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Home , Mabel Lake, Mara Lake, Shuswap River

Water Quality Summary Report for 2016 This is the first annual report on water quality from the Shuswap Watershed Council. Featuring water quality Did you know there are over 500 water quality samples collected in the Shuswap monitoring results for: watershed each year? Samples are collected from lakes and rivers, in the shallows and the deep, at parks and beaches, and near water in-takes and effluent out-falls. Water samples are collected by over a dozen organizations, and for different reasons – such as for monitoring ecosystem health, ensuring public health and safety, for research or stewardship purposes, and more. Sugar Lake

The Shuswap Watershed Council (SWC) was established in 2014 as a watershed-based partnership that enhances water quality and safe recreation in the Shuswap. There are 17 SWC members Salmon River that represent three regional districts, two municipalities, the Secwepemc Nation, two provincial government agencies, and Shuswap communities. The SWC is a collaborative, non-regulatory Gardom Lake group. It works alongside organizations that have regulatory roles in managing the Shuswap White Lake watershed, complimenting their work and carefully avoiding duplication. Enhanced water quality that supports human and ecosystem health Popular swimming and the local economy in the Shuswap watershed beaches What is a watershed? A watershed is an area of land that is defined by where water flows. Watersheds receive precipitation (rain or snow) and over time, water drains to a single point of convergence, such as the outlet of a river or a lake. Smaller watersheds make up larger watersheds. For example, the Bolean Creek watershed feeds the Salmon River watershed, which feeds the Shuswap watershed, then the Thompson watershed, and so on. What watershed(s) do you live in? This is the entire Shuswap Watershed – it’s much more than the lake. It includes mountain ranges, meadows, creeks, rivers, and several lakes all of which drain to a single point at the outlet of .

Throughout the pages of this summary, you’ll see contributions from Grade 11 and 12 students at Salmon Arm Secondary School. They’ve shared some of what they’ve learned about the Shuswap watershed in their Earth Science class.

2 Image courtesy of the Shuswap Watershed Project, shuswapwatershed.ca Shuswap, Mara, Mabel, Adams, Gardom and What’s a Secchi disk depth White Lakes results measurement? BC Ministry of Environment monitors water quality at these lakes twice per year, in the spring and fall. A Secchi disk is a simple tool used to measure Members of the BC Lake Stewardship Society and citizen scientists also help with monitoring and contribute the clarity of water. It’s a circular disk divided into water quality data. Here is a snapshot of water quality monitoring results* for 2016. four, with alternating black and white wedges. It’s lowered into the water column until the contrasting Shuswap and Mara Lakes black and white wedges are no longer visible under the water. At this point, the depth of the Secchi Shuswap and Mara Lakes 2016: total Phosphorus Shuswap and Mara Lakes 2016: total Nitrogen 0.03 Shuswap and Mara Lakes 2016: total Phosphorus Shuswap and Mara Lakes 2016: total Nitrogen disk is recorded - the higher the measurement, the 0.25 0.03 0.25 clearer the water. 0.2 0.02 0.2 0.15 0.02

mg/L 0.15 0.01 mg/L 0.1 mg/L mg/L Spring 0.1 0.01 0.05 Spring FallSpring 0.05 Spring 0 0 Fall 0 Fall 0 Fall

Shuswap and Mara Lakes 2016: reactive Shuswap and Mara Lakes 2016: Chlorophyll a Shuswap and Mara Lakes 2016: Chlorophyll a Secchi Shuswap and Phosphate Mara Lakes 2016: reactive 0.006 0.006 0.0013 Phosphate 0.005 disk 0.005 0.004 0.00120.0013 0.004 0.003

0.0012 mg/L 0.0011 0.003 mg/L mg/L 0.002 0.0011 0.002 Spring

mg/L 0.001 0.001 Spring 0.001 Spring 0.001 0 Fall Phosphorus (P) and Nitrogen (N) are important 0.0009 Spring Fall 0 Fall 0.0009 to monitor because they are key nutrients that Fall control lake productivity. Aquatic life such as algae, invertebrates, and fish need these nutrients to grow and reproduce. Naturally occurring nutrients are important for supporting a healthy ecosystem. Shuswap and Mara Lakes 2016: Secchi Disk depth “A watershed is an area that drains into Excessive nutrients and algae can reduce water 14 clarity, create odours, and reduce the quality of a common body of water at the lowest 12 point. The water travels downhill starting 10 water for drinking and recreation. 8 from the highest point. If pollution is 6 Chlorophyll a (abbreviated Chl a) is important to metres 4 introduced upstream, it will travel and Spring monitor because it is an indication of how much 2 affect downstream areas.” 0 Fall algae is in the lake, which in turn is important to – Student, Grade 11-12 Earth Science class, aquatic food webs and for drinking and Salmon Arm Secondary School. recreation purposes. 3

