Water Stewardship Information Sources
| Citation | Epps, D and Phippen, BW. 2011. Water quality assessment and objectives for Cowichan Lake: technical report. BC Ministry of Environment. |
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| Organization | Ministry of Environment |
| URL | http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wat/wq/objectives/cowichan/technical-2011.pdf |
| Abstract/Description or Keywords | This document presents a summary of the ambient water quality of Cowichan Lake, near the Town of Lake Cowichan, British Columbia, and proposes water quality objectives designed to protect existing and future water uses. The water quality assessment for the lake and an evaluation of the watershed form the basis for the objectives. Cowichan Lake is the second largest lake on Vancouver Island, with a surface area of 6,204 ha. Cowichan Lake provides drinking water to the Town of Lake Cowichan, the Cowichan Valley Regional District, and there are numerous domestic drinking water licenses for both Cowichan Lake and the Cowichan River. Catalyst Paper Crofton Division has a weir at the east end of the lake. The lake water levels are controlled to ensure sufficient flows for the low flow fisheries period in late summer/early fall downstream in Cowichan River. The Cowichan watershed supports an abundance and diversity of both anadromous and resident salmonids that is unrivalled on Vancouver Island. Cowichan Lake also provides significant recreational opportunities (fishing, swimming, camping and boating) and wildlife habitat. These activities, as well as forestry, residential and historical mining activities, all potentially affect water quality in Cowichan Lake. Water quality monitoring was conducted between 2008 and 2009. The results of this monitoring indicate the lake is oligotrophic and the overall state of the water quality is very good. All chemical, physical and biological parameters in the lake meet provincial water quality guidelines with the exception of microbiological indicators which exceeded drinking water guidelines on occasion near Youbou (site 2) and the marina. Furthermore, of the 11 tributary streams entering Cowichan Lake, three (Mckay Creek, Robertson Creek and Sutton Creek) had elevated turbidity and TSS concentrations following a rainstorm event. In order to maintain and protect the water quality in Cowichan Lake, ambient water quality objectives were set for temperature, dissolved oxygen, water clarity (Secchi depth), total phosphorus, chlorophyll a, turbidity, TOC, and E. coli. In addition, turbidity and total suspended solids objectives were recommended for the tributaries to Cowichan Lake. Future monitoring recommendations include attainment monitoring at all three deep basin sites, every 3-5 years, depending on available resources and whether activities, such as forestry or development, are underway within the watershed. This monitoring should be conducted for one year on a quarterly basis and also include microbiological indicators at the 12 perimeter sites during the summer low flow and fall flush period (five weekly samples in 30 days). Turbidity and TSS samples should be collected at the 11 tributary sites once weekly for five consecutive weeks in a 30 day period during the fall freshet. In addition, future monitoring should be considered at the Town of Lake Cowichan’s water intake location, primarily for E. coli. |
| Information Type | report |
| Regional Watershed | Vancouver Island South |
| Sub-watershed if known | Cowichan |
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| Comments | |
| Project status | complete |
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