Four of the large lakes in the Lac des Roches watershed are tested for water quality throughout the ice-off months. Volunteers from the Friends of Lac des Roches and Birch Lake Society take bi-weekly measurements at Lac des Roches, Little Lac des Roches, Birch and Phinetta Lakes. 2014 marked the third year of Level 2 testing on the 3 smaller lakes. Level 2 testing is performed in conjunction with the Ministry of Environment and is ideally timed within days of initial ice-ff in the spring. For the first time, this year’s testing indicated that both Little Lac des Roches and Phinetta Lake do not “turnover” completely. This means that the lower level of the lake does not get mixed in with the rest of the water of the lake that flushes out through normal, albeit slow, lake water flow. Impurities and contaminates that may end up in the lake from both natural and development sources will settle on the bottom of the lake. Undisturbed, they will accumulate over time and when eventually disturbed, likely through natural events such as lake turnover, can result in a reduction of water quality when the lower level impurities are mixed with the everyday contaminants introduced to the lake through various types of development. Detailed reports on the lakes’ water quality will eventually be produced by the B.C. Lake Stewardship Society but initial results have ministry staff showing some concern over the new information. A fourth year of level 2 testing by the ministry is under consideration, to confirm this year’s new data.