Third and Final Year for West Arm Water Quality Monitoring Program Begins
By Contributor
Friends of Kootenay Lake are pleased to announce that this week the organization is starting the third and final year of a three-year water quality monitoring program.
The study will provide important baseline data for one of the highest populated portions of the lake and to encourage a broader and deeper understanding the lake’s ecosystem. In the first two years we captured 10,200 data points and provided one-on-one training with over 50 volunteers.
The plan is to monitor by boat 12 times between May-October for the following parameters:
- Chlorophyll a
- Turbidity
- Total Phosphorus
- Dissolved Phosphorus
- Total Nitrogen
- Nitrate + Nitrite
- Ammonia
- Fecal Coliform
- E.coli
- Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen
- Organic Nitrogen
- Temperature
- Dissolved Oxygen
- Water clarity
The organization is also teaming up with the Central Kootenay Invasive Plant Committee to monitor for zebra and quagga mussels. These aquatic invasive species are posing a threat to many of our freshwater systems in BC including Kootenay Lake.
Anyone wanting to help the program is urged to get to the boat to try their hand at water quality monitoring. For more information friendsofkootenaylake.cao for water monitoring dates.
