Help Save our Lake
Every property owner and resident around Nicola Lake plays a crucial role in watershed protection. These practical actions make a real difference in reducing nutrient loading and protecting water quality.
Lake Quality QR Signs
Signs installed around the Nicola Watershed include a QR code for instant access to lake quality information and stewardship tips.
How to Use:
- Open your phone’s camera.
- Point it at the QR code.
- Hold steady until a link appears.
- Tap to open information.
Wake Surf & Shorelines
Wake surf boats generate significantly higher wave energy and deeper water disturbance than traditional boats.
High Energy: Waves carry 2-10x the energy of fishing boats.
Deeper Disturbance: Operates at 6-8m vs 1.5m for traditional boats.
Action: Operate in deeper mid-lake areas, away from shorelines and shallow bays.
Research:
How Residents and Businesses Can Help Reduce Phosphorus Pollution
Excess phosphorus is a significant threat to Nicola Lake's ecosystem, contributing to harmful algae blooms. This guide provides practical actions to maintain phosphorus levels below 0.02 mg/L and preserve water quality for future generations.
- Regular Pumping: Schedule tank pump outs to prevent leaks into Nicola Lake's groundwater.
- Professional Inspection: Have your system professionally inspected annually to identify issues early.
- Protect Drain Fields: Never park vehicles or build over drain fields to avoid compacting soil.
Maintain Your Septic System
- Install fencing to keep cattle away from water.
- Ensure run-off from feed lots is not leaching into water sources.
- Implement off-site watering stations.
- Plant robust riparian buffer strips to filter runoff.
Cattle Impact on Lake Phosphorus
RESIDENTS:
- Avoid using fertilizer particularly for lawns in close proximity to the lake.
- Native Plants: Use species adapted to local soil that don't require fertilization.
- Organic Options: If needed, use compost sparingly and away from the shoreline.
AGRICULTURE and RANCHING:
Establish robust riparian buffer strips to filter run-off.
- Ensure fertilizer is applied to fields according to Nutrient Management Plans (NMPs).
- Ensure no leaching into water sources.
Avoid Using Fertilizers
- Phosphate-Free: Use detergents and soaps labeled 'lake-friendly'.
- Limit Chemicals: Avoid cleaners that disrupt septic bacterial balance.
- Proper Disposal: Never pour grease or chemicals down drains; use local hazard facilities.
Use Lake-Friendly Products
Protect the Shoreline
Careful Construction
- Natural Buffers: Maintain a vegetated zone of 10–15 feet to filter runoff.
- Avoid Hardscaping: Minimize concrete surfaces near water; use natural bioengineering for erosion.
- Erosion Controls: Use silt fences and blankets during landscaping projects.
- Revegetation: Replant disturbed soil quickly to stabilize it.
- Manage Runoff: Use permeable alternatives to asphalt where possible.
Boating Etiquette for a Healthy Lake
Boating is a huge part of Nicola Lake life. Responsible boating helps protect water quality and shoreline habitat.
- Slow Down in Shallow Areas: Boat propellers can stir up sediment and nutrients, which can contribute to algae growth. Stay in water more than 20 feet deep and well away from shorelines.
- Reduce Wake Near Shore: Large wakes can cause shoreline erosion and habitat damage.
- Respect No-Wake Zones: These areas protect fish habitat and shoreline stability.
- Avoid Circling in One Area: Repeated boat traffic in shallow areas can resuspend lake bottom sediments.
- Prevent Fuel Spills: Maintain engines and refuel carefully to prevent contamination.
- Start off slow in shallow areas until reaching 20 feet depth
Native Plants: Nature's Shoreline Solution
Removing shoreline vegetation can increase nutrient runoff into Nicola Lake by allowing more phosphorus-rich sediment and surface runoff to enter the water. Replanting a healthy shoreline buffer is one of the most effective ways property owners can help. The best plants are typically native species with deep, dense root systems that stabilize the bank, slow runoff, trap sediment, and absorb excess nutrients before they reach the lake.
Why Grass Isn't the Answer: Grass is often ineffective for protecting water quality as its shallow root systems offer minimal erosion prevention. It frequently requires watering and fertilizing, which increases nutrient runoff into Nicola Lake. Instead of a filter, a lawn can behave like a conduit for pollution.
Benefits of Native Plant Species:
- Reduces Nutrient Runoff – Absorbs phosphorus and nitrogen before they reach the lake.
- Prevents Erosion – Deep root systems stabilize soil against waves and rain.
- Improves Water Quality – Natural filtration leads to clearer, healthier water.
- Supports Local Ecosystems – Provides essential habitat for birds and aquatic life.
- Low Maintenance – Drought-tolerant species eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers.
Recommended Native Species for Nicola Lake:
- Closest to Water: Willows, Black Cottonwood, Water Birch, Red-osier Dogwood, Sedges & Rushes.
- Mid-Bank Zone: Scouler’s Willow, Douglas Maple, Saskatoon Berry.
- Upper Bank: Yarrow, Showy Milkweed, Nodding Onion.