* For surface water only (not deep samples) Mabel LAKE Sugar Lake

Mabel Lake at Tsuius Cr 2016: select water quality Mabel Lake South 2016: select water quality Sugar Sugar Lake Lake 2016: 2016: select select water quality parameters parameters Mabel Lake South 2016: select water quality Mabel Lake at parameters Tsuius Cr 2016: select water quality parameters parameters 0.0040.004 0.004 parameters 0.004 0.004 0.004 0.0030.003 0.003 0.003 0.003 0.003 Chl a Chl a Chl Chl a a 0.002 0.002 Chl a 0.0020.002 mg/L mg/L Reactive P mg/L Chl a Reactive P mg/L Reactive P 0.002 Reactive P

0.002 mg/L Reactive P mg/L Total Reactive P P Total P Total Total P P 0.001 0.001 Total P 0.001 Total P 0.001 0.001 0.001 0 0 Spring Fall 0 Spring Fall 0 0 0 Spring Fall Spring Fall Spring Fall Spring Fall

Mabel Lake at Tsuius Cr 2016: total Nitrogen Mabel Lake South 2016: total Nitrogen Mabel Lake South 2016: total Nitrogen Sugar Lake 2016: total Nitrogen 0.14 Mabel Lake at Tsuius Cr 2016: total Nitrogen 0.14 Sugar Lake 2016: total Nitrogen 0.14 0.14 0.120.14 0.12 0.14 0.12 0.12 0.120.1 0.1 0.12 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.08 0.08 0.1

mg/L Total N 0.08 0.060.08 mg/L Total N 0.08 0.06 0.08 mg/L Total N mg/L mg/L Total N 0.06 Total N 0.040.06 0.06 0.04 mg/L Total N 0.06 0.04 0.020.04 0.02 0.04 0.04 0.02 0.020 0 0.02 Spring Fall Spring Fall 0.02 0 0 Spring Fall 0 Spring Fall 0 Spring Fall Spring Fall

Mabel Lake at Tsuius Cr 2016: Secchi Disk depth Mabel Lake South 2016: Secchi Disk depth Sugar Lake 2016: Secchi Disk depth

18 18 18 16 16 16 14 14 14 12 12 12 10 10 10 8 Secchi Disk depth 8 Secchi Disk depth 8 Secchi Disk depth metres (m) metres metres (m) metres

6 6 (m) metres 6 4 4 4 2 2 2 0 0 Spring Fall Spring Fall 0 Spring Fall

4 “I learned so much about my watershed. I was fascinated about how many fish species we have in our lake, and how many smaller watersheds make up the Shuswap watershed. I learned the importance of keeping our rivers and wetlands clean.” – Student, Grade 11-12 Earth Science class, Salmon Arm Secondary School Adams Lake Gardom LAKE White Lake

Gardom Lake 2016: select water quality Adams Lake 2016: select water quality parameters Gardom Lake 2016: select water quality White Lake 2016: select water quality Adams Lake 2016: select water quality parameters parameters White Lake 2016: select water quality parameters 0.004 parameters parameters 0.004 0.025 0.025 0.004 0.004 0.003 0.02 0.003 0.02 0.003 0.003 Chl a 0.015 Chl a Chl a 0.015 Chl a Chl a 0.002 Chl a mg/L 0.002 Reactive P mg/L Reactive P 0.002 mg/L Reactive P mg/L 0.01 Reactive P mg/L 0.002 Reactive Phosphate Total P 0.01 Total P mg/L Reactive Phosphate Total P 0.001 Total P Total P 0.001 0.005 0.001 Total P 0.005 0.001 0 0 0 0 0 Spring Fall 0 Spring Fall Spring Fall Spring Fall Spring Fall Spring Fall

Adams Lake 2016: total Nitrogen Adams Lake 2016: total Nitrogen Gardom Lake 2016: total Nitrogen White White Lake Lake 2016: 2016: total total Nitrogen Nitrogen Gardom Lake 2016: total Nitrogen 0.16 0.27 0.16 0.95 0.27 0.14 0.95 0.14 0.26 0.12 0.26 0.12 0.1 0.25 0.9 0.25 0.1 0.9 0.08 mg/L Total N 0.24

0.08 mg/L 0.24 Total N mg/L mg/L 0.06 Total N Total N mg/L Total N

mg/L Total N 0.06 0.23 0.04 0.85 0.23 0.04 0.85 0.02 0.22 0.22 0.02 0 0.21 0 Spring Fall 0.8 0.21 0.8 Spring Fall Spring Fall Spring Fall Spring Fall Spring Fall

