On Friday afternoon, Alberta Health Services lifted two water quality advisories issued more than a month ago at two beach areas on Lac La Biche Lake.
"Water quality has returned to an acceptable level and the health risk is low for usage of the beach for recreational purposes," notes the statements relating to both Campers' Beach at Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park and the Plamondon Whitesands Beach on the northwest corner of the lake.
Both locations had been part of health advisories for elevated levels of fecal coliforms. In both instances, the contamination was believed to be from bird populations in the area. The contamination posed a risk to humans for skin irritation, nausea and stomach upset.
While the advisories have been lifted, Alberta Health Services officials continue to remind visitors and residents to never drink or cook with untreated water directly from any lake or reservoir, at any time.