Water Quality Summary Report for 2016 This Is the First Annual Report on Water Quality from the Shuswap Watershed Council
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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 Shuswap Lake 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 Mara Lake as for monitoring ecosystem health, ensuring public health and safety, for research or Mabel Lake stewardship purposes, and more. Sugar Lake The Shuswap Watershed Council (SWC) was established in 2014 as a watershed-based partnership Shuswap River 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. Adams Lake 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 Little Shuswap Lake. 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) 6 6 metres (m) 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.