Gardom Lake 2016: Secchi Disk depth White Lake 2016: Secchi Disk depth Adams Lake 2016: select water quality parameters 12 14 0.004 10 12 10 0.003 8 8 Chl a 6 Secchi Disk depth Secchi Disk depth 0.002 6 mg/L Reactive P metres (m) metres metres (m) metres 4 Total P 4 0.001 2 2

0 0 0 Spring Fall Spring Fall Spring Fall 5

Adams Lake 2016: total Nitrogen

0.16 0.14 0.12 0.1 0.08

mg/L Total N 0.06 0.04 0.02 0 Spring Fall ShuswShuswap ap R River iver 2016: RE total SULT Phosphorus S Shuswap River 2016: turbidity

0.006 Shuswap River 2016: total Phosphorus 5 Shuswap River 2016: turbidity 0.0050.006 54 0.0040.005 43 0.0030.004 mg/L The water quality monitoring 3 0.0020.003 Shuswap River at 2 results display two types of mg/L Rosemond Lake Road Shuswap River at Turbidity (NTU) Turbidity Rosemond Lake Road 0.0010.002 Shuswap River at 21 phosphorus. One is Reactive Rosemond Lake Road Shuswap River at Turbidity (NTU) Turbidity Phosphate – also known as 0.0010 Rosemond Lake Road 10 Orthophosphate – which is 0 0 the form of phosphorus that’s Date Date immediately available to plant Date life. For this reason, it has Date the potential to be the most Shuswap River 2016: total Nitrogen Shuswap River 2016: E. coli damaging to surface waters in 0.3 Shuswap River 2016: total Nitrogen terms of its ability to cause an 60 Shuswap River 2016: E. coli 0.250.3 algae bloom. The other type 50 60 of Phosphorus reported here is 0.250.2 40 Total Phosphorus which is just 0.150.2 50 mg/L 30 what it sounds, a measurement 0.150.1 Shuswap River at 40

mg/L all of forms of phosphorus Rosemond Lake Road 20 Shuswap River at 0.050.1 Shuswap River at 30 Rosemond Lake Road combined. It indicates the total Rosemond Lake Road 10 # Coliform Units / 100 mL Units Coliform # 0.050 20 Shuswap River at inputs of phosphorus from 0 Rosemond Lake Road various sources. 0 10 # Coliform Units / 100 mL Units Coliform #

Date 0 Date Date

Date Would you like to be able to access water quality data in near real-time? You can! “People are ultimately connected to watersheds Much of the data for lakes and rivers is entered HOW TO RETRIEVE because the water that we WATER QUALITY DATA into the provincial Environmental Monitoring FROM THE drink, clean with, and water ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING SYSTEM System (EMS), which is accessible to the public. Did you know that a lot of the water quality data that’s plants with comes from collected in the Shuswap watershed – and all across the A few steps are required, and the SWC has province – is kept in a provincial government database? The database is called the “Environmental Monitoring System” a watershed.” (EMS) and you can access water quality data from it using created a user-guide to make it easier. its web reporting tool. There are a few steps to go through, – Student, Grade 11-12 follow this guide to learn how and do it for yourself. Find it on our website.

The Shuswap Watershed Council is not the steward of the EMS and has no authority over it. Earth Science class, Any problems you may encounter with the EMS should be reported to the BC Government - 6 Natural Resource Science Business Service Desk at 250 952-6801 or toll-free 1 866 952-8601. Salmon Arm Secondary School SalmonSalmon R River iver 2016: RE total SULT Phosphorus S Salmon River 2016: turbidity Nutrient research 0.2 Salmon River 2016: total Phosphorus 25 Salmon River 2016: turbidity 0.18 25 0.2 underway in the Shuswap 0.16 20 0.18 0.14 20 watershed 0.16 15 0.12 Past water quality monitoring in the Shuswap 0.14 Salmon R at McInnis Cr Salmon R at McInnis Cr

mg/L 15 0.1 Salmon R at Adelphi Cr Salmon Salmon R R at McInnis Adelphi Cr has indicated that generally, water quality is 0.12 Salmon R at McInnis Cr 10

