for recreational lake users.

Preventing aquatic invasive species

Aquatic invasive species destroy natural lake ecosystems and can cost the Province millions of dollars a year. Invasive species spread rapidly and are difficult to control.

The species that are of greatest concern in Alberta are:

Quagga Mussel
Zebra Mussel
Eurasian Watermilfoil

Aquatic invasive species spread by transporting watercraft from infected water to uninfected waters.

To prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species:

Clean, drain, and dry your boat and equipment before departing a site
Learn to identify aquatic invasive species
Understand the threat: some mussels can spread quickly and live out of water for up to 30 days

Visit the Alberta Parks website for more information.