Bouchie Lake Stewardship Society
Background Information
The Bouchie Lake Stewardship Committee (BLSC) was formed several years ago by local residents concerned about the state of Bouchie Lake and the surrounding area. In 2008, there was a severe fish-kill (see photos below) in the lake due to an algal bloom and lake turn-over resulting in oxygen depletion. This created new motivation for the BLSC and residents to work together with provincial and local government as well as other stakeholders to prevent this from happening again.
The BLSC began formally working with Baker Creek Enhancement Society (BCES) in 2009. A series of community meetings with government, residents and stakeholders were held to address the issues in the watershed and possible solutions. The Watershed Management Plan was developed to address the issues and solutions in the Bouchie-Milburn Watershed.
More Recent Organizational Developments
In 2016 the Bouchie Lake Stewardship Society formally registered as a non-profit society under the BC Societies Act. In January 2019, the society formally changed its name to Bouchie Lake Watershed Stewardship Society (BLWSS) in recognition of the lake’s dependence on the surrounding watershed area including most notably Mitt Lake and Milburn Lake which contribute water to Bouchie Lake. The society adopted their mission statement:
“Bouchie Lake Watershed Stewardship Society is committed to enhance and maintain the health of the waters of Bouchie Lake, Milburn Lake and their watershed area to the benefit of all lake shore residents and all lake users.”.
In the fall of 2020, the society claimed a membership of 63 paid up members, with a slate of 8 directors who meet bi-monthly.
In February 2020, in conjunction with the Friends of Bouchie-Milburn Society (FoBM), the societyhosted a successful fundraising Casino Night at Bouchie Lake Hall. In August 2020 the society ran another fundraising event, a Poker Paddle on Milburn Lake. In 2020 the society also provided a booth for Safety Days in the grounds of Bouchie Lake School and contributed to the Bouchie Milburn Community Planning Project.
Recent Activities of BLWSS
In 2018-19 the society co-operated with the Ministry of Environment (MoE) and Cariboo Divers in a program to eradicate flowering rush from Bouchie Lake. The society has a contract with the CRD for the maintenance of the outhouses on the public access sites at both Bouchie and Milburn Lakes. Signage boards have been installed at both sites under permits from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) who hold jurisdiction over the public access right of ways. The society is engaged in an ongoing effort to combat the algae growth in Bouchie Lake. Other projects under consideration for Bouchie Lake include the purchase of a weed harvester, aeration, and acquisition of lakeshore property to act as a base for aeration and to provide extra recreational opportunities for
the community.
On Milburn Lake the society has identified flooding of the public access and adjoining properties as a main concern. In 2018 they commissioned Quesnel River Environmental to prepare a report “The Milburn lake Public Access Improvement Plan”. This report details improvements to the public access area including flood prevention, creation of a riparian zone, boat ramp and bathing beach as well as designating a parking area and providing wheelchair accessibility. The society have been lobbying MoTI both to replace the existing three-foot diameter outflow culvert with a larger one that can accommodate the spring freshet and to raise the level of the public access area to prevent flooding of the area and to allow for year-round accessibility. In October 2020 MoTI engaged a hydrotechnical engineering firm to collect data and present a report on Bouchie Creek and Milburn Lake watershed. The report is to be presented mid December 2020. In the watershed area, the society is promoting the idea of installing roadside signage on the feeder streams to Bouchie Lake.
Click to Download the Milburn Lake Access Improvement Plan.
Photos above left -Clear day on Bouchie Lake, centre – Algae blooms, right – fish kill
Bouchie Lake
Some facts concerning Bouchie Lake water quality:
- Bouchie Lake is not “dying”, but has become more biologically productive as a result of land and residential development
- The decomposition of the algae & other plant material depletes oxygen in the lake bottom waters
- There was a dramatic decline in water quality in the 1950s
- Fish kills are the result of the lake turning over and mixing this low oxygen water at the same time as algal bloom.
- Fish kills may become more frequent in the future as the climate warms because the lake will turn over more often – these will be worse if something is not done to address sources of phosphorus
The Science
Phosphorus is the primary nutrient of concern contributing to the algal growth that is resulting in poor water quality. Large algae blooms, excessive aquatic plant growth, and decreased water clarity have all been identified as concerns to residents. Two studies were conducted prior to 2007 looking at phosphorus inputs to the watershed.
The Bouchie-Milburn Watershed encompasses the west side of Milburn Mountain, Mit Lake, Milburn Lake, Bouchie Lake, and all associated creeks. There is a sub-surface water connection between the outlet of Milburn Lake and the inlet of Bouchie Lake. The main water bodies in the watershed are Milburn Lake and Bouchie Lake. Both lakes have development on the lakeshore to varying degrees.
An analysis was completed in 2002 by J.S. Hart and Associates to examine the phosphorus sources in the Bouchie-Milburn watershed. Annual phosphorus input to Bouchie Lake from the watershed is broken down as follows.
Phosphorus source Annual phosphorus input to
Bouchie Lake from the watershed Amount (kg) % of total
Agriculture land (including hobby farms) 190.2 42.2
Lakeshore sewage disposal systems 70.0 15.5
Livestock wintering areas 60.2 13.4
Crown land (excluding lakes and ponds) 37.6 8.3
Lakeshore residential land 36.0 8.0
Rural residential land 28.2 6.3
Atmospheric contributions to lakes and ponds 28.2 6.3
Total 450.3 100.0
The above table represents inputs from lakeshore and upland sources only. Hart estimates an increase of 3.9% input from lakeshore sewage systems (to 91.6 kg/year) by 2027 assuming no further development and no upgrades to sewage systems.
For a more complete synopsis of septic system impacts on the Bouchie-Milburn watershed, please see this document prepared by Chris Swan with the BC Ministry of Environment.
Internal phosphorus loading is also a significant source of nutrients to Bouchie Lake. Internal phosphorus loading is estimated to be 52% of the entire annual phosphorus load (C. Perrin 2005). This internal loading is a result of build-up of lakeshore and upland sources over time and was estimated using sediment core samples of the lake bottom.
Ongoing Activities
In addition to community and stakeholder meetings and planning with provincial and local government, BLSS and BCES have done a lot of work on the ground.
One of the areas of concern is Purser Creek Road. Along a portion of the road is a bank that has been eroding into the creek. The sediment being released carries a high nutrient load that is being deposited in Bouchie Lake. In October of 2009, Bouchie Lake Elementary students walked (!) to Purser Creek Road to help harvest plant material and begin building a wattle fence to combat the erosion on the bank. BCES staff, BLSC volunteers, Quesnel River Environmental Restoration Services, and students harvested willow and cottonwood trees from the nearby area and started work on the living wattle fence. The next day, volunteers from the community, including members of the Bouchie Lake Volunteer Fire Department, completed a section of the fencing and planted native vegetation. They also planted native vegetation on three lakeshore properties to improve riparian habitat.