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A watershed is an area of land that drains or “sheds” water into a specific waterbody. Every body of water has a watershed. Watersheds drain rainfall and snowmelt into streams and rivers. These smaller bodies of water flow into larger ones, including lakes, bays, and oceans.
A watershed is an area of land that drains or “sheds” water into a specific waterbody. Every body of water has a watershed. Watersheds drain rainfall and snowmelt into streams and rivers. These smaller bodies of water flow into larger ones, including lakes, bays, and oceans.
The watershed map to the left illustrates the watershed for Bouchie Lake in the north-east corner. The watershed extends from the Quesnel Rod and Gun Club and Hangman Springs in the south-west corner, north along a height of land boundary which includes the peak of Milburn mountain then east towards Bouchie Lake, finally south and west back to the Quesnel Rod and Gun Club forming an approximate square area of territory. All the precipitation that falls in this area, eventually lands up in either the ground water or in Bouchie Lake.
The watershed map to the left illustrates the watershed for Bouchie Lake in the north-east corner. The watershed extends from the Quesnel Rod and Gun Club and Hangman Springs in the south-west corner, north along a height of land boundary which includes the peak of Milburn mountain then east towards Bouchie Lake, finally south and west back to the Quesnel Rod and Gun Club forming an approximate square area of territory. All the precipitation that falls in this area, eventually lands up in either the ground water or in Bouchie Lake.
The area is approximately 50% forested with the remainder cleared or under private title. The three main bodies of water include Mit Lake, Milburn Lake and Bouchie Lake. Notable streams are Bouchie Creek and Purser Creek.
Lake Classification
Lakes are divided into three trophic categories: oligotrophic, mesotrophic and eutrophic. The prototypic oligotrophic lake is a large deep lake with crystal clear waters and a rocky or sandy shoreline. Both planktonic and rooted plant growth are sparse, and the lake can support a coldwater fishery. A eutrophic lake is typically shallow with a soft and mucky bottom. Rooted plant growth is abundant along the shore and out into the lake, and algal blooms are not unusual. Water clarity is not good and the water often has a tea color. If deep enough to thermally stratify, the bottom waters are devoid of oxygen. Mesotrophic is an intermediate trophic state with characteristics between the other two.
Oligotrophic
a. Steep shoreline and bottom gradient
b. Low nutrient enrichment
c. Little planktonic growth
d. Few aquatic plants
e. Sand or rock along most of shoreline
f. Coldwater fishery
g. High dissolved oxygen content
Mesotrophic
a. Moderate nutrient enrichment
b. Moderate planktonic growth
c. Some sediment accumulation over most of lake bottom
d. Usually supports warm water fish species
Eutrophic
a. High nutrient enrichment
b. Much planktonic growth (high productivity)
c. Extensive aquatic plant beds
d. Much sediment accumulation on bottom
e. Low dissolved oxygen on bottom
f. Only warm water fish species
Both Bouchie Lake and Milburn Lake are classified as eutrophic lakes.
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