Proposed UNBC Study

Project Title: Evaluation of Eutrophication in Bouchie Lake: Insights from Water Sampling and Numerical Modelling

Proponent: Dr. Hossein Kazemian, Professor, Director, Northern Analytical Lab Services (NALS)

Department of Geography, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, UNBC

1. Project Background

Bouchie Lake, located in British Columbia (BC), has experienced poor water quality for several years. However, the available reports and scientific studies documenting the lake’s water quality conditions are limited. Based on the available studies and discussions with the Bouchie Lake Watershed Stewardship Society, the lake has been reported to have elevated phosphorus concentrations, eutrophic conditions, and recurring blooms of cyanobacteria.

Although some studies and management initiatives have been conducted for Bouchie Lake, a comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of the lake’s current water quality is still lacking. For example, a sediment study reconstructed long-term changes in the lake’s environmental conditions (Heinrichs et al., 2005), while the Bouchie-Milburn Management Plan (2009) identified management actions for the watershed. However, these studies and initiatives do not provide an integrated assessment of the lake’s current trophic status, nutrient conditions, and potential sources of pollution.

There is currently limited information on the location, distribution and contribution of the potential point and non-point sources of nutrients and other pollutants within the lake's watershed. An updated assessment of the lake’s trophic status has not been conducted based on established trophic indicators and relevant Canadian water quality guidelines. In addition, in recent years, local residents have reported recurring algal blooms and foul-smelling water and have expressed concerns about potential toxicity. However, these observations have not yet been comprehensively verified through water-quality sampling and laboratory analyses. Consequently, several important questions remain regarding (1) the major sources of pollutants  and nutrients entering the lake; (2) the seasonal and annual variations in the lake’s water quality and trophic status; (3) the spatial distribution and relative contributions of potential nutrient sources across the watershed, including through nutrient-source mapping; and (4) effective approaches and management strategies for reducing nutrient inputs, mitigating water- quality degradation, and managing the lake’s trophic status.

There is a need for an integrated assessment of Bouchie Lake’s water quality and nutrient sources to help the community better understand, monitor, and manage eutrophication and protect the lake’s water quality.

2. Project Overall Goal

• Evaluation of eutrophication in Bouchie Lake through water quality monitoring, mapping of nutrient sources, and numerical modeling to support sustainable nutrient management and protection of the lake’s water quality.

3. Project Objectives and Tasks

Objective #1: Mapping of potential nutrient and pollution sources

➢ Collect and review available background information, including historical water quality data, previous studies, land-use activities, watershed characteristics, and any reported nutrient or pollution sources

➢ Collect and analyze land use and land cover, soil, hydrological, topographic, and hydrogeological data like aquifer characteristics and groundwater withdrawal data

➢ Identify and map potential point and non-point sources of nutrients in the Bouchie Lake Watershed

➢ Conduct site visits to verify potential sources and to document inflow and outflow locations, drainage pathways, shoreline conditions, and other areas of concern

➢ Consult the Bouchie Lake Watershed Stewardship Society and include local and community knowledge in the identification and mapping of potential sources

➢ Produce GIS-based maps showing potential nutrient and pollution sources and priority areas within the watershed

Objective #2: Development and implementation of a water quality monitoring program for Bouchie Lake

➢ Design the monitoring program (sampling locations, parameters, frequency, and protocols) based on the source mapping from Objective 1

➢ Monthly water sampling during the open-water season (May to October) at the lake, its main inflows (including Purser Creek), and its outflow, with laboratory analysis of total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), and chlorophyll-a

➢ Field measurements of water temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) profiles, Secchi depth, and stream flow at the inflows and outflow (will carried out with the participation of Society volunteers)

➢ Assess algal and cyanobacterial conditions using the previous data collected

➢ Develop an updated water quality and nutrient database for Bouchie Lake

➢ Community engagement and knowledge sharing with the Bouchie Lake Watershed Stewardship Society throughout the monitoring program

Objective #3: Analysis of spatial and temporal nutrient dynamics and eutrophication

➢ Analysis of monthly and seasonal variations in water quality and nutrient concentrations

➢ Analysis of spatial variations in nutrient concentrations across the lake's watershed

➢ Assessment of potential nutrient and pollution sources using water quality data, field observations, land use information, and watershed characteristics.

➢ Statistical analysis of water quality data and assessment of the relative contribution of major nutrient sources to the lake

➢ Assessment of the current trophic status of Bouchie Lake using established trophic indicators

Objective #4: Development of a numerical model for nutrient dynamics and eutrophication

➢ Compilation and analysis of data on lake bathymetry, water quality, nutrient concentrations, inflows and outflows, climate, and watershed characteristics

➢ Development of a conceptual model describing hydrology, nutrient inputs, transport, and the main eutrophication processes in Bouchie Lake, including seasonal stratification, oxygen depletion, and phosphorus release from bottom sediments

➢ Development of a simple nutrient budget model (such as the Lakeshore Capacity model) linking phosphorus loads to in-lake phosphorus concentrations

➢ Calibration of the model using Year 1 monitoring data collected under Objective 2

➢ Sensitivity analysis to identify the parameters and nutrient sources with the greatest influence on eutrophication

➢ Definition and simulation of scenarios under different source and loading conditions and under future climate and land-use change. Wildfire effects will be represented as increased runoff and nutrient export

Objective #5: Development of nutrient management and eutrophication mitigation strategies

➢ Identification of key factors contributing to eutrophication, based on the results of Objectives #1 to #4

➢ Evaluation of nature-based and other practical management options for reducing nutrient inputs from point and non-point sources using the model developed under Objective 4

➢ Evaluation of the effectiveness of these options under alternative nutrient-reduction scenarios

➢ Development of recommendations for reducing nutrient loading and mitigating eutrophication in Bouchie Lake, including priority actions

➢ Development of a long-term monitoring and adaptive management framework for Bouchie Lake, including recommended monitoring sites, parameters, and frequency.

