PlaceDossier / BC places / Lakes

BC lake · 26 km² · Okanagan River watershed

Kalamalka Lake

Its median summer Secchi depth over 2012–2025 was 4.8 m, from 41 readings. Murkier than 52% of the 62 BC lakes with enough recent readings.

The readings

1,075 summer readings from open water on record from 1973 to 2026, at 13 sampling sites.

Median since 2012Compared with BC lakes
Secchi depth4.8 m
2012–2025, 41 readings		Murkier than 52% of the 62 BC lakes with enough recent readings.
Total phosphorus5.2 µg/L
2012–2026, 69 readings		Lower than 67% of the 100 BC lakes with enough recent readings (lower is clearer).
Chlorophyll a1.1 µg/L
2012–2026, 67 readings		Lower than 78% of the 83 BC lakes with enough recent readings (lower is clearer).
Secchi depth how deep a black-and-white disc stays visible: deeper means clearer water
02468 19801990200020102020 1973: median 6.7 m from 2 readings1974: median 5.3 m from 2 readings1975: median 4.1 m from 3 readings1976: median 5.6 m from 12 readings1977: median 5.6 m from 17 readings1978: median 5.8 m from 15 readings1979: median 8.0 m from 16 readings1980: median 7.0 m from 9 readings1981: median 6.0 m from 9 readings1982: median 7.2 m from 9 readings1983: median 6.9 m from 5 readings1984: median 4.9 m from 3 readings1985: median 6.2 m from 18 readings1987: median 5.0 m from 29 readings1988: median 5.5 m from 13 readings1990: median 4.8 m from 4 readings1991: median 3.0 m from 3 readings1992: median 6.0 m from 5 readings1994: median 5.0 m from 5 readings1995: median 7.8 m from 2 readings1999: median 5.5 m from 5 readings2000: median 3.2 m from 11 readings2001: median 5.2 m from 10 readings2002: median 4.5 m from 10 readings2003: median 3.9 m from 11 readings2004: median 6.0 m from 11 readings2009: median 5.0 m from 3 readings2010: median 6.1 m from 3 readings2011: median 4.7 m from 3 readings2012: median 7.5 m from 2 readings2013: median 4.5 m from 3 readings2014: median 3.5 m from 3 readings2015: median 7.1 m from 3 readings2016: median 4.6 m from 3 readings2017: median 6.0 m from 3 readings2018: median 6.7 m from 3 readings2019: median 4.9 m from 3 readings2020: median 8.1 m from 3 readings2021: median 4.1 m from 3 readings2022: median 4.4 m from 3 readings2023: median 4.8 m from 3 readings2024: median 1.8 m from 3 readings2025: median 7.6 m from 3 readingsm
Total phosphorus the nutrient that most often feeds algae in BC lakes
310 19801990200020102020 1974: median 5.0 µg/L from 2 readings1975: median 4.0 µg/L from 3 readings1976: median 4.5 µg/L from 12 readings1977: median 4.0 µg/L from 15 readings1978: median 5.0 µg/L from 15 readings1979: median 6.0 µg/L from 17 readings1980: median 7.0 µg/L from 10 readings1981: median 7.0 µg/L from 9 readings1982: median 6.5 µg/L from 8 readings1983: median 9.0 µg/L from 5 readings1984: median 10 µg/L from 4 readings1985: median 8.0 µg/L from 26 readings1986: median 5.0 µg/L from 5 readings1987: median 7.5 µg/L from 34 readings1988: median 5.5 µg/L from 18 readings1989: median 3.0 µg/L from 5 readings1990: median 4.0 µg/L from 5 readings1991: median 5.0 µg/L from 5 readings1992: median 7.0 µg/L from 5 readings1993: median 4.5 µg/L from 4 