BRIGHTSAND LAKE

Located in the Boreal Transition ecoregion in Saskatchewan, Brightsand Lake is about 9.5 km long, 4.5 km. wide, with a surface area of 32 km² and a maximum depth of 15 m. Lake levels within this region can fluctuate depending on climate variability that affects the quantity of surface and groundwater and evaporation from the lake¹ . The future predictability of water levels in Brightsand Lake is difficult to determine due to variability in evaporation and precipitation¹ .

Brightsand Lake has a natural outlet and lake levels with natural outlets are more responsive to spring inflow and summer evaporation² . Concerns over water quality in Brightsand Lake led the NSRBC to collect water quality samples within this lake. Over the past several years, drought conditions have caused multiple lakes to have lower water levels, nutrient accumulation, poor water clarity, and over-production of algae blooms² . Results from the study concluded that the drought events that occurred in 2021 added more impact on lakes suffering from algae blooms, low water levels and clarity within this lake and other lakes throughout the NSRB² .

A water-quality assessment on Brightsand Lake through the Lake Stewardship Program revealed that Escherichia coli (E. coli), a species of bacteria found in the intestines of humans and animals, can be commonly detected in the surface water of this lake. Shoreline samples from Brightsand Lake indicated some level of E. coli present (usually less than 10 counts/ 100 ml, below recreational guidelines), however, individuals must be cautious before entering waterbodies¹ . Swim Guide is a non-profit organization that allows users to search for a lake of interest and what the water quality is now. To mitigate this concern, efforts to minimize contamination are a priority. This can be done so by ensuring septic tank maintenance is properly conducted¹ . Another action that can be done is to reinforce recreational users and upland stakeholders to minimize nutrient loading into the lake. Use of fertilizers and land-use changes of natural vegetation along shorelines should be kept to a minimum to ensure water quality is less affected by our actions. To enhance Brightsand Lake’s water quality, promoting diverse shoreline buffer riparian zones to slow down shoreline erosion and reduce surface runoff flow¹ . Doing so can help mitigate the number of nutrients and other contaminants that can enter the lake.