Blog Post #1: Observations
Field Visit #1.
Date: 24-01-2023.
Time: 1300 hr.
Weather: Overcast.
Temperature: 1 degrees Celsuis.
Elevation: 1302.93 m.
Location: McConnell Lake, BC.
Coordinates: 50.5246 N, 120.4573 W
Location Background and Description:
McConnell Lake was established through the Kamloops Land and Resource Management Planning (LRMP) as a Class “A” park on April, 30, 1996 (BC Parks, n.d.). Prior to that it was designated and protected as a Provincial Recreation Area which has been favoured by fishermen for 1.5+ kg rainbow trout and hiking enthusiasts (BC Parks, n.d.). The park area covers 102 hectares (BC Parks, n.d.). The park is South from Kamloops approximately 35 km and North from Merritt approximately 49 km (BC Parks, n.d.) 5 km from Lac le Jeune and also near Stake Lake and Logan Lake. McConnell Lake represents a typical plateau lake (BC Parks, n.d.). It is suggested that McConnell Lake was part of the Interior Plateau physiographic region and was situated in a glacial outwash channel on the Nicola Plateau (British Columbia Adventure Network, 2018). Moreover, it is probable that during deglaciation the basin of the lake was created when a large chunk of ice formed a depression and melted (British Columbia Adventure Network, 2018). The lake is surrounded by gentle forested rolling hills covered with Montane spruce, Douglas fir, the occasional Lodgepole pine and patches of aspen. The park is recognized for its old growth Douglas Fir (BC Parks, n.d.). Many of the trees are covered in moss and lichen. There is a low lying meadow mostly hosting bunchgrass amongst other vegetation (difficult to specify in the winter) that leads into the wetlands. The shoal and riparian areas are critical feeding and habitat areas for rainbow trout (BC Parks, n.d.). Much of the shoreline is shrubby fringed with Bullrush, Wild Rose, Willows, and Water Birch. The size of the lake is suggested to be 38.7 ha with a 16.8 m shoal, a maximum depth of 24.2 m and an average depth 8.7 m: It steeply drops off on the West side but around the East side the drop of is gradual from the shore line (British Columbia Adventure Network, 2018). The park is equipped with 3.5 kms of walking trails that loop the lakeshore, an old cabin, a boat launch, and a fishing dock (BC Parks, n.d.). The trails can get slippery at times especially in the winter and many hikers bring their dogs and despite signs indicating they should be leash many aren’t which can cause wildlife disturbances (BC Parks, n.d.).
Questions:
- Wolf lichen appears to present only on one aspect/side of Douglas fir which changes depending on which area the fir is found. I have heard that in the past hunters would use this as a way to navigate the forest. Does direction or other factors influence the growth of lichen?
- As McConnell Lake’s riparian and shoal areas are recognized as being critical in the feeding and habitats of rainbow trout and the trails are very close to the shoreline, are humans and dogs adding to soil erosion that may impact rainbow trout numbers?
- Gall Adelgids have been found on several young spruce trees near the water. To what extent are other spruce specimens impacted in the area?
References
BC Parks. (n.d.). McConnell Lake Park. Retrieved from https://bcparks.ca/mcconnell-lake-park/#park-about-container.
British Columbia Adventure Network. (2018). McConnell Lake, British Columbia. Retrieved from http://www.bcadventure.com/adventure/explore/high_country/lac_la_jeune/mcconnel.htm.
interesting observations!
McConnell Lake is a cool place
you might be able to measure erosion (although I think the trails are pretty packed) but it might be hard to measure the impact on fish, for example
the trick here is to pick a question that can be discussed in the time frame of the project
so you might be able to look at erosion and humans (evidence of erosion), and Discuss potential impacts on fish with background literature and looking at studies of lake water quality (which I am sure there are some)