Gleniffer Lake reopened for recreational use just in time for the Canada Day long weekend June 30 to July 2 after water ratings indicated the area was once again within human health and environmental standards.

This comes less than a month after an oil spill released between 1,000 and 3,000 barrels of light sour crude oil into the Red Deer River water system. Since the spill, June 7, clean up crews have been working to contain and remove hydrocarbons from the water and cleaning up debris from the shoreline of Gleniffer Lake.

To air on the side of caution, however, Plains Midstream Canada will continue to monitor water quality levels throughout the weekend as boat traffic could affect the levels of hydrocarbon in the water.

But as long as those levels remain low, summer time is a go at Gleniffer Lake. Along with the reopening of the lake itself, many of the local recreation areas and campgrounds are also opening their gates to the public.

While the lake may have reopened, clean up crews are continuing their efforts along various points of the Red Deer River. There remains some contamination surrounding the far southwest corner of Gleniffer Lake near Dickson Point, so public use is still forbidden in that area as crews continue their work.