Water Stewardship Information Sources
| Citation | Epps, D. 2011. Water quality assessment and objectives for Cowichan Lake, Overview Report. BC Ministry of Environment. |
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| Organization | BC MoE |
| URL | http://cowichanwatershedboard.ca/sites/default/files/WaterQualityAssessment-CowichanLake-Overview-DebEpps-Jun2011.pdf |
| Abstract/Description or Keywords | This document is one in a series that presents water quality objectives for British Columbia. This overview report summarizes the findings of the technical report, which is available as a separate document. The overview report provides general information about the water quality of Cowichan Lake, which supplies drinking water to the Town of Lake Cowichan, as well as the Cowichan Valley Regional District on the east coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia. It is intended for both technical readers and for readers who may not be familiar with the process for setting water quality objectives. Separate tables listing water quality objectives and monitoring recommendations are included. The technical report presents the details of the water quality assessment for Cowichan Lake, and forms the basis of the recommendations and objectives presented here. The primary activities occurring within the watershed that could potentially impact water quality are timber harvesting, recreation, residential and historical mining activities. Water quality objectives are recommended to protect source water (raw drinking water supply), recreation, irrigation, wildlife and aquatic life. This report examines the existing water quality of the Cowichan Lake watershed and recommends water quality objectives for this watershed based on potential impacts of certain key water quality parameters of concern. The Cowichan River watershed, which includes Cowichan Lake, is one of three rivers in BC designated a Canadian Heritage River based on its outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values. Cowichan Lake is the second largest lake on Vancouver Island and supplies drinking water to the Town of Lake Cowichan and the Cowichan Valley Regional District. The Cowichan watershed supports an abundance and diversity of both anadromous and resident salmonids that is unrivalled on Vancouver Island. Anthropogenic land uses within the watershed include timber harvesting, residential and recreation. These activities, as well as natural erosion and the presence of wildlife, all potentially affect water quality in the Cowichan Lake watershed. The purpose of this report is to develop water quality objectives specific for Cowichan Lake to help ensure long-term sustainability of the water resource. |
| Information Type | report |
| Regional Watershed | Vancouver Island South |
| Sub-watershed if known | Cowichan |
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| Contact Name | Deborah Epps |
| Contact Email | [email protected] |