Spring!

The lake melted early this year - March 24, the earliest I've seen the ice off since moving here in early 1988. It was a low snow winter, and mild - both undoubtedly making a difference.

The lake was stocked with trout by BC Fisheries in the last few days, and opened for fishing yesterday. So far I've not seen any anglers. Waterfowl that I've heard so far this spring include mallards, goldeneye, mergansers, as well as a loon calling, and - just the other day - some red necked grebes. And - of course - it goes without saying that Canada geese are as usual on the lake, nesting raucously on the islands.

So far I've not heard any frogs. It will probably be awhile - maybe a few years - before the lake reestablishes some of the communities that were on the lake before the perch and bass invaded. BC Ministry of Environment is asking for volunteers to survey amphibians along the shoreline.