➢ Community and stakeholder engagement to review the feasibility, practicality, and local relevance of the proposed strategies

➢ Knowledge sharing through community meetings, presentations, and plain-language materials to support long-term monitoring and sustainable lake management.

4.  Expected deliverables

First-year deliverables

• Review of available background information, historical water quality data, and previous studies for the Bouchie Lake watershed

• Watershed characterization, including land use and land cover, soil, topographic, hydrological, and hydrogeological information (aquifer characteristics and groundwater withdrawals)

• GIS-based maps of potential point and non-point nutrient and pollution sources and priority areas, verified through site visits and community input

• Design of the water quality monitoring program (sampling locations, parameters, frequency, and protocols)

• Implementation of the monitoring program, including water sampling and laboratory analysis and field measurements

• Updated water quality and nutrient database for Bouchie Lake

• Analysis of seasonal and spatial variations in water quality and nutrient concentrations, and assessment of the current trophic status of the lake

• Community engagement and knowledge sharing with the Bouchie Lake Watershed Stewardship Society

• First-year report of the project

Second-year deliverables

• Compiled dataset for modeling (bathymetry, water quality, nutrient concentrations, inflows and outflows, climate, and watershed characteristics)

• Conceptual model of hydrology, nutrient inputs, transport, and eutrophication processes in Bouchie Lake

• Calibrated nutrient budget model linking phosphorus loads to in-lake phosphorus concentrations

• Sensitivity analysis of model parameters and nutrient sources

• Simulation of scenarios under different source and loading conditions

• Evaluation of nature-based and other management options and their effectiveness under alternative nutrient-reduction scenarios

• Recommendations for reducing nutrient loading and mitigating eutrophication, including priority actions

• Long-term monitoring and adaptive management framework for Bouchie Lake, including recommended monitoring sites, parameters, and frequency

• Community and stakeholder engagement and knowledge sharing (community meetings, presentations, and plain-language materials)

• Final project report

5. Project Team

Dr. Hossein Kazemian, serving as the Principal Investigator, leads Northern Analytical Laboratory Services and is a recognized expert in environmental chemistry with extensive background in water quality measurement and mitigation techniques.

Dr. Davood Mahmoodzadeh, a Research Associate at UNBC, will lead the project's research activities, dedicating a significant portion of his time.

Supporting the team is a student who will work with Dr. Mahmoodzadeh, assisting him in field data collection, analysis, and model development, gaining valuable hands-on experience in water quality modeling and environmental assessment.

6.Project Timelines

A detailed timeline is presented as follows, assuming a project start date of November 2026.

Table to be added shortly once website creator has figured out how to copy and paste a table (October 29th 2026)

References

Alberta Health, (2021). Human health risks associated with surface water impacts after a wildfire: Problem formulation | Alberta Health. ISBN 978-1-4601-5110

BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (BC MECCS) 2021. Nutrients and Algae Water Quality Guidelines (Reformatted from: British Columbia Ministry of Environments, 1985. Water quality criteria for nutrients and algae). Water Quality Guideline Series, WQG-16. Prov. BC, Victoria BC

Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME). 2004. Canadian water quality guidelines for the protection of aquatic life: Phosphorus: Canadian Guidance Framework for the Management of Freshwater Systems. In: Canadian environmental quality guidelines, 2004, Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, Winnipeg.

Dillon, P.J. and F.H. Rigler. 1975. A simple method for predicting the capacity of a lake for development based on lake trophic status. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 31: 1771-1778.

Drever, C. R., Cook-Patton, S. C., Akhter, F., Badiou, P. H., Chmura, G. L., Davidson, S. J., ... & Kurz, W. A. 2021. Natural climate solutions for Canada. Science advances, 7(23), eabd6034.

Dixit, S.S., J.P. Smol, D.F. Charles, R.M. Hughes, S.G. Paulsen and G.B. Collins. 1999.

Assessing Lake water quality changes in the lakes of the northeastern United States using sediment diatoms. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 56:131-152.

Hudon, C., and R. Carignan. 2008. Cumulative impacts of hydrology and human activities on water quality in the St. Lawrence River (Lake Saint-Pierre, Quebec, Canada). Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 65: 1165-1180.

Minister of the Environment (ME), 2011. Water quality status and trends of nutrients in major drainage areas of Canada Technical Summary, Water Science and Technology Directorate, Environment Canada, Minister of the Environment, Report, ISBN 978-1-100-18515-6.

Oglesby, R. T., Edmondson, W. T. 1966. Control of eutrophication. Journal (Water Pollution Control Federation), 1452-1460.

U.S.EPA. 1983. Lake Restoration, Protection and Management. EPA-440/5-~3-001, Office of Water Regulations and Standards, 401 M St., SW, Washington, DC 20460.