Current Status
A multi-pronged, holistic approach to address high nutrient levels in Elk/Beaver Lake and surrounding ecosystem is currently underway. This approach aims to improve water quality and reduce frequency of blue-green algae, improve fish habitat and manage growth of Eurasian milfoil, through the development of a watershed management plan, and an in-lake remediation plan.
On October 14, 2020, the CRD Board received the Elk/Beaver Lake Watershed Management Plan and directed staff to implement actions within the Plan as opportunities allow. The Watershed Management Plan outlines a series of actions and long-term monitoring efforts to address external nutrient sources, and an in-lake remediation plan is underway to procure and cost-share an oxygenation system for Elk Lake to help address internal nutrient loading in both lakes.
The Province has contributed $750,000 to help buy an oxygenator for the In-Lake Remediation Plan. The CRD will be responsible for the system and ongoing maintenance costs. The CRD will prioritize installing an oxygenation system in Elk Lake to improve water quality and reduce toxic blue-green algal blooms. For Beaver Lake, a de-stratification system to promote mixing and turnover in the smaller water body is recommended. It is not the recommended approach to install treatment systems in both lakes simultaneously. As Elk Lake and Beaver Lake are connected water bodies, it is anticipated that an oxygenation system installed in Elk Lake may also have a positive impact on Beaver Lake. Successful implementation of the Elk Lake system will provide the information required to properly size the system for Beaver Lake, to be delivered as a second future phase.
Timeline
In 2021, a consultant (ARCADIS Canada Inc.) was retained to design a lake remediation system to address the water quality problem, and a direct oxygen diffuser system was recommended for the Elk Lake remediation. The main components of this system include an underwater diffuser line to deliver oxygen to the deepest part of Elk Lake, an oxygen-generating system and a building to house the oxygenation system equipment.
Several substantive steps toward construction were completed in late 2022 and early 2023:
- The oxygen-generating system was purchased in July 2022.
- The contract for the Supply and Installation of In-Lake Air Diffusion Line was awarded in September 2022.
- Development of building design documents was completed for the system building in late 2022.
- A Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) permit for in-water project was secured and a geotechnical assessment at the building site was completed in late 2022.
- A building permit from the District of Saanich was secured in March 2023.
Construction of the Elk Lake oxygenation system building will begin in April 2023 and is anticipated to be completed in September 2023.
The design team considered the potential impacts of the operation of the system on the ecological, cultural, recreational and operational values in Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park and surrounding lands. Following an assessment of all of those values, a site near Hamsterly Road was selected as most appropriate because it was the most operationally feasible and environmentally responsible (equipment access, no disruption of recreational activities, minimal disruption to wildlife habitat and no tree removal required).
The building is a single story building with a footprint of approximately 20’x 28’. The oxygenation system has been specified to have a maximum sound rating of 71 dB which is equivalent to the sound generated from a standard washing machine or dishwasher. Considering that the oxygenation system is housed inside a building, it is anticipated the sound emitted from this building would be minimal, in particular in relation to the regular ambient noise during the daytime. Please see detailed Options Analysis Memo for more information on site selection for the system.
This page will continue to be updated as we have more information. Please feel free to share this page with anyone in the community who would like to keep up to date on the project.
Public Feedback
Following the initial input from residents, the Elk/Beaver Lake Watershed Management Plan was drafted and an opportunity for public review and feedback of the plan was provided in February 2020 through an online survey. The management plan was finalized and approved in October 2020. Thank you to everyone for participating in the survey.
Watershed Management Plan
The development of a watershed management plan was developed to address external sources of nutrients through a public engagement process. External sources of nutrients come from various land use activities around the lake (urban or agricultural) as well as natural processes that bring nutrients into the lake.
Public engagement is a key part of developing the watershed management plan for Elk/Beaver Lake and, as a result, the CRD welcomes feedback on this work. A public info session was held on July 31, 2019. Three additional feedback sessions were held throughout September and October 2019, as well as direct consultation with interest groups, field experts and government agencies. The public were invited to comment on the draft Elk/Beaver Lake Watershed Management Plan through an online survey to support the finalization of the plan.
In-lake Remediation Plan
The development of an in-lake remediation plan is underway to address internal sources of nutrients in Elk/Beaver Lake. These nutrients have accumulated over decades in the lake and bottom sediments and are continually recycled back into the water column under low-oxygen conditions. The in-lake remediation process is guided by expert consultants and an intergovernmental working group. On September 11, 2019 staff brought forward a Staff Report and Business Case to the CRD Board outlining the environmental, recreational, community and economic values of the lake (over $10 million annually) and a recommendation to remediate the lake. The CRD Board approved the recommendation to move ahead with the in-lake remediation of Elk/Beaver Lake, subject to receiving at least 50% capital grant funds for the project. This recommendation includes the installation of oxygenation systems in Elk/Beaver Lake to improve water quality at a capital cost of $1.4 million and ongoing operational costs of $100,000 -$150,000 annually. For more details on the CRD Board discussion and decision, watch the video online (Section 8.9 19-755 Elk/Beaver Lake Remediation).