Photo: Lacombe County will commission a geotechnical study of Blissful Beach after a June slope failure raised concerns about shoreline stability and public safety. Screenshot

Lacombe County council has approved spending up to $100,000 on a geotechnical assessment of environmental reserve land at Blissful Beach following a slope failure that destroyed a lakeside access structure.

The decision was made during council's July 9 meeting after administration recommended retaining a geotechnical engineering consultant to assess shoreline stability and the potential risk to nearby properties.

Blissful Beach consists of 25 lots, with 14 properties bordering a narrow strip of county-owned environmental reserve along the steep shoreline of Sylvan Lake. The reserve ranges from about five to 15 metres wide and includes slopes where some portions near the top of the bank are privately owned. Thirteen access structures have been built across the reserve to provide lake access, with 11 operating under county encroachment agreements.

According to the report, the county was notified on June 26 that a slope failure had occurred three days earlier. The slide displaced soil and vegetation, destroying one access structure. Administration inspected the site and used a drone to document the damage. Above-average rainfall during June is believed to have contributed to the slope failure.

The report states the affected slope has not stabilized and could continue to impact the private property above it. Residents whose properties border the environmental reserve have been notified of the instability concerns.

A preliminary consultation with a geotechnical specialist recommended a detailed investigation that would include borehole drilling to analyze soil conditions and bedrock depth. The study would also incorporate slope topography and the location of nearby structures, including homes, to model the risk of future movement. The assessment is expected to provide recommendations for monitoring, potential remediation and any land-use planning measures that may be required.

As part of the study, landowners will be contacted to arrange site access and asked to complete a questionnaire about groundwater seeps, previous slope instability and surface water management on their properties.

Council approved the procurement of a geotechnical engineering consultant to conduct the assessment at a cost not exceeding $100,000. Funding will come first from the county's 2026 operating budget, with any remaining costs to be covered by the operating reserve.