Buntzen Lake - South Beach - Centre

This beach is located on Buntzen lake at the south end of the Lake. The lake itself is north of the city of Anmore in interior British Columbia, Canada. The lake is a reservoir, with cool waters and is particularly popular on hot weekends. This means get there early to get a parking spot and a nice spot on the beach. In the early 1900s the lake was constructed to produce energy in a project called Buntzen hydroelectric project. This was the first hydroelectric power in Vancouver which replaced a previous steam plant for power supply in Vancouver.

Amenities include picnic shelters, dog areas, canoe rentals and washrooms with potable water.

As this lake is used to generate power, please be sure to adhere to all posted safety signs.

No power boats are permitted.

Get directions to this beach

COVID-19

Keep your distance from other people.

Practicing social distancing is essential right now. Follow the advice of the health experts. If your community has asked that you remain indoors and away from others, do so. Heading to the beach should only be considered an option if social distancing practices can be followed. Spending a day in any crowded place is the worst thing we can do for our most vulnerable right now and will counter the efforts to curb the virus’ spread.

For more information, please visit the World Health Organization public resource on COVID-19.

Water Quality

Passed water quality tests at least 95% of the time
Historical Status
This status is based on the latest sample, taken on July 4th, 2020. Fraser Basin Council Society updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on July 6th, 2020 at 12:39 PM.

For water quality icon legend, click:

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Monitoring Frequency

Source Information

Fraser Health Authority monitors the water quality at 42 Fraser Valley beaches. Sampling is conducted during the height of swim season (May – September). Sampling days rotate on a constant basis and are taken by a number of different samplers. There isn’t always specific sample dated noted when FHA posts its test results. Fraser Health Authority recommends that Swim Guide use the posting date rather than the sample date.

Fraser Health follows the Guidelines for Canadian Recreational Water Quality. Recreational water is considered safe if the geometric mean result is under 200 E.coli/100mL. If the geometric mean exceeds 200 E.coli/100mL, a series of single sample results exceed a maximum of 400 E.coli/100mL and/or in the event of a known hazard or spill, the Medical Health Officer will make an assessment of the risk to human health.

If there is a risk to human health, a warning sign will be posted at the beach. Results are communicated on the Fraser Health website (http://www.fraserhealth.ca/health-info/health-topics/recreational-water/beach-conditions/). Fraser Riverkeeper updates Swim Guide according to these results, as soon as they become available.

Test results for Fraser Valley beaches are posted weekly. Recreational water quality for a beach is determined by E. coli counts from a laboratory approved by the BC Provincial Health Officer for Provincial Drinking Water and Microbiology Testing.

A beach is marked Green when single sample results are under 200 E.coli / 100 ML water.

A beach is marked Red when the results are equal to or above 200 E.coli / 100 ML water or a series of single sample test results exceed a maximum of 400 E.coli/100mL.

A beach is marked Grey when there are no current results or there is no available information.

Water Quality Graph