Cranberry Lake is a 110-hectare, spring-fed and creek-fed lake that is located within the municipality of Powell River. The main creek enters the lake at the south east corner, and discharges through McFall Creek on the south side, through a bird sanctuary. McFall Creek is 1.5 kilometres long and discharges into the Georgia Strait at Willingdon Beach. This creek has been the object of extensive habitat and salmon stock enhancement initiatives.

Despite the efforts of the stream habitat enhancement crews and the stock enhancement initiatives of the local salmon societies, this important salmon habitat is in danger of disappearing due to the relentless invasion of exotic white water lilies. At the start of the Cranberry Lake Clean Up Project these plants covered more than 65 per cent of the lake.

Program Objectives

There are two core objectives of this project:

1. To clean the lily pads from Cranberry Lake and return it to a biologically sound environment for fist habit and local recreational use.

2. To explore the business potential of harvesting and composting the lily pads to make fertilizer, and to harvest the lily buds and cut lilies for resale.

This is being achieved by:

1. Conducting harvesting trials and tests to create an efficient harvesting technique;

2. Developing water lily-based fertilizers for testing;

3. Marketing and feasibility studies of fertilizer to BC wholesalers;

4. Identifying potential markets for the sale of the lily buds and cut flowers, both nationally and internationally.

Five youth from Powell River have been employed to work on this project:

1. Sage Patterson: Project Coordinator

2. Jade Ettel: Senior Research Coordinator

3. Ryan Ball: Senior Technician

4. Brad Slinger: Technician

5. Rob Yliruusi: Technician