Benthic Monitoring on the Kennisis Lakes

Benthic Monitoring on the Kennisis Lakes


What is Benthic Monitoring?
Benthic Monitoring is the study of the bugs that naturally live in all lakes and streams and that form the base of the aquatic food chain. Benthic macroinvertibrates , or benthos, are primarily aquatic insect larvae such as midges, blackflies, mosquitoes, beetles and dragonflies. Other benthos species include leeches, crayfish, snails and freshwater clams.
These organisms are often used to monitor water quality in Lakes, rivers, creeks, and streams as they are good health indicators of aquatic ecosystems and water quality.
The KLCOA has partnered with U-Links and Fleming College to perform Benthic monitoring in the Kennisis Lakes watershed.  The pilot work was performed in 2019 and will continue for several years.
The results of the pilot are detailed in the project poster shown here. The full report is available below and on the KLCOA website under the Stewardship link.
 
Kennisis Lake Benthos Monitoring Report