‘A powerful visual tool’: How your next lake visit can help Alberta environmentalists

A phone can be seen in one of the brackets posted at a photo-capture station at an Alberta Lake. (Supplied)

Lacombe County is inviting nature-lovers to snap a pic at three Alberta lakes - all in the name of science.

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Photo-capture stations are set up at Sylvan Lake, Gull Lake and Lacombe Lake. The pictures will be cataloged and compiled into a time-lapse that will help environmentalists see how the landscape changes throughout the year and seasons.

“This initiative supports sustainable lake management and provides a powerful visual tool for understanding long-term environmental changes,” said county officials in a press release. “Plus, it gives the public an easy and meaningful way to get involved in local conservation.”

The three photo spots are located at:

• Burns Nature Park at Sylvan Lake;
• Sandy Point at Gull Lake; and
• Trans Canada Trail at Lacombe Lake.

At each location, there is a special bracket for guests to hold their phones in place and take a photo. A sign posted below the bracket has instructions on how to submit the photo using a QR code.

The updated time-lapses can be viewed online:

• Sylvan Lake - view time-lapse;
• Gull Lake - view time-lapse; and
• Lacombe Lake - view time-lapse.

Photos can be seen taken from March 20 at Lacombe Lake, and May 5 at Sylvan Lake and Gull Lake.