Resort Subdivision of Whelan Bay
Financial Information
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the District?
The District is a single incorporated municipality in the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District (NSAD). The District includes the unorganized area in the NSAD made up of:
2. What is the role of a cabin owners association?
Some resort subdivisions have an incorporated non-profit cabin owner’s association that may act in an advisory capacity to the minister. NMS collects revenues and consults with the cabin owner’s association during annual budgeting for the resort subdivision. The 2024 operating budget and the 2023 pay list can be found in the links above.
3. What is the status of the lagoon?
Wastewater disposal is regulated in Saskatchewan by the Water Security Agency (WSA). Following inspections in several communities, WSA determined that three wastewater disposal locations service significant seasonal and year-round populations, and do not meet regulatory requirements for treatment. Therefore, a sustainable plan for wastewater treatment and disposal is being studied for the resort subdivisions of Whelan Bay, Little Bear Lake and East Trout Lake as well as surrounding areas.
NMS, on behalf of the District (a northern incorporated municipality) requested proposals from engineering consultants for the provision of services to provide a feasibility study for sewage disposal. After an initial review of the study, it was found that additional data, specifically how much sewage is generated in the area, is required to complete the study.
NMS is committed to planning for a long-term solution for sewage disposal and will work with the Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport and WSA in the next year or two to collect this data and deliver it back to the consultant to complete the study. When completed, the study will provide a detailed description of the current facilities and practices of each of the three sites, its expected needs over the next twenty-five (25) years, and an analysis of viable and sustainable options.
4.What is the status of the bin site (locally known as the transfer site)?
Greenland Waste bins are stored on park land adjacent to the subdivision for solid waste disposal. Although locally known as a ‘transfer site’, the site is neither a transfer site or transfer station since all materials are contained within bins, no waste is stored on the ground, therefore no permit is required. The site can also be used to pile clean wood and brush piles; and has a bin for recyclable materials. Any other proposed use of the site would require application with the Ministry of Environment and compliance with the Transfer Site Code pursuant to The Environmental Management and Protection Act, 2010. The transfer site attendant(s) are employees of the District.
5. What is included in the dock and boat launch agreement?
The main boat launch area at Whiteswan Lake is on land leased from the Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport. In 2023, the District entered into a five-year agreement with the lessee of the Whiteswan Lake Recreation Site to continue public access to the main boat launch area. The agreement was entered into with the understanding that the community docks would be used at the launch. However, due to their unavailability, the District purchased one new dock for the resort subdivision and the lessee agreed to use one of their own docks. This ensured the boat launch was available to the public for the beginning of the 2023 summer season.
6. What was the Whiteswan Lake Spill Elevation Study?
Over several years the lake level of Whiteswan Lake rose, resulting in the loss of a municipal road and public shoreline. A portion of the access road lost as a result of rising water levels was relocated which cost the province approximately $1.3 million to build. Some properties are very close to the shoreline and could be impacted through inundation, slumping/subsidence, ice and wind action if water levels continue to rise. The municipality agreed with property owners that the LiDAR study is an important step in assessing the potential hazards and the sustainability of the infrastructure serving the properties near Whiteswan Lake. Although there have been many flood hazard studies completed for many developed areas of Saskatchewan, there is no data available for the Whiteswan Lake area.
LiDAR (light detection and ranging) is a remote sensing, land surveying tool used from an airplane. The resulting data gives a 3D depth measurement to produce mapping with contour information of inaccessible areas. This type of data collection is the least invasive on the environment. Residents and community leaders had brought their concerns forward, sought out experts in the field, applied for a grant from Water Security Agency and approval for a proposed study in 2021. Unfortunately, the project couldn’t get off the ground that fall due to weather. In fall of 2022, the residents had approached the municipality to see if this project was eventually going to move forward. An agreement for the study and a grant application were signed in fall 2022 based on the original project from 2021. The study was lined up for fall 2022, but early winter snow accumulation grounded the airplane and postponed the study to spring 2023.
The Water Security Agency (WSA) offers a grant annually to municipalities to collect flood hazard data reimbursing up to 50% of the costs. The total cost for the LiDAR and ground survey, data analysis and report was $43,000 plus GST. The expenditures were incurred in 2023 and 2024. The WSA grant amount of $22,575.00 was received by the municipality in 2024 and will be reported in the resort subdivision revenues for 2024.
If you would like to contact Northern Municipal Services, please fill out the Comments and Feedback form below.
