56 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

‘It’s way down,’ Nanaimo’s Witchcraft Lake is mysteriously draining

 

https://cheknews.ca/...aining-1298986/

 

 

 

The mysterious draining over recent weeks is the talk of the rural neighbourhood around it, because there was no consultation, no notice at the trailhead, in mailboxes, or on the Regional District of Nanaimo website. Yet neighbours report seeing a crew on the lake recently, cutting and clearing fallen logs and debris that were holding in the water.

“Subsequently the water level dropped, and its lower now than it is in the summertime,” said McGowan. 

According to Deller, the RDN staff he spoke to said it wasn’t contracted by them.

“Checked their records and there was no record of it and it probably was not them,” said Deller. 

According to the Regional District of Nanaimo, Witchcraft Lake is prone to dropping water levels in the height of summer. Yet residents told CHEK News it is now sitting lower than it was in the heat dome of 2023.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is it really a "mystery"?

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 12 January 2026 - 02:57 AM.

[dasmo]

Ahhhh who can forget the heat dome of 23! You guys remember that?

[Victoria Watcher]

For most lakes, water goes in one or more ways, and leaves in one or more ways.

 

Check those to get to the bottom of the mystery.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 12 January 2026 - 07:12 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Ahhhh who can forget the heat dome of 23! You guys remember that?

 

No.  2021 is when Lytton burned down.

[Mike K.]

If the logs “were holding in the water…”

[Victoria Watcher]

When someone comes in a "logs" extensivley and without permit on public land, you could also look to who would benefit from the logging.  Like up in Powell River.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 12 January 2026 - 07:14 AM.

[dasmo]

I do remember that. Human caused but inconclusive. Blamed on the railway and the heat dome. Wildfire that started in town. Burned the houses but not the trees next to the houses. Doctor in the town was very vocal against the Covid measures. Dr. Charles Hoffe. Crazy conspiracy theories ensued. Unforgettable. https://globalnews.c...fire-aftermath/

Edited by dasmo, 12 January 2026 - 07:23 AM.

[Matt R.]

Ahhhh who can forget the heat dome of 23! You guys remember that?

I don’t remember that one, 2021 however…

[Mike P.]

My initial thought when I saw that on chek news is that the lake was draining in an underground mine, but removing logs that were holding in water makes sense... beaver dam anyone?

[Victoria Watcher]

My initial thought when I saw that on chek news is that the lake was draining in an underground mine, but removing logs that were holding in water makes sense... beaver dam anyone?

 

City of Nanaimo is behind Witchcraft Lake’s dropping water level

https://cheknews.ca/...-level-1300632/

 

 

The city of Nanaimo says Witchcraft Lake was created in the 1930s for a small private hydroelectric project.

 

“Then that power generation company ceased to exist because of a dam breach that occurred in 1958, and then the province basically gave the dam to the City of Nanaimo,” said Mike Squire, the Nanaimo’s manager of water resources.

 

The city has monitored lake levels and creek flows for decades, and BC Dam Safety recently asked it to remove the debris that’s been holding water back.

 

“We were directed by the province to actually clear that up for flood protection purposes, and in November, we cleared out the logs that were in that breached channel and created the flow that you see,” said Squire.

 

 

[...]

 

 

The city says it no longer wants the responsibility of a lake it doesn’t even use, so it’s requested the province remove the dam from the provincial registry and rescind the associated water license.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 19 January 2026 - 08:33 PM.

[Mike K.]

“City of Nanaimo is behind Witchcraft…”

Yup. Checks out.

[Victoria Watcher]

They just eliminated a lake.  

 

 

“Subsequently the water level dropped, and its lower now than it is in the summertime,” said McGowan.

 

 

I guess it might just be gone by summer.

 

 

2019:

 

 

A troublesome parking lot leading up Mount Benson is set to be removed, while the floating boardwalk spanning Witchcraft Lake will also be decommissioned.

The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) board unanimously voted to remove the infrastructure in light of a large new parking lot nearby and complaints from neighbours about misuse of the 24-stall Witchcraft Lake parking lot.

An RDN staff report referenced overnight parking, alcohol use and excessive noise among numerous concerns due to the roadside parking lot near the end of Benson View Rd, which had been created in 2010.

Concerns included prostitution activity in the rural, dark area, which garnered regular security patrols.

 

https://nanaimonewsn...-to-be-removed/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 19 January 2026 - 08:53 PM.

[aastra]

 

 

“City of Nanaimo is behind Witchcraft…”

 

I'm surprised that any city nowadays would be falling behind in witchcraft. Aren't they required to meet hiring quotas?

 

Anyway, until they get things together they shouldn't be allowed to continue using the various sigils and talismans, and they should also be prohibited from uttering incantations during official proceedings.

Edited by aastra, 20 January 2026 - 11:15 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Blue-green algae alert lifted at Elk Lake, but still active for Beaver Lake nearly 3 years on

 

https://cheknews.ca/...ars-on-1305386/

[dasmo]

How many pet deaths have occurred on the island that we need to be so paranoid about this? I mean it is natural and they aren’t testing for toxins and thus the “may be” toxic. We all survived Langford lake in the 80s.

[Tony]

BOT

• Rapid Death: Dogs can die within 30 minutes to a few hours, whereas human deaths are extremely rare.
• Behavioral Exposure: Dogs, unlike humans, often ingest large amounts of algae directly from the surface and through grooming.
• Immediate Action: There is no antidote for dog poisoning, making immediate veterinary care (trying to induce vomiting/flush toxins) critical. 

[dasmo]

 

BOT

• Rapid Death: Dogs can die within 30 minutes to a few hours, whereas human deaths are extremely rare.
• Behavioral Exposure: Dogs, unlike humans, often ingest large amounts of algae directly from the surface and through grooming.
• Immediate Action: There is no antidote for dog poisoning, making immediate veterinary care (trying to induce vomiting/flush toxins) critical. 

 

Ask the bot how many dogs have died in BC from this kind of poisoning....