For the second year the Resort Municipality of Whistler, the B.C. Lake Stewardship Society and Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection teamed up to conduct water quality monitoring on Whistler’s network of lakes.
The program will continue this year, and is seeking volunteers to monitor Alta, Alpha, Nita and Green Lakes.
Information is collected weekly from canoes in the deepest part of the Lake. Due to the late start in monitoring last year, this will be the first season that local lakes will be monitored during their spring turnover.
The information will be collected as part of a three-year study, examining trends in surface temperature, water clarity, outlining temperature and dissolved oxygen.
The surface water temperature can influence oxygen, phosphorous and algae levels within the lake. Long-term temperature data can show warming and cooling trends. Water clarity can indicate high levels of nutrients or sediment loading, and the temperature and dissolved oxygen profiles can determine suitability as fish habitat at different times of the year.
The monitoring takes approximately one hour on a weekly to monthly basis. If you’re interested in learning more about lake ecology or just enjoy being out on the lake, contact Betty at the RMOW, 604-935-8323, or e-mail brebellato@whistler.ca to volunteer. No experience is necessary and training will be provided.
