The LakeKeepers manual, a lakeshore resident’s guide to the stewardship and monitoring of lakes, has been completed and is now available for sale.

Anyone concerned or even curious about lakes in BC will find this manual useful and informative. The manual provides insight to the fascinating nature of lakes, and helps readers understand basic lake function. This is especially important for individuals who wish to play an active role in managing the health of those lakes in which they are interested.

Chapter One “Getting Started” briefly describes some of the aspects of lake stewardship, “the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care”. It introduces involvement in stewardship through citizen advocacy and monitoring, and how to create stewardship groups. It also provides information about other lake stewardship groups currently active in British Columbia.

Chapter Two “Organising a Stewardship Group” goes into more detail on organisational structure: how to find a good mix of members, what type of group may best match your interests, facilitating meetings, goal and action planning, fundraising, and how to use media and government agencies effectively.

Chapter Three “An Introduction to Lakes” introduces you to some of technical and scientific aspects of limnology by discussing first the physical characteristics of lake water, namely temperature and oxygen, followed by discussions of nutrient dynamics and biological production. Here too, the element of human impact on lakes is introduced.

With your initial understanding of lake ecology in place and with your willingness to become volunteers, it’s time to learn what is actually happening on that lake you’re interested in. Chapter Four “Developing a Lake Sampling Program” provides instruction on how to sample lakes. You will learn some of the where, when, and how’s of developing and carrying out an effective program that can provide you with the information necessary to understand specific lakes and to participate in effective lake management.

The question of “what” to sample is a considerable one. It will be specific to each lake and water quality issue. Chapter Five “Water Quality Parameters” covers this topic for the issue of most concern – nutrient pollution and lake eutrophication.

A few of the many appendices included in the manual are: “Quick Guide to Proposal Writing”, “Field Forms and Sampling Instructions”, Examples of Proposals and Media Releases, General Educational Material on Lake Water Quality and Lake Stewardship, the booklet “Stewardship Options for Private Land Owners in British Columbia”, and much more.

PRICING

LakeKeepers has been produced by the LakeKeepers committee of the BC Lake Stewardship Society on a volunteer basis. The manual is sold by the BCLSS to individual or group members at the cost of production plus shipping charges. It is sold to non-BCLSS members at the cost of production plus $30 and shipping charges.

Our hope is that this policy will allow the BCLSS to produce LakeKeepers on a sustained basis, including the mailing of new chapters to members as those chapters are produced.

Member price: $40 + shipping
Non-member price: $70 + shipping

If you would like to purchase a LakeKeepers Manual, contact the BCLSS office.

For information on LakeKeepers training courses, please click here.