Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a growing problem in Okanagan lakes.
These blooms can impact drinking water, wildlife and recreation boating and swimming uses.
So the Okanagan Basin Water Board, working with the City of 麻豆精选 and Westbank First Nation, has applied for a grant from Environment and Climate Change Canada to develop an approach to tracking algae and cyanobacteria that cause HABs.
This approach or strategy would incorporate a data system to help water suppliers get early warnings before an algae bloom becomes a serious problem, emergency response plans for a bloom risk, a guide to treatment methods and a training detection program for water suppliers.
This project is supported by a team of 40 experts and local water professionals.
鈥淚f it works well in the Okanagan, the system could be utilized in other parts of Canada that face similar issues,鈥� says a project update report to the Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB).
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OBWB water specialist Sandra Schira notes that while March precipitation was higher than usual, it only resulted in a small recovery in snowpack levels.
As of March 1, the Okanagan snowpack was at 82 per cent of normal compared to past years.
Schira says precipitation levels in the weeks ahead will be crucial in determining the likelihood of drought conditions this summer.
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UBCO student researcher Zallie Hoff presented her report on the relationship between groundwater and surface water in Mission Creek and how they are connected.
Studying the impact of 12 wells along Mission Creeks, her research found that groundwater and Mission Creek are connected, pumping water from wells near the creek can lower the water level and too much pumping during the summer could reduce creek flows which is critical when water levels are already low later in the summer season.
The impact of groundwater use on Mission Creek water flows leads to a better understanding of how that impacts fish, ecosystems and community water supplies.
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Low water conditions in the Okanagan are affecting milfoil control operations.
While de-rooting is complete in Okanagan and Wood Lakes, Osoyoos Lake water levels have been too low to launch the milfoil removal machine there.
As a result, public beach areas will continue to be prioritized while Osoyoos Lake areas adjacent to public property may not receive treatment this winter.
Drought is also affecting de-rooting operations in Kalamalka Lake, causing short-term turbidity spikes at Greater Vernon Water鈥檚 Kalamalka Lake intake.
鈥淜alamalka Lake drains during freshet, most the of the turbidity is carried away from the intake and toward Vernon Creek, however, with the current low flows in Vernon Creek, the turbidity is moving toward the intake,鈥� says a staff report.
