High elevation monitoring kicks off in Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park

We understand that high elevation ecosystems are especially sensitive to climate change. They are also challenging to monitor. We don’t currently have a good understanding of the climate impacts on water quantity and quality in these areas. 

Living Lakes Canada’s High Elevation Monitoring Program is working to fill this data gap, starting with a pilot study in the West Kootenays of B.C.

The program began monitoring in Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park this past week. Loggers have been installed in Sapphire Lakes, Tanal Lake and Upper Joker Lake to track the changes in water levels. Additionally, temperature and light loggers have been installed in Upper Joker Lake.

The goal is to start creating baseline data to understand how the chemical and biological components of these lakes are functioning. Once this baseline is established, we can continue to monitor over time and understand how chemical and biological components in the lakes are responding to climate change.

Watch our on-site program update from Sapphire Lakes.

Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park Citizen Science Initiative

And you can help too! Anyone heading into Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park is asked to support Living Lakes Canada in creating an inventory of plant and animal species within the park boundaries. This data collection is made easy thanks to the popular and easy-to-use citizen science app: iNaturalist. 

Just download this free app on your phone before you leave on your next backcountry adventure. Once downloaded, open the app and search for “Kokanee Glacier- High Elevation Monitoring” project. 

While you’re out enjoying the Kokanee Glacier park, Living Lakes asks that you take photos of any flora and fauna using the iNaturalist app. When back in cell service, you can then upload your pictures/observations to the project where they will be stored and reviewed by scientists, the iNaturalist community, and Living Lakes Canada employees. We look forward to sharing more of this program in the coming months.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact Program Manager Heather Shaw at heather.shaw@livinglakescanada.ca.

For more information on our High Elevation Monitoring Program visit: livinglakescanada.ca/project/high-elevation-monitoring-program