1. What is the District?
The District is a single incorporated municipality in the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District (NSAD). The District includes the unorganized area in the NSAD made up of:
- 11 northern settlements
- 14 resort subdivisions
- 9 northern subdivisions, and
- upwards of 8,000 leases
2. What is the role of a cabin owners association?
Some resort subdivisions have an incorporated non-profit cabin owner’s association that may act in an advisory capacity to the minister. NMS collects revenues and consults with the cabin owner’s association during annual budgeting for the resort subdivision. The 2024 operating budget and the 2023 pay list can be found in the links above.
3. What is the status of the lagoon?
Wastewater disposal is regulated in Saskatchewan by the Water Security Agency (WSA). Following inspections in several communities, WSA determined that three wastewater disposal locations service significant seasonal and year-round populations, and do not meet regulatory requirements for treatment. Therefore, a sustainable plan for wastewater treatment and disposal is being studied for the resort subdivisions of Whelan Bay, Little Bear Lake and East Trout Lake as well as surrounding areas.
NMS, on behalf of the District (a northern incorporated municipality) requested proposals from engineering consultants for the provision of services to provide a feasibility study for sewage disposal. After an initial review of the study, it was found that additional data, specifically how much sewage is generated in the area, is required to complete the study.
NMS is committed to planning for a long-term solution for sewage disposal and will work with the Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport and WSA in the next year or two to collect this data and deliver it back to the consultant to complete the study. When completed, the study will provide a detailed description of the current facilities and practices of each of the three sites, its expected needs over the next twenty-five (25) years, and an analysis of viable and sustainable options.
4.What is the status of the bin site (locally known as the transfer site)?
Greenland Waste bins are stored on park land adjacent to the subdivision for solid waste disposal. Although locally known as a ‘transfer site’, the site is neither a transfer site or transfer station since all materials are contained within bins, no waste is stored on the ground, therefore no permit is required. The site can also be used to pile clean wood and brush piles; and has a bin for recyclable materials. Any other proposed use of the site would require application with the Ministry of Environment and compliance with the Transfer Site Code pursuant to The Environmental Management and Protection Act, 2010. The transfer site attendant(s) are employees of the District.
5. What is included in the dock and boat launch agreement?
The main boat launch area at Whiteswan Lake is on land leased from the Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport. In 2023, the District entered into a five-year agreement with the lessee of the Whiteswan Lake Recreation Site to continue public access to the main boat launch area. The agreement was entered into with the understanding that the community docks would be used at the launch. However, due to their unavailability, the District purchased one new dock for the resort subdivision and the lessee agreed to use one of their own docks. This ensured the boat launch was available to the public for the beginning of the 2023 summer season.
6. What was the Whiteswan Lake Spill Elevation Study?
Over several years the lake level of Whiteswan Lake rose, resulting in the loss of a municipal road and public shoreline. A portion of the access road lost as a result of rising water levels was relocated which cost the province approximately $1.3 million to build. Some properties are very close to the shoreline and could be impacted through inundation, slumping/subsidence, ice and wind action if water levels continue to rise. The municipality agreed with property owners that the LiDAR study is an important step in assessing the potential hazards and the sustainability of the infrastructure serving the properties near Whiteswan Lake. Although there have been many flood hazard studies completed for many developed areas of Saskatchewan, there is no data available for the Whiteswan Lake area.
LiDAR (light detection and ranging) is a remote sensing, land surveying tool used from an airplane. The resulting data gives a 3D depth measurement to produce mapping with contour information of inaccessible areas. This type of data collection is the least invasive on the environment. Residents and community leaders had brought their concerns forward, sought out experts in the field, applied for a grant from Water Security Agency and approval for a proposed study in 2021. Unfortunately, the project couldn’t get off the ground that fall due to weather. In fall of 2022, the residents had approached the municipality to see if this project was eventually going to move forward. An agreement for the study and a grant application were signed in fall 2022 based on the original project from 2021. The study was lined up for fall 2022, but early winter snow accumulation grounded the airplane and postponed the study to spring 2023.
The Water Security Agency (WSA) offers a grant annually to municipalities to collect flood hazard data reimbursing up to 50% of the costs. The total cost for the LiDAR and ground survey, data analysis and report was $43,000 plus GST. The expenditures were incurred in 2023 and 2024. The WSA grant amount of $22,575.00 was received by the municipality in 2024 and will be reported in the resort subdivision revenues for 2024.
If you would like to contact Northern Municipal Services, please fill out the Comments and Feedback form below.