Over the course of the summer of 2016, the MABRRI team will be conducting a Lake Monitoring program of a couple lakes in the MABR and Regional District of Nanaimo. In order to become familiar with the monitoring equipment, the MABRRI team headed to Westwood Lake in Nanaimo. With the use of an inflatable boat and kayaks, each member of the summer student research team was able to use the SONDE monitor to measure lake health aspects including temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity. Westwood Lake is a relatively shallow lake that is surrounded by a regional park. Urban development also has an impact on the lake which makes it an interesting lake to explore in terms of its current health. We chose to sample the middle of the lake as it is the deepest portion of the lake and would be less affected by runoff and other disturbances to the water column found closer to shore. The weather was hot and sunny and the MABRRI crew enjoyed getting out of the office for a change and exploring our own backyard. Kayaking around the lake made the whole MABRRI team appreciate the nature that is in the Nanaimo area. Throughout the course of the summer, MABRRI hopes to gain a better understanding of the current state of lakes in the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region (MABR) and increase our team's knowledge of lake sampling and monitoring.
Adventure Tips:
-
Westwood Lake is an excellent lake for kayaking or stand-up-paddle boarding. A parking lot is located at the end of Westwood Road where there’s a boat launch.
-
Trout fishing can be productive in Westwood Lake. The best times are in the Spring and Fall and there is a wheelchair accessible dock located to the north of the main parking lot
-
The Westwood Lake area has a multitude of mountain bike trails ranging from flat trails designed for beginners to downhill trails for the advanced rider. Trails can be accessed from the main parking lot or the parking lot on the north side of the lake