readings1994: median 3.0 µg/L from 5 readings1995: median 3.0 µg/L from 8 readings1996: median 10 µg/L from 4 readings1997: median 12 µg/L from 12 readings1998: median 8.0 µg/L from 3 readings1999: median 5.0 µg/L from 5 readings2000: median 8.0 µg/L from 11 readings2001: median 5.0 µg/L from 10 readings2002: median 3.0 µg/L from 10 readings2003: median 2.5 µg/L from 10 readings2004: median 4.0 µg/L from 11 readings2005: median 2.0 µg/L from 8 readings2006: median 3.0 µg/L from 10 readings2007: median 5.0 µg/L from 9 readings2008: median 6.0 µg/L from 7 readings2009: median 10 µg/L from 12 readings2010: median 4.0 µg/L from 3 readings2011: median 3.0 µg/L from 5 readings2012: median 20 µg/L from 10 readings2013: median 3.3 µg/L from 5 readings2014: median 3.2 µg/L from 3 readings2015: median 3.9 µg/L from 3 readings2016: median 5.7 µg/L from 3 readings2017: median 5.2 µg/L from 11 readings2018: median 4.8 µg/L from 11 readings2019: median 4.9 µg/L from 3 readings2020: median 6.3 µg/L from 3 readings2021: median 8.2 µg/L from 3 readings2022: median 5.1 µg/L from 3 readings2023: median 5.2 µg/L from 3 readings2024: median 5.4 µg/L from 3 readings2025: median 3.4 µg/L from 3 readings2026: median 4.9 µg/L from 2 readingsµg/L
Chlorophyll a the green pigment in algae: a direct measure of how much is growing
13 19801990200020102020 1975: median 1.0 µg/L from 3 readings1976: median 1.0 µg/L from 9 readings1977: median 0.6 µg/L from 13 readings1978: median 0.7 µg/L from 15 readings1979: median 0.8 µg/L from 19 readings1980: median 0.7 µg/L from 8 readings1981: median 0.8 µg/L from 10 readings1982: median 0.9 µg/L from 10 readings1983: median 1.3 µg/L from 5 readings1984: median 1.3 µg/L from 4 readings1987: median 1.0 µg/L from 29 readings1988: median 0.9 µg/L from 13 readings1989: median 2.9 µg/L from 5 readings1990: median 1.1 µg/L from 5 readings1991: median 1.6 µg/L from 5 readings1992: median 1.6 µg/L from 5 readings1993: median 0.7 µg/L from 4 readings1994: median 1.0 µg/L from 5 readings1995: median 0.6 µg/L from 5 readings1996: median 1.6 µg/L from 10 readings1997: median 3.3 µg/L from 8 readings1998: median 2.5 µg/L from 3 readings1999: median 1.1 µg/L from 5 readings2000: median 1.2 µg/L from 11 readings2001: median 2.6 µg/L from 10 readings2002: median 2.1 µg/L from 10 readings2003: median 1.4 µg/L from 9 readings2004: median 2.2 µg/L from 11 readings2005: median 0.9 µg/L from 8 readings2006: median 1.1 µg/L from 11 readings2007: median 0.7 µg/L from 9 readings2008: median 1.4 µg/L from 7 readings2009: median 1.4 µg/L from 11 readings2011: median 0.9 µg/L from 5 readings2012: median 0.5 µg/L from 10 readings2013: median 1.5 µg/L from 5 readings2014: median 0.9 µg/L from 3 readings2015: median 0.7 µg/L from 3 readings2016: median 1.0 µg/L from 3 readings2017: median 1.1 µg/L from 9 readings2018: median 1.0 µg/L from 11 readings2019: median 1.2 µg/L from 3 readings2020: median 0.8 µg/L from 3 readings2021: median 2.0 µg/L from 3 readings2022: median 1.1 µg/L from 3 readings2023: median 1.3 µg/L from 3 readings2024: median 1.2 µg/L from 3 readings2025: median 0.6 µg/L from 3 readings2026: median 1.1 µg/L from 2 readingsµg/L

