Open Collections

Fisher, Paul; Hu, Sabrina; Oh, John

This project aims to find out how to improve the health of Lost Lagoon and Beaver Lake in Stanley Park. Three aspects related to freshwater habitats which include water quality, stream invertebrates, and culverts are discussed. Water quality reflects the health of lakes directly by testing the chemical and physical parameters. Water temperature, pH, and nutrients level, for example, shows the measurable conditions of water quality. Stream invertebrate surveys, which assess invertebrate populations can be used to make inferences about long-term pollution levels and overall water quality have been conducted by SPES since 2018. Survey results were analysed in detail, looking for general patterns, and found a large portion of the survey results to be poor. The culvert system is used for both water movement and wildlife transportation in and out of the freshwater bodies. Outdated data on the culvert system was updated in this project allowing the exploration of possible approaches to improve the system and freshwater habitat conservation in Stanley Park. Over a span of eight months the team visited Stanley Park to collect water samples from Lost Lagoon and Beaver Lake, and collected data about culverts along trails and stream invertebrates. Based on the analysis of the data collected over this eight month span, and of data Stanley Park Ecology Society (SPES) collected since 2016, the freshwater habitat quality was found to be poor in both Beaver Lake and Lost Lagoon. Therefore, this project aims to give recommendations to SPES to improve the water conditions in Beaver Lake and Lost Lagoon. The data for water and culvert conditions in Stanley Park have been updated which benefits future research and helps to improve the freshwater habitats. Stream invertebrate surveys are an important part of the monitoring efforts, providing useful insight into water quality, but more survey locations should be added around beaver lake for a more thorough representation of the water quality entering Lost Lagoon. The current culvert system is in poor condition as about 40% of culverts are blocked by mud or debris, or the entrances or exits are buried underground. The culvert system needs to be restored and better maintained.

Text

University of British Columbia. ENVR 400

Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library

10.14288/1.0413610

Science, Faculty of; Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of

Undergraduate

DSpace