The Cultus Lake Aquatic Stewardship Strategy (CLASS) group was initiated when Dave Barnes asked the Fraser Basin Council in October, 2007, to bring people together to work on Cultus Lake water quality. From the first meeting, CLASS consists of federal, provincial, and local government along with citizens, not-for-profit agencies, schools and First Nations. Meetings take place on the last Wednesday of the month (except August and December).

Our Vision Statement:

Cultus Lake is a diverse productive lake ecosystem, offering recreational opportunity that is healthy, safe and enjoyable for all with respect and stewardship of the biological, ecological, spiritual, cultural and aesthetic values of this ecosystem.

The Groups Terms of Reference

We can accomplish so much when we work together ...

Projects Completed:

     * Cultus Lake User Survey(pdf)
     * Established group, ratified Terms of Reference
     * Work-shopped Issues & Topics
     * Oral history project to establish baselines
     * Literature review of 70 documents (available by emailing Lance Lilley
       or calling 1-800-528-0061)
     * 3D Map of Cultus Lake Watershed (located at the Cultus Lake Park Board Office)
     * CLASS partners have completed: FVRD traffic counts of 3 million visitors per year,
       Milfoil research at Chilliwack Secondary, Salmon Table research, and
       Soowahlie work on Sweltzer Creek, to name a few
     * CLASS supports the annual Pikeminnow Derby in June

Projects Currently underway:

CLASS is supporting the DFO scientific community to research Nutrient Mass Balance, also known as the "Scoop on Poop". Core samples show that the lake is moving towards eutrophication, meaning that there is too much nutrient directly or indirectly from human impacts.

CLASS is finding a way to:

     * improve educational signage
     * Thank you to Vancity, we will be able to research sewerage options to help Cultus Lake
     * learning also about lake water levels
     * building the relations for lake-caring communities (and peace-making circle work)
     * learning about how gravel quarries and road builders manage fine sediment particles in
       fish bearing systems.

Supporters:

     * Fraser Basin Council
     * Pacific Salmon Foundation
     * Fraser Salmon Watershed Program
     * Canadian Wildlife Federation
     * Fisheries and Oceans Canada
     * Vancity

Media Scrapbook