Windermere Lake Foreshore Inventory Mapping Open 2006

This dataset contains the open accessible data and reports for the FIMP survey carried out in Windermere Lake in 2007. Windermere Lake is an attractive tourist, recreation and retirement area, with its 36 km of shoreline and warm waters. The lake’s popularity has resulted in a steady increase in the density of shoreline dwellings and in the area leading the East Kootenays in growth and development. Alberta’s strong economy has particularly fuelled the increased development around the lake, and this growth trend is anticipated to continue into the future (RDEK 2007a). Although tourism derived from the lake is important to the growing local economy, the community’s dependence on the lake for drinking water and recreation has resulted in concerns being raised about the influences of human activities (Masse and Miller 2005, Fedrigo 2006). Observations from lake users and interview data collected indicates serious concerns with crowding at the lake, and serious impacts on lakeshore habitats from shore land development.