0.08 (NTU) Turbidity mg/L 0.1 Salmon R at Falkland Salmon Salmon R R at Adelphi Falkland Cr good in most places at most times of year. Salmon R at Adelphi Cr 10 0.06 (NTU) Turbidity 5 0.08 Salmon R at Glenemma Salmon Salmon R R at Falkland Glenemma However, high loadings of nutrients to the 0.04 Salmon R at Falkland 5 0.06 Salmon R at Glenemma lakes – phosphorus in particular – are coming 0.02 Salmon R at Glenemma 0 0.04 0 from the Shuswap and Salmon Rivers. The 0.02 Shuswap Watershed Council has entered Date Date Date into a three-year research partnership with Date UBC – to determine the sources of nutrients in the Shuswap and Salmon Salmon River 2016: total Nitrogen Salmon River 2016: E. coli Rivers. This is the first project of its kind of the 0.7 Salmon River 2016: total Nitrogen 1200 Salmon River 2016: E. coli watershed. The following research questions 0.60.7 1200 will be answered by the end of the three-year 1000 0.50.6 1000 project in 2019: IHA Swimming 800 beach data 0.4 0.5 Salmon R at McInnis Cr 800 • Are there excess nutrients in the 600 Salmon R at McInnis Cr mg/L 0.3 0.4 Salmon R Site at Adelphi Cr Acceptable results Unacceptable Salmon R at results Adelphi Cr rivers that are not from the natural Salmon R at McInnis Cr 600 Salmon R at McInnis Cr

mg/L 400 0.2 Salmon R Shuswap at Falkland Lake Prov. Park 22 0 environment? 0.3 Salmon R at Adelphi Cr Salmon Salmon R R at Adelphi Falkland Cr Salmon R Blind at Glenemma Bay / 100 mL Units Coliform # Park 400 Beach 7 0 0.10.2 Salmon R at Falkland 200 Salmon Salmon R R at Falkland Glenemma

• If so, where are they coming from / 100 mL Units Coliform # Sunnybrae Beach200 9 Salmon R at Glenemma 2 and how are they being transported 0.10 Salmon R at Glenemma 0 Herald Provincial Park 14 0 into the rivers? 0 0 Canoe Beach 12 0 Date Date Having answers to these questions will inform Park 39 0 better nutrient management to protect our Date Date water quality. Swimming beaches: 2016 0 Swimming 40 35 beaches 30 What is an acceptable or 25 0 Interior Health Authority is the unacceptable result? 20 0 39 0 regulatory agency that oversees water 15 2 Canadian guidelines on water quality for 10 22 0 quality monitoring at popular swimming results test of # # unacceptable results 14 12 swimming state that a safe bacteria level is beaches in the Shuswap. Water samples 5 7 9 0 # acceptable results less than 400 E. coli in a 100 mL sample, or an are tested throughout the summer average of 200 E. coli in five consecutive 100 mL months for E. coli, a type of bacteria that samples collected on a weekly basis. Above this, is an indicator of water contamination. a swimming advisory may be issued. Here are the results from the beach 7 sampling program in 2016. “If we want future generations to enjoy our MAKING SENSE watershed, we need to take care of it.” – Student, Grade 11-12 Earth Science class, OF THE DATA Salmon Arm Secondary School The Shuswap watershed is a complex ecosystem. Water quality monitoring results vary in different regions of the watershed and different times of year, as Help keep the Shuswap clean shown on the previous pages. There are a lot of things that can be done to help maintain and improve water quality. Generally, the lower receiving areas of the watershed As a resident or visitor to the Shuswap, here are some priorities for individual action: such as Mara Lake and Salmon Arm Bay have higher concentrations of nutrients than elsewhere in the • Make sure you know where your wastewater goes. Is your household on a septic system, or watershed. This is related to inflows from the Shuswap connected to sewer? If it’s septic, you’re responsible for keeping it in good repair. The Septic Smart River and Salmon River, and to a lesser extent Canoe Homeowner’s Guide is a good place to start: csrd.bc.ca/septicsmart/homeowners-guide Creek, White Creek, and Tappen Creek. In addition, • Properly dispose of unused medications – return them to a pharmacy concentrations of nutrients such as phosphorus as well as chlorophyll a are higher in the warmer growing • Pledge not to flush personal care products such as floss, swabs and wipes season (summer and fall) than in the cooler seasons (winter and spring). Even so, much of the phosphorus measurements for Shuswap and Mara Lake are Acknowledgments considered low except for Salmon Arm Bay. The upper The SWC wishes to thank the members of the Shuswap Water Quality Monitoring Group for their areas of the watershed such as Mabel Lake, Sugar contributions to this summary. Thanks also to Dave Ramsay and his students at Salmon Arm Secondary Lake, and Adams Lake have very low measurements of School for sharing some of their ideas and classwork with us. phosphorus and chlorophyll a. The Shuswap and Salmon River monitoring results vary throughout the year. In addition to surrounding What do you think? land uses, weather events impact river water quality. This is the first annual water quality summary from the Shuswap Watershed Council. We’d like to know, The Shuswap River charts on p. 6, for example, what did you think? What else would you like to see in subsequent years summaries? Please contact illustrate how late winter melt, spring freshet, and fall the SWC, care of the Fraser Basin Council in Kamloops: [email protected] | 250 314-9660 rains affect water quality.

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Shuswap Watershed Council. 2016 Water Quality Summary. July 2017.