Stewardship. Protection. Restoration.
Our Mission
The Guardians Of Nicola Lake and Watershed Society's mission is to investigate, analyze and protect the quality and health of Nicola Lake and the Nicola Lake Watershed
​
Community
By partnering with local organizations, businesses, and communities, we strengthen our conservation efforts and foster a sense of stewardship. Together, we can inspire a collective commitment to help protect Nicola Lake and its watershed, ensuring a sustainable future for this vital ecosystem. Let's work hand in hand to make a positive difference!
​
Advocate
Nicola Lake and its watershed deserve our protection and care. We are committed to advocating for policies that not only safeguard this vital ecosystem but also empower our community—residents, businesses, and organizations alike—to play an active role in restoring the health of Nicola Lake. Together, we can make a meaningful impact and ensure a thriving environment for future generations
​
Investigate
Our focus for the next three years is to leverage Level 3 testing to assess the nutrient levels, oxidation, clarity, and temperature of Nicola Lake. This comprehensive analysis aims to identify the underlying causes of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in the area. By gathering and evaluating this data, we can contribute to effective management strategies and environmental preservation efforts.
​
Educate
The Guardians of Nicola Lake and Watershed Society is dedicated to promoting stewardship of our land through outreach and educational programs. Our goal is to raise awareness and empower individuals to take action, leading to the restoration of the lake's health. Together, we can make a positive impact on our environment and ensure a thriving ecosystem for future generations. Join us in our mission to help protect and preserve this beautiful natural resource.
​
​
Working Together for a Healthier Lake
​
Why We Are Here
​
The Guardians of Nicola Lake and Watershed Society was formed because we all care deeply about Nicola Lake and want to see it healthy again—for us, for future generations, and for all the life it supports.
​
The Society came together in response to a growing and urgent problem: the increasing frequency and intensity of toxic algae blooms in Nicola Lake. These blooms have become so severe that they have not only harmed fish and wildlife but have even resulted in the tragic deaths of pets who entered or drank from the water. These events underscored the need for coordinated community action and long-term stewardship to protect both people and ecosystems.
​
Our main goal is simple but vital: to reduce the nutrients and contaminants entering the lake. Too many nutrients fuel toxic algae blooms, harming water quality, fish, wildlife, and recreation. These blooms have become more frequent and intense, made worse by climate change—hotter summers, lower water levels, and stronger storms all create the perfect conditions for algae to thrive.
​
A Holistic Watershed Approach
​
Nicola Lake is part of a larger living system. Creeks, rivers, and groundwater flow into the lake, while the Nicola River carries water out—linking the lake to communities and ecosystems far downstream. This means that what happens anywhere in the watershed—from the high mountain slopes to valley farms—affects the health of the lake itself.
Taking a holistic approach means looking beyond the shoreline. It’s about understanding that healthy lands and healthy waters are connected. Runoff from roads, fertilizers from farms, erosion from hillsides, and livestock access to creeks all add up over time.
By addressing these issues collectively—through education, collaboration, and local action—we can restore balance and resilience throughout the entire watershed.A healthy watershed provides clean water, supports diverse habitats, sustains agriculture and recreation, and ensures Nicola Lake remains a vibrant centrepiece for the region.Protecting the lake means protecting everything connected to it.
Formal Designation & Watershed Planning
​
In July 2025, the Nicola Watershed was formally designated for a Water Sustainability Plan under the Water Sustainability Act (S. 65).This designation marks a major step forward—recognizing that the health of the Nicola watershed is a provincial priority. The plan will identify the current state and desired future state of the watershed and outline the path to get there.No formal timeline has been set—it will likely take a few years—but the Guardians will play an active role, contributing science, data, and community input throughout the process.
A Long History, A Shared Responsibility
Nutrient buildup in Nicola Lake goes back more than 150 years. Sediment still holds nutrients from historic mining, logging, fertilizers, farming, cattle, and development. While we can’t undo that history, we can take meaningful steps now to protect and restore the lake—together.
​​
Working Together Across the Watershed
​
We are focused on broader, community-based solutions—working with local farms, ranchers, and agencies to ensure that nutrient management plans required by the province are being followed. These plans aim to balance agricultural productivity with protection of inflowing rivers, creeks, and wetlands that sustain Nicola Lake.
Science in Action Level 3 Testing
​
To strengthen our science and guide future action, the Guardians Testing Team is partnering with the Ministry of Environment and Parks to begin Level 3 water-quality testing in spring 2026.This advanced testing will help us:
-
Measure nutrient levels across the lake and its tributaries
-
Track seasonal and long-term trends
-
Investigate potential sources of nutrient impacts. While pinpointing exact sources is complex due to the lake’s long history, this data will guide targeted restoration and management across the watershed.​
​​
​
A Shared Effort, A Shared Future
Restoring Nicola Lake won’t happen overnight—it took more than 150 years to reach this point. But there is reason for hope. Support from residents is growing, and the Upper Nicola Band has led years of monitoring and testing in partnership with government. Together, we are building on this important foundation for long-term recovery.This is not about finger-pointing—there’s no single cause or simple fix. Restoring the health of Nicola Lake will take cooperation, patience, and shared care. The only way forward is by working together as a community that values this precious lake and the entire watershed that feeds it.
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
