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Introduction

Prepared by: Jonathan Gosling - Freshwater Conservation Canada

Freshwater Conservation Canada is proposing work to decommission and reclaim portions of the undesignated off-highway vehicle (OHV) trails immediately adjacent to Margaret Lake in the Ghost Wilderness. The project includes the proposed restrictive fencing to be built (which may occur prior to reclamation), as well as bioengineering using live willow stakes, large woody debris, and rough and loose surface augmentation over approximately 1000m2 of degraded lakefront area.  This project has been discussed with and is supported by Trails 4 Tomorrow (T4T), Ghost Watershed Alliance Society (GWAS), Alberta Forestry Parks and Tourism, as well as Freshwater Conservation Canada.

Habitat Characteristics

The project sites originate on the western side of the Rocky Mountains in south-central Alberta. Margaret Lake is found on the far west side of the Western Alberta Upland ecoregion, which forms a transition zone between the forests of boreal and the Rocky Mountains (Photo 1). This steeply rolling and rising ecoregion is characterized by mixed forest, with scattered wetlands,
grassland, and parklands. The vegetation in the immediate vicinity of the project area is composed primarily of Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta), White Spruce (Picea glauca), Trembling Aspen (Populus tremuloides), Balsam Poplar (Populus balsamifera), and various willow species (Salix spp.) within treed areas. Grass, sedge, and rush species are sparse in the understory, except for some rush-like sedges (Carex scirpoidea) and wild rye (Elymus innovatus) (Cows and Fish, 2011). The topography of the project areas is undulating hills to steeply sloping hills with broad riparian floodplain benches near the streams.

According to the Nature Conservancy of Canada, approximately 95% of the ecoregion remains in natural cover, although most areas have been cut over, and there is intense oil and gas exploration and extraction. Less than 2% of the ecoregion is included in conserved and protected areas.

Project Overview and Description

As part of our partnership with the Ghost Watershed Alliance Society (GWAS) and Trails for Tomorrow (T4T), and the Calgary ATV riders association (CARA), Freshwater Conservation Canada aims to restore degraded aquatic and riparian habitat within the Margaret Lake area through targeted rehabilitation measures in key locations. Proposed work includes the closing of existing undesignated OHV trail features that currently traverse through the shores and sensitive lake-bed areas causing negative impacts on the aquatic and riparian health of Margaret Lake. This will be accomplished by first constructing approximately 100m of drill-stem fencing at the terminus of the designated trail (Which as of Nov 2024, has been completed). The existing trails on the shores of Margaret Lake will be decommissioned and reclaimed using bioengineering, soil decompaction, and the distribution of woody debris where applicable.

Site selection for this project was based on the persistent trail integrity problems and water quality issues resulting from the existing lakeshore vehicle trails.

Additionally, the safety and long-term viability of the trail for recreational users is questionable since the existing trail runs through an open and potentially dangerous waterbody. Leaving the sites in their current state was considered unfeasible due to the risks to the long-term sustainability of this lake and associated recreation opportunities. Our goal with this project is to create a more sustainable trail system while also restoring degraded habitat and facilitating the recovery of habitat for fish and wildlife.

Figure 1. Map of Margaret Lake and associated proposed restoration actions.

Figure 2. Looking west over Margaret Lake, Before bank restoration.

Figure 3. Looking west over Margaret Lake. Picture is the proposed restoration of willows, debris, and a small pathway to allow for continued access to the lake.

Figure 4. Looking southwest towards Margaret Lake, prior to restoration. The slop is compacted heavily, and runoff is an issue here.

Figure 5.

Looking Southwest towards Margaret Lake. Pictured is the proposed restoration using woody debris, planting solutions, natural sediment logs, along with a significant mulch layer at the bottom to encourage soil formation processes to
take place. Below the mulch layer, a small tractor will lightly till the earth prior to
restoration work, to reduce the amount of compaction.

Figure 6.

Looking Northeast at Margaret Lake site. Pictured is the proposed rough and loose in conjunction with woody debris and planting solutions as well as the left clearing for access paths to the proposed walk-in only day use or possible camping area.

Figure 7.

Looking North at Margaret Lake site. Pictured is the before and after of the
proposed restoration with woody debris and planting solutions, sediment logs will also be utilized here as well as some planting of smaller spruce etc. sourced on-site. The area pictured is connected to figures 4 and 5 and will also include a
footpath for continued lake access.

Figure 8.

Looking Northwest at Margaret Lake site. Pictured is the proposed restoration with woody debris and planting solutions as well as the clearing for access paths to the proposed walk-in only day use or possible camping area.

Project Update - Fall 2024

The important first phase of this project to restrict vehicle access to the lakeshore is complete as of November 2024 (Figure 9). This was a joint effort with Calgary ATV Riders Association (CARA), Trails for Tomorrow (T4T) with support from Ghost Watershed Alliance Society (GWAS) and Freshwater Conservation Canada. This project is a constant reminder of how members from a variety of user groups can come together to ensure access and sustainability of a popular destination, not only in the present day but for future generations. We also want to thank the Alberta Off-Highway Vehicle Association (AOHVA) for their support and funding of this project.


This project started with volunteers hauling truckloads of fence materials and cement to Margaret Lake. An excavator was then sent in to do some trail maintenance on the North portion of the trail from Marker 139 (the area just south of the lake, a straight section of trail that had some sedimentation issues during the site visit in the spring of 2024). Post holes were drilled, and many bags of cement were mixed. Great care was taken by volunteers to ensure that a straight and professional looking fence was installed.


The next steps include planning and executing Phase Two of the project which will include reclamation, willow staking and cleanup of the legacy campsites around the lake. Plans for a potential third phase include turning the lake into a recreation site with a day use area at the lake and designated camping with outhouses only a short walk away to the south (See Figure 1).

Project Update - Spring 2025

Following a site visit on June 3rd, 2025, a plan for gathering materials as well as volunteers has been put into place. With the cooperation of all the involved groups, we have decided to pursue the restoration activities in the fall of 2025 (September, but TBD). With equipment to de-compact the topsoil lined up, it will be a matter of transporting tools and people to the Jobsite. The proposed dates of operations for the volunteer workdays would be on September 16th, 17th, and 18th 2025. With the equipment being able to complete the work in early September (The week of September 2nd or 8th), this allows volunteers to arrive on site and harvest willows for planting, harvest smaller shrubs and conifers for transplant, process woody debris into mulch for groundcover, gather other forest debris to cover the restoration area, lay out the sediment cores, and restore the walking areas.


Equipment needed on site during the volunteer workdays includes a mulcher which will likely be rented, hand tools for planting and transplanting as well as for harvesting, and PPE such as gloves, goggles, steel boots etc. Heavy equipment should be off-site when volunteers are completing the bioremediation work. Some larger logs may be used in the restoration areas as well, and these maybe moved with some of the 4x4/ATV vehicles if necessary.