British Columbia Lake Stewardship Society

The British Columbia Lake Stewardship Society (BCLSS) is a Canadian non-profit organization dedicated to preserving, protecting, and restoring lakes in British Columbia. The society acts as a resource, communication, and information network for those concerned about BC lakes.

Mission and Objectives

The mission of the BCLSS is to empower individuals and communities to maintain the health of their lakes and watersheds. It accomplishes this through education, training, and collaboration with local organizations and residents.

Programs

BC Lake Stewardship and Monitoring Program

This program, developed in partnership with the BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, allows for extensive collaboration with lake stewards. Volunteers are provided with training, equipment, and support to collect water quality data and observations from lakes across BC. The program promotes community-based involvement and extensive collaboration efforts.

LakeKeepers Program

The LakeKeepers program is an educational initiative designed to provide in-depth knowledge on lake science, monitoring, and stewardship. The LakeKeepers Manual serves as a valuable resource for anyone interested in lake management.

BC Lake Stewardship Engagement Initiative

This initiative aims to enhance and strengthen the provincial lake stewardship sector by fostering engagement among community groups, residents, and other stakeholders.

Partnerships

The BCLSS collaborates with various organizations to achieve its mission. These partnerships include working with local community organizations, the BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, Living Lakes Canada, and other lake stewardship groups.

Activities

• NALMS Secchi Dip-In: An international event where volunteers collect snapshots of water quality from their lakes.
• Level 1 Study Program: Volunteers are trained and equipped to collect at least 12 evenly spaced water samples during the ice-off season, focusing on maintaining consistent sampling schedules.

Resource Library

The BCLSS maintains a comprehensive resource library offering provincial lake reports, data forms, boating information, educational resources, management plans, and other relevant links to support lake stewardship efforts.