Water Quality
An eutrophic lake is very fertile with a high concentration of mineral and organic nutrients. This will promote an abundance of life including various algae and particularly blue-green algae (cyanobacteria). Charlie Lake can be considered hypereutrophic or extremely eutrophic, with three major blooms of algae including the very large blue-green blooms of July through October. High algae concentration affects the water quality and light penetration through the water column. This reduced light affects aquatic vegetation growth. When the algae decomposes, it uses up some of the oxygen that the fish need and this can lead to fish kills and poorer sport fishing. Other aquatic life are affected by the water quality as are we, as a community in our use of the lake.
Because of the amount of
development that has gone on around the lake, significant natural wetland
has disappeared. It is in these wetlands that much of the fish spawning
and bird nesting occurs. Also, clearing near tributary streams has reduced
beaver habitat and increased flow rates during flood events. These high
flow rates, along with variable lake levels, are a major cause of erosion
and nutrient loading into the lake.
Lakeshore
Development
"The Peace River Regional
District Lakeshore Development Guidelines is a policy document that has
been prepared in response to growing pressures for development around
lakeshore areas in the region. The policies and guidelines in this
document specifically pertain to all private land located within 300
metres of the high water mark of those lakes generally surrounded by
privateland, and which are within the community planning areas of the
Peace River Regional District." ...excerpt from the Executive
Summary
http://www.peaceriverrd.bc.ca/services/development/documents/lakeshore_development.pdf#search=%22lakeshore%20development%22
