Awarded to the Lake Windermere Ambassadors to protect and enhance the ecological integrity and water quality of Lake Windermere through science-based monitoring, early detection of environmental threats, and community education that drives long-term lake stewardship.
PROPONENT: Lake Windermere Ambassadors (LWA)
DESCRIPTION: Each year that Lake Windermere continues to grow in popularity as a tourism destination and experiences housing and commercial development around the shorelines, the risks of negative environmental impacts occurring to the water quality, and risks of disturbance to local fish and wildlife populations, increases significantly. Case studies demonstrate that lakes, rivers, and marine water bodies which undergo significant pollution events, algal blooms, or invasion by non-native species inevitably lose a significant amount of tourism/recreation revenue and suffer possibly irreversible environmental damages. Climate change is beginning to influence the hydrologic regimes in the Columbia Valley by causing hotter, drier summers and warmer, wetter winters, all of which compounds human influences on water quality. It is imperative that we build on the baseline data of fish populations and continue to gather water quantity and quality data within the Columbia River Headwater Lakes as soon as possible to prevent damage and manage impacts to these critical ecosystems. Concerns currently facing Lake Windermere are increased development pressures on aquatic ecosystems, lack of understanding of native and non-native fish populations, and limited public access.
OBJECTIVE: This project will work towards ensuring that the lake remains a valuable natural resource for future generations. Through careful stewardship, this project not only protects biodiversity but also enhances the quality of life for Columbia Valley residents and visitors. Specific objectives include: 1) Collect consistent, high-quality water-quality and biological monitoring data from Lake Windermere, its public beaches, and key tributaries to track trends and identify threats; 2) Maintain and expand citizen-science participation and training to increase community capacity for conservation; 3) Translate data into accessible resources and management recommendations for decision-makers, other local groups, residents and visitors; and 4) Increase public awareness of lake health, responsible recreation, and climate-resilient behaviours.
PHOTOS: Lake Windermere Ambassadors
Watch this video for an excellent overview of the project.
