Shuswap Watershed Council's Phosphorus Action Plan Webinar

Nutrients are an essential part of healthy watersheds and aquatic ecosystems. However, excessive amounts, especially in the form of phosphorus, can reduce water clarity and quality for drinking and recreation, result in unpleasant odours, and - in a worst-case scenario - lead to harmful algae blooms that are toxic to people, pets and livestock. The Salmon-Safe Farm program, hosted by the Fraser Basin Council (FBC) in BC, promotes safe and sustainable nutrient management to protect watershed health, wild salmon populations, and aquatic ecosystems.
Salmon-Safe BC wanted to showcase sustainable nutrient management through the great work of another FBC supported table, the Shuswap Watershed Council (SWC), on their Phosphorus Action Plan (P Action Plan). The P Action Plan provides guidance for everyone in the Shuswap watershed on actions they can take to protect water quality by reducing the amount of phosphorus being released into the watershed.

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For questions that were not addressed in the webinar, please find answers from the speakers below.
Q: What are the primary algal groups driving the recent blooms?
A: A taxonomy report was done by Larratt Aquatic Consulting on August 22nd, for BC Ministry of Environment & Climate Change Strategy and First Nations Health Authority. Anabaena sp. (recently re-classified as Dolichospermum) dominated the sample as the leading bloom organism. Several other species were noted.
Q: Is there a technical document that accompanies the "Understanding Nutrients and Water Quality in the Shuswap River and Salmon River"?
A: Yes. The research team at UBC-Okanagan produced technical reports. They are available at www.fraserbasin.bc.ca/Water_Quality_Reports.html#nutrient
Q: Who provides the funds for the grant program?
A: There are four funders for the Shuswap Watershed Council’s work. They are the Columbia Shuswap Regional District (including the District of Sicamous), Thompson-Nicola Regional District, City of Salmon Arm, and Adams Lake Indian Band.
Q: Have you noticed a correlation between the catastrophic fires we have had in the last few years and the algal blooms happening? increased runoff in spring from the burned-off areas?
A: That is a great question. As a Council, we do not have a field program but we have asked the Ministry of Environment & Climate Change to consider adjusting their monitoring programs to capture the effects of the White Rock Lake fire (2021) on the Salmon River and downstream to Shuswap Lake.