Bourgeau Lake, Ferry County, Washington

High water of spring

Extensive Chara bench visible at low water of late summer.

• T32N R34E Sec. 36E, M

• Elevation 1900 ft. msl (579.1m)

• Surface area 21.9 acres (8.9 ha)

• Volume 574 acre-feet (707,742 m3)

• Maximum depth 54 ft. (16.5 m)

• Watershed -- Inchelium

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Bourgeau Lake is located about five miles south of Inchelium in the Inchelium watershed. It is surrounded by forested hills and grazing land. The vegetation consists of Pinus ponderosa, Cornus stolonifera, Amelanchier alnifolia, Symphoricarpus albus, Circium arvense, various grasses and, at the lake margin, Typha sp. In the spring, Bourgeau presumably is fed by runoff from Apex Lake as well as from the surrounding hills. Drainage is to the south through Stray Dog Canyon, but no outflowing water was observed during this study.

The lakeshore is marl consisting mostly of calcium carbonate deposited by the macroalga Chara sp. The deposition of marl along the shore line forms a shallow bench. Such lakes are referred to as Chara bench lakes and are characteristic of the region.