An official with Swan Lake First Nation supports a recommendation to build a control structure at the outlet of Swan Lake in order to raise the water to recreational levels.

A recent feasibility study commissioned by the Tri-Lakes Development Group suggests building the structure as a first step in the effort to collect enough water before moving ahead with further improvements like aeration, spawning shoals, or stocking.

Read more: Enhancement Study Results Are In For Swan, Rock Lakes

"Our participation in that was to increase the lake just to get it to recreational-use levels, we're not big on cottage development...but the weir itself, if we're able to make that work, that's going to be the best thing right now for Swan Lake," said David Scott.

Scott has been working on the issue with area stakeholders since 2012 when they first started noticing a problem with fishing on the lake. At first, he says it became clear there was an increase of silt on the north side of the lake that bumps up against the First Nation, contributing to the low levels which he says can get as shallow as one foot, causing the lake to freeze right to the bottom during most winters.

"Out of the last seven years, I would say we've used the lake for fishing in the winter maybe three seasons. That's how bad it is," he explained.

While Scott feels the dam would fix the low levels caused by drought, he isn't quite sure the recommendations listed in the study will do anything for the silting problem on the lake bed. "Mind you, that might be a naturally occurring event," he added.

According to Scott, the persistently low lake levels have impacted Swan Lake First Nation in a variety of ways.

The first is a poor-quality food source in the fish caught from the lake.

"The flesh of the fish is usually flaky, but sometimes it becomes mushy and tastes muddy, and that's usually caused by high water temperatures and low water levels," explained Scott. "We've been pretty concerned about that."

As well, Scott says they've noticed a change in the species that live in and around Swan Lake.

"This was raised by our trappers that go out on to the lake, that we've lost our muskrat population."

Scott also used to look after the turtle nesting area on the north side of the lake and says he started noticing that the turtles weren't going there to lay their eggs anymore. "(Now) they're going into high-traffic areas and the eggs aren't hatching properly," he added.

Additionally, Scott says there's been a return of predatory animals to Swan Lake including river otters, carp, and hawks flying overhead.

As for what's next, Scott says the First Nation will go along with the study recommendations and fully participate in the effort alongside the Tri-Lakes Development Group and area municipalities. "I think our community is fully committed to engaging, as well as our urgent concern to fix the lake," he noted.