Median each year (bigger dot, more readings)Middle half of BC lakesBC median

Source: BC Environmental Monitoring Data System (EnMoDS) results, Environmental Monitoring and Analysis Branch, Province of BC, records to September 19, 2026 (Open Government Licence – British Columbia); lake outlines and names: Freshwater Atlas lakes, Province of BC (Open Government Licence – British Columbia). Summaries by PlaceDossier.

Nutrient level Inferred

Reads as oligotrophic (few nutrients, little algae, usually clear).

IndexClass
From secchi depth (4.8 m, 2012–2025)37oligotrophic
From total phosphorus (5.2 µg/L, 2012–2026)28oligotrophic
From chlorophyll a (1.1 µg/L, 2012–2026)31oligotrophic

Inferred by us, not a provincial classification. The index was built for summer readings from the middle of a lake; ours mix sites and months, so treat the class as a rough guide.

How we worked this out

Carlson's trophic state index (Carlson 1977, Limnology and Oceanography 22:361) turns each median into a score: 60 − 14.41 ln(Secchi m), 14.42 ln(phosphorus µg/L) + 4.15, 9.81 ln(chlorophyll µg/L) + 30.6. Classes after Carlson and Simpson (1996): under 40 oligotrophic, 40 to 50 mesotrophic, 50 to 70 eutrophic, 70 and over hypereutrophic.

Year by year

YearSecchi depthTotal phosphorusChlorophyll a
2026–4.9 µg/L (2)1.1 µg/L (2)
20257.6 m (3)3.4 µg/L (3)0.6 µg/L (3)
20241.8 m (3)5.4 µg/L (3)1.2 µg/L (3)
20234.8 m (3)5.2 µg/L (3)1.3 µg/L (3)
20224.4 m (3)5.1 µg/L (3)1.1 µg/L (3)
20214.1 m (3)8.2 µg/L (3)2.0 µg/L (3)
20208.1 m (3)6.3 µg/L (3)0.8 µg/L (3)
20194.9 m (3)4.9 µg/L (3)1.2 µg/L (3)
20186.7 m (3)4.8 µg/L (11)1.0 µg/L (11)
20176.0 m (3)5.2 µg/L (11)1.1 µg/L (9)
20164.6 m (3)5.7 µg/L (3)1.0 µg/L (3)
20157.1 m (3)3.9 µg/L (3)0.7 µg/L (3)
20143.5 m (3)3.2 µg/L (3)0.9 µg/L (3)
20134.5 m (3)3.3 µg/L (5)1.5 µg/L (5)
20127.5 m (2)20 µg/L (10)0.5 µg/L (10)
20114.7 m (3)3.0 µg/L (5)0.9 µg/L (5)
20106.1 m (3)4.0 µg/L (3)–
20095.0 m (3)10 µg/L (12)1.4 µg/L (11)
2008–6.0 µg/L (7)1.4 µg/L (7)
2007–5.0 µg/L (9)0.7 µg/L (9)
2006–3.0 µg/L (10)1.1 µg/L (11)
2005–2.0 µg/L (8)0.9 µg/L (8)
20046.0 m (11)4.0 µg/L (11)2.2 µg/L (11)
20033.9 m (11)2.5 µg/L (10)1.4 µg/L (9)
20024.5 m (10)3.0 µg/L (10)2.1 µg/L (10)
20015.2 m (10)5.0 µg/L (10)2.6 µg/L (10)
20003.2 m (11)8.0 µg/L (11)1.2 µg/L (11)
19995.5 m (5)5.0 µg/L (5)1.1 µg/L (5)
1998–8.0 µg/L (3)2.5 µg/L (3)
1997–12 µg/L (12)3.3 µg/L (8)
1996–10 µg/L (4)1.6 µg/L (10)
19957.8 m (2)3.0 µg/L (8)0.6 µg/L (5)
19945.0 m (5)3.0 µg/L (5)1.0 µg/L (5)
1993–4.5 µg/L (4)0.7 µg/L (4)
19926.0 m (5)7.0 µg/L (5)1.6 µg/L (5)
19913.0 m (3)5.0 µg/L (5)1.6 µg/L (5)
19904.8 m (4)4.0 µg/L (5)1.1 µg/L (5)
1989–3.0 µg/L (5)2.9 µg/L (5)
19885.5 m (13)5.5 µg/L (18)0.9 µg/L (13)
19875.0 m (29)7.5 µg/L (34)1.0 µg/L (29)
1986–5.0 µg/L (5)–
19856.2 m (18)8.0 µg/L (26)–
19844.9 m (3)10 µg/L (4)1.3 µg/L (4)
19836.9 m (5)9.0 µg/L (5)1.3 µg/L (5)
19827.2 m (9)6.5 µg/L (8)0.9 µg/L (10)
19816.0 m (9)7.0 µg/L (9)0.8 µg/L (10)
19807.0 m (9)7.0 µg/L (10)0.7 µg/L (8)
19798.0 m (16)6.0 µg/L (17)0.8 µg/L (19)
19785.8 m (15)5.0 µg/L (15)0.7 µg/L (15)
19775.6 m (17)4.0 µg/L (15)0.6 µg/L (13)
19765.6 m (12)4.5 µg/L (12)1.0 µg/L (9)
19754.1 m (3)4.0 µg/L (3)1.0 µg/L (3)
19745.3 m (2)5.0 µg/L (2)–
19736.7 m (2)––

Median of each year's May to October readings; the number of readings is in brackets.

Source: BC Environmental Monitoring Data System (EnMoDS) results, Environmental Monitoring and Analysis Branch, Province of BC, records to September 19, 2026 (Open Government Licence – British Columbia); lake outlines and names: Freshwater Atlas lakes, Province of BC (Open Government Licence – British Columbia). Summaries by PlaceDossier.

Where it was sampled

  • 0500461 South Coldstream C 284 readings
  • 0500847 Deep basin 204 readings
  • 0500246 South end 178 readings
  • 0500581 Near Flow from Spray Irrig 175 readings
  • 0500582 Control north Spray Irrig 61 readings
  • 0500580 Control south of Spray Irrig 57 readings
  • 0500247 South Rattlesnake Point 42 readings
  • E276464 8887 Crystal Waters Resort Hydologic Background site 37 readings
  • E276463 8887 Crystal Waters Resort Hydrologic site 1 33 readings
  • E207126 . Southern Jade bay 1 reading
  • E221966 At Owls Nest Resort 1 reading
  • E221967 At Kekuli Provincial Park 1 reading
  • E221968 At Kalamalka Provincial Park 1 reading

Left out: 104 readings at 6 sites whose names put them away from the open lake

  • E241584 At Wocid intake 99 readings; a water intake
  • E276536 (KAL-1) Sw shore near water intake Pipe 1 reading; a water intake
  • E276537 (KAL-2) central west shore opposite 0500847 1 reading; on the shore
  • E276538 (KAL-3) Kekuli bay Boat Launch 1 reading; on the shore
  • E276539 (KAL-4) Kal Lake Prov Park west side of Dog beach 1 reading; on the shore
  • E276540 (KAL-5) north end near Vernon water intake Facility 1 reading; a water intake

Site names are tidied from the provincial records; the IDs find each site's full record there.

What this record doesn't cover

Algae bloom reports and invasive mussel checks aren't in this record: the province's Algae Watch map and mussel monitoring aren't published as open data. For swimming, check the regional health authority's beach advisories; for blooms and mussels, ask the province's regional environment office or the local lake association.

Readings are from the province's monitoring database: samples taken by provincial staff, volunteer lake monitors, and companies and local governments that sample under their permits. We keep the ice-free season (May to October), and for phosphorus and chlorophyll only samples from the top 5 m. We leave out sites whose names put them at a water intake, a sewage or industrial outfall, a mine or a permit holder's works, or on the shore (a beach, dock or boat launch): water there can differ a lot from the open lake. Each year's figure is the median of that year's readings. We give a lake a summary, a comparison with other lakes and a nutrient level only when it has at least 10 summer readings from open water, spread over at least 3 different years, since 2012; the summary is the median of those readings. With fewer, or only older ones, we show the readings and say there are too few to judge the lake. A reading below the lab's detection limit counts at that limit. One site can be a bay rather than the open lake, so a lake's figures can differ from one end to the other.

Water quality changes with the season, the weather and the part of the lake. These are past readings, not a test of the water today: before you buy, ask the local government and the lake association what's known, and test a drinking-water intake yourself.