Ford lake, water balance water quality
Overview description: Ford Lake Wet Lands Studies: Ford Lake, on Saltspring Island is a pond that is surrounded by a wet land. The lake collects the waters that begin Fulford Creek. Wetlands and important habitat for a variety of species of water fowl and represent a range of ecosystems over a relatively small area. Ducks Unlimited have acquired approximately three fifths of the land surrounding the lake. Management of these lands have been allocated to a local farmer. Much of the Canary grass wetland have been mowed. The north side of the wet lands have been ditched to encourage drainage. This drainage appears to have effected the water balance causing lake level to fluctuate more rapidly and reaching summer lows during the island dry season. A variety of studies related to Ford Lake and the adjacent wet lands on Saltspring Island. Studies include bathometric survey, vegetation transects, benthic analysis, bird census and water level monitoring and metering. A base line level (referred to a Gov benchmark) was established in 2002.
Community interest or concern The SSI conservancy expressed interest in ongoing studies as did the Stream Keepers who were interest in flow rates being sustained in Fulford creek a salmon spawning creek.
Duration of study and numbers involved These studies ran from 1996 to 2006. The longitudinal data was placed on the ES 11 website but has since been changed and the data not included. Bob Sharp still retains most of the data.
Protocols followed and resources. Many of the aquatic sampling processes we used were defined by John Flanaggan while he was an entomologist with the DFO. Other protocols were standards used within industry. Data loggers were used to record water level flucuations.
Contact person and more detailed information Cate McEwan SSI Conservancy, Bob Sharp Education, John Flannigan Former DFO, Robert Bateman who lives on the lake.
Overview description: Ford Lake Wet Lands Studies: Ford Lake, on Saltspring Island is a pond that is surrounded by a wet land. The lake collects the waters that begin Fulford Creek. Wetlands and important habitat for a variety of species of water fowl and represent a range of ecosystems over a relatively small area. Ducks Unlimited have acquired approximately three fifths of the land surrounding the lake. Management of these lands have been allocated to a local farmer. Much of the Canary grass wetland have been mowed. The north side of the wet lands have been ditched to encourage drainage. This drainage appears to have effected the water balance causing lake level to fluctuate more rapidly and reaching summer lows during the island dry season. A variety of studies related to Ford Lake and the adjacent wet lands on Saltspring Island. Studies include bathometric survey, vegetation transects, benthic analysis, bird census and water level monitoring and metering. A base line level (referred to a Gov benchmark) was established in 2002.
Community interest or concern The SSI conservancy expressed interest in ongoing studies as did the Stream Keepers who were interest in flow rates being sustained in Fulford creek a salmon spawning creek.
Duration of study and numbers involved These studies ran from 1996 to 2006. The longitudinal data was placed on the ES 11 website but has since been changed and the data not included. Bob Sharp still retains most of the data.
Protocols followed and resources. Many of the aquatic sampling processes we used were defined by John Flanaggan while he was an entomologist with the DFO. Other protocols were standards used within industry. Data loggers were used to record water level flucuations.
Contact person and more detailed information Cate McEwan SSI Conservancy, Bob Sharp Education, John Flannigan Former DFO, Robert Bateman who lives on the lake.