B.C. launches website to help people identify algae blooms in lakes
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SALMON ARM — To understand where and when algae blooms happen around the province, B.C.’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy developed an educational Algae Watch website.
One event that inspired the B.C. government to launch the website was in July 2020 where a large algal bloom filled most of the Salmon Arm end of Shuswap Lake, turning the pristine water into pea soup for several weeks.
“We’ve never seen anything quite like that,” Water Quality Limnologist Mike Sokal said. “We’re still trying to fully understand the cause. The lake was visually unappealing, but health officials noted the water was safe for all recreational activities and public drinking water systems.”
Algae are a natural part of all aquatic ecosystems, providing food for fish and supplying much of the oxygen we breathe. However, prolific growth can cause a dense mass or bloom to form.
