A Walk through Gardom Lake Park

Gardom Lake Park has been in the news lately over the question of whether the provincial government was going to renew the licence of the society which has been managing the park, quite successfully, and with volunteer labour, for over 25 years.

Based on the local news stories, it appears that the licence will be renewed, for at least some time into the future.  https://www.saobserver.net/news/province-says-park-will-stay-in-community-groups-hands/

If I need a break from city pavement and want to find a forest, Gardom Lake Park is my go-to destination, less than 20 minutes from downtown Salmon Arm.

Many Salmon Arm folks are familiar with the beach at the park. It's small, but it does not flood in high water like Shuswap Lake beaches. So when the big lake's beaches are under water, families can still find a place that is child-friendly. Gardom Lake is primarily spring-fed, and it has a very small watershed (unlike Shuswap Lake); its water levels fluctuate very little compared with Shuswap.

Summer view of one of two picnic shelters at Gardom Lake Park,
with the beach and swimming buoys in the background.

What is less well known are the forest trails of the Park. These were laid out and built by volunteers, probably at least 15 years ago. I lived in the community at the time, and hauled many wheelbarrows of gravel, along with others. The trails are brushed during spring clean-up at the park, which usually takes place the Saturday morning before Mother's Day.

The map on the Park bulletin board shows the location of the trails:

Park trail map

The paths through the park are meant for a meander, not a hard hike. They can be circumnavigated in less than half an hour, depending on walking speed. In a couple of spots, benches provide opportunities for contemplation.

Cedar, birch and a footbridge in the ravine bottom, along "Ravine Trail"

These trails are meant to be enjoyed for just the moment of being in the forest. There are no spectacular views, nor huge firs or cedars. But there are plenty of forest smells, and birdsong. Wild ginger grows in the ravine, and, later in the spring, the attractive spires of False Solomon's Seal grow densely in the bottom, perfuming the air with their fragrance.

A shoot of False Solomon Seal pokes through leaves in the bottom of the ravine

Plenty of boxwood grows in the park, to the point that its name has been lent to a trail

Boxwood and Oregon Grape

Parts of the trail wander through a birch forest which is suffering the effects of drought. Many birch are now at the stage of their lives where they are good for woodpeckers and flickers.

There is also a most interesting array of bracket fungi growing on trees.

Because there are decaying birches, walking on these trails in a big windstorm is probably not a good idea. There are definitely signs of blow-down in various places.

I am happy that the large dead fir between the beach and the wharf at the park continues to stand. I know there has been concern that it might be a hazard during a windstorm. However, it is also important habitat for woodpeckers. The large sign reflects the approach that has been taken by the society managing the park.

Sign on tree near beach, Gardom Lake Park

An intriguing item of interest is a very large anthill near the entrance to the park.

This anthill is usually hidden from view by vegetation in the summer

View from Gardom Lake Park, near the beach
One of the park's diving platforms can be seen at the left

In 2009, Ministry of Environment embarked on a project to remove invasive fish from Gardom Lake. These had been introduced into several lakes in the Shuswap - Kamloops area, by persons unknown.

The perch and bass had voracious appetites, and completely altered the ecosystem of Gardom Lake. The lake, which used to thrum with frogs in the spring, had become silent. Freshwater snails and other invertebrates like damselflies were almost non-existent.

Trout were few in numbers, whereas perch were plentiful, but had become so prolific, most of them were very tiny as they had exhausted all available food supplies.

For more information about this project, go to the blog I wrote at the time, when I was living on the lake.   http://lakesideliving-sarah.blogspot.com/

Ministry of Environment signs about invasive species at Gardom Lake.
A reward still stands for information about how the fish were put into the lake.

Since 2009, the frog population has rebounded. Here is a brief clip I recorded of frogs at the exit creek, early last night.

If frogs are an indicator species, Gardom Lake is still doing well.

As well as the Gardom Lake Community Park Society which manages the park, a stewardship society has been monitoring water quality, and doing public education over the years. Gardom Lake Stewardship Society (https://www.gardomlakestewards.org) hopes to keep the lake as healthy as it is, and ensure the protection of this sensitive lake.

Both societies are making significant contributions to our ability to enjoy the lake and forest around it.

(Note: full disclosure - in the past, when I lived on the lake, I was a board member of both societies at different times.)