Insight Into the Waterbirds of Lake Windermere
This past September Goldeneye Ecological Services lead a one-day bird survey at the northern end of Lake Windermere. The one day count in combination with online research (eBird) determined that 165 bird species utilize habitat found at Lake Windermere. Of that number, 17 of those are considered to be species at-risk. Lake Windermere has historically […]
Lake Windermere’s Aquatic Plant Survey results
Preserving the plants! Aquatic plants in Lake Windermere are often misunderstood. While some consider them to be a nuisance (e.g. they can become entangled in boat engines or impede swimming), they hold significant value for the ecosystem! Aquatic plants are an important food source for many animals and are a critical dietary component for migrating […]
Windermere Creek Monitoring Report 2015-2017
After three years of data collection and monitoring on Windermere Creek (April-October 2015-2017), the results have been reviewed and published by Lotic Environmental, the Lake Windermere Ambassadors, and the Columbia Basin Water Quality Monitoring Project (CBWQ). The link to these results is below. This project was generously funded by the Columbia Basin Trust and in-kind support […]
Letter in support of Bill C-68
Changes to the federal Fisheries Act, in Bill-C68, are currently being reviewed by the Senate. These proposed changes include an important amendment to include “quantity, quality and timing of water flow” in the definition of fish habitat. This is a very important and necessary modernization, that will help protect fish and aquatic ecosystems in the […]
We’re hiring!
Are you passionate about lake stewardship and conservation? Do you have experience working independently and managing concurrent projects? Is engaging your community in watershed leadership something that excites you? We are looking for another passionate water steward and community leader to join our organization. Please read the full job description below, and follow the instructions […]
Be a steward of your stormwater
Sunday, September 23rd marks BC Rivers Day, a day to highlight the many values of rivers and increase public awareness and stewardship of rivers around the province. Here in the Columbia Valley, we are incredibly lucky to host the source of the Columbia River and to have good water quality that allows us to […]
Smoke on the Water
After a hazy August caused by hundreds of wildfires burning across the province, the smoky skies have us wondering what impacts it might have on our waterways here in the Columbia Valley. The combined impacts of wildfires can have negative consequences for water quality in a watershed. Not only does the burning of vegetation and charring of […]
Come health with high water: how flooding supports our wetland ecosystems
A couple of weeks ago, I climbed a grassy hill overlooking Athalmer to get a better view of the lake. I was surprised to notice what normally appeared to be a dry patch of reeds and grass now rippling and glimmering in the sun. I hadn’t realized it before when the water was low, but this was a […]
Spring is in the air, and the Ambassadors are out on the water!
Our first excursion to sample the lake water this year was April 24th. It was a blustery day, with very low water levels. Too low to launch the motorboat, we embarked in a flatwater kayak to face the waves and collect Phosphorous samples! The lab results came back showing very low Total and Dissolved Phosphorous concentrations, […]
Nuisance Nutrients Learning Workshop
Saturday, April 14th at 1:00 pm we will host a learning workshop in Invermere, BC. If you’ve ever wondered about nutrients in Lake Windermere, and whether they might be a good thing or a bad thing, come on out for this free talk and hands-on afternoon session. We will get to practice water sampling and […]