A paleolimnological analysis of Lac Ste. Anne and Lake Isle, two eutrophic lakes in central Alberta, Canada, confirmed that they were naturally eutrophic, but have become increasingly eutrophic after the 1960s as 27% and 24% of their watersheds, respectively, were developed for urban and agricultural purposes. This was shown by a predominance of Chironomidae head capsules indicating periodic anoxia in bottom waters, high abundances of eutrophic diatoms (e.g.,Aulacoseira granulata, Fragilaria crotonensis, Stephanodiscus niagaraeandS. parvus), and, in Lac Ste. Anne, an enrichment of pigments from filamentous cyanobacteria (e.g., myxoxanthophyll) in post-1960 sediments. Evidence of periodic anoxia in the profundal zone was also provided by a scarcity of reducible phosphorus in the sediments. Lac Ste. Anne showed the largest changes during the 1960s and 1970s, when increases were observed in the abundance of hyper-eutrophic diatoms (e.g.,S. parvus) as well as sedimentary phosphorus fractions and algal pigments. The changes in Lake Isle were similar, but more subtle. Results indicate that reduced anthropogenic activities would still result in eutrophic systems, but some improvements in water quality would be achieved, particularly in Lac Ste. Anne.