Dear Editor:

On page 2 of the May 2 issue of the Osoyoos Times there was important information related to the recent local heavy rains.
However, one paragraph had wrong information when it was stated “the heavy precipitation has also lead to an increase in the level of Osoyoos Lake, which rose from 909.5 feet in February to 911.5 in April.”
I would like to clarify what actually happened so  members of the public will have a clearer indication of how lake levels rise and are monitored on Osoyoos Lake.
The increased level is de facto related to the operation of Zosel Dam in Oroville in accordance to the International Treaty between Canada and the United States signed back in 1909.
The operation of the dam is mandated by the International Osoyoos Lake Control Board, where four members are delegