The risk of spreading Prussian Carp to area lakes has promoted the province to suspend diversion licenses from the Red Deer River to Buffalo Lake and Gull Lake.

In an email from Alberta Environment and Parks, the suspension is for five years and comes  after a study of the potential risks associated with pumping,

“In March of 2018, the Operations Infrastructure Branch of Alberta Environment and Parks submitted a study to the Water Act regulator to notify them of the potential risks associated with diverting water from rivers contaminated with Prussian Carp into uncontaminated lakes,” states the email.

“If pumping were to occur, the lakes’ ecosystem health would be at a significant risk because of the potential for a direct transfer of Prussian Carp into both lakes.”

Prussian carp have made their way into waterways in Alberta and Saskatchewan. They are hardy fish that can adapt to many different habitats and are a prolific breeder. They have the potential to out compete native species for food and habitat. The Mail reported in September of this year that fisherman Gregg Blanchett had discovered the carp in the Michichi Creek and fears it may spread to other local water bodies.

Buffalo Lake is about an hour north of Drumheller and in 1985 began on a multiphase project to stabilize water levels and in 1992, an interim license was granted for the diversion of water to Buffalo Lake. This was under the Don Getty government.

While Alberta Environment notes this is a concern, water has not been pumped into Buffalo Lake since 2010 and Gull Lake since 2011. This was due to “naturally high lake levels well above the trigger elevations for pumping. With the license for pumping now suspended, water levels at both lakes will fluctuate naturally based on local conditions, as is common in lakes across Alberta.”

A Drumhellerite has been named one of the rising stars in Canada’s legal profession for his work in corporate restructuring and insolvency law.

Kyle Kashuba’s practice with Torys LLP in Calgary earned him the honour from Lexpert Magazine, a leading law magazine which names their Rising Stars annually.

Kashuba, formerly of Drumheller, was one of the country’s lawyers to be named and was featured in a profile by the magazine.

He focuses on aspects of corporate restructuring and insolvency and also brings experience in real estate, retail, and manufacturing insolvencies. In his first year partnership, he was appointed as a counsel to the Court of Appeal of Alberta in a complex insolvency case, the magazine said. Kashuba also volunteers his time with Calgary Legal Guidance, where he regularly advises clients on a variety of matters and trains other lawyers on insolvency law matters. He has volunteered with the John Howard Society, Student Legal Services, and Pro Bono Students Canada. He serves as an executive member of the Canadian Bar Association Bankruptcy, Insolvency, and Restructuring Section.

   “I am really proud of his accomplishments, Kyle has really persevered,” his mother Maureen told the Mail, saying he regularly works 18 hour days “but still has enough left in the tank for celebration with his friends.”