The City of Grande Prairie is winding down cleanup work after a petroleum product was found in the Bear River on July 24, 2026.
The City of Grande Prairie says a resident spotted the substance and called it in quickly. Crews had the spill contained within about two hours. It stretched from Maskwoteh Park to the Grande Prairie Museum & Heritage Village, both in Muskoseepi Park.
Test results suggest the material was weathered diesel or hydraulic oil. It is still not clear where it came from, or how much leaked into the water. City crews, the Grande Prairie Fire Department, and a hazardous materials team went to work right away. Alberta Environment and Protected Areas is also part of the response.
As of August 5, the City says cleanup is wrapping up. Even so, people should stay out of the water and keep children and pets away from the area between Maskwoteh Park and the museum. The public can go back to using the river once lab results are back and the floating booms are taken out.
Most stormwater in Grande Prairie runs straight from streets and yards into ponds and local waterways without any treatment. Anything that gets into a catch basin or roadside drain can end up in the Bear River fast. The City’s drainage bylaw bars fuels, oils, and chemicals from going into the stormwater system.
Muskoseepi Park is a big community hub at the heart of the city. The park covers more than 1,100 acres along the Bear River, with trails, a museum, and play areas. The City says there is no urgent threat to the public while the last steps of the cleanup are finished.
