Some Characteristics of Nitinat Lake, An Inlet on Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Abstract

The morphometry, temperature, salinity, and oxygen characteristics are described for an inlet on the southwestern coast of Vancouver Island. Although the inlet is over 200 m deep, only the upper 20-30 m (about 1/4 of its total volume) appears to be oxygenated. There are marked changes, both vertically and horizontally, in salinity of near-surface water. All components of the biota observed are either marine, brackish or euryhaline forms.