Issues
Seymour Lake is a small lake, nestled near the base of Hudson Bay Mountain, in Smithers, British Columbia. The lake is about 8.5 ha ( 21 acres or 85,421 square meters). No motorized boats are allowed on the lake. Seymour Lake is facing a variety of environmental issues.
01
photo taken in October of 2025
Blue Green Algae
In the Fall of 2024, Seymour Lake experienced a large blue green algae bloom. It posed a significant health risk so Northern Health put a "A Do Not Use Water" advisory into effect. The bloom died off over the winter. Three SLCS members tested the water in the Spring of 2025 and all three test results confirmed that the algae bloom was gone. As a result, the Northern Health downgraded the advisory to a "Boil Water" notice, which has remained in place since that time.
On Sept. 4, 2025, there was a very small amount of algae that began to bloom on Seymour Lake. We notified Northern Health and Algae Watch we monitored its growth. The algae disappeared and then bloomed again. On Oct. 30, the amount of blue-green algae in the lake was at an alarming level (although it was not close to the size of the bloom of 2024). By Nov. 2, the level decreased significantly.
photo taken in October of 2024
02
Floating Heart
Floating Heart is an invasive weed that exists in Seymour Lake. Our society worked with the government on cutting programs for several years. We owe a huge thank you to the Wetzin'kwa community grant program. Their support made it possible for us to aid the government's root cutting efforts. Unfortunately, the root cutting did not eradicate the floating heart. It has continued to spread around the lake. In the photo on this page, floating heart grows in a thick mat. The leaves of this plant look like a small lily pad.
How you can help: If you go boating on Seymour Lake, please avoid paddling through the floating heart because it spreads through fragmentation. Also, it is important to check your boat when you take it out of the water so that you don't spread the weed to other lakes.
03
ProcellaCOR
At the request of the Seymour Lake Conservation Society, the Early Detection and Rapid Response program (E.D.R.R.) has pressed pause on their plan to apply for a Pesticide Use Permit (PUP) to put a herbicide called ProcellaCOR directly into the water in Seymour Lake. The E.D.R.R. wants to use ProcellaCOR as a tool to eradicate floating heart. They have discontinued all floating heart cutting efforts on Seymour Lake and there has been significant spread of floating heart since the cutting stopped.
At the request of the SLCS, the EDRR has agreed to engage our community in discussions and share the research that is guiding their thinking before they apply for the PUP. This will give the SLCS a chance to ask questions and provide input in advance. Click here to learn more about the EDRR.
04
Dog Poop on Skating Trails
In the winter, several Seymour Lake property owners spend their free time creating and maintaining skating trails. These skating trails are well used by the public. The one serious environmental issue that results from this activity is that skaters bring their dogs, but leave their dog poop on the ice.
More than 20 households draw water from Seymour Lake, so this situation is alarming. The SCLS has tried, unsuccessfully, to get people to clean up after their dogs. We have provided free dog bags, waste containers, and signs. None of this has worked.
How you can help: if you would like to skate on Seymour Lake, then show that you care for the environment by leaving your dog at home.
Click here to learn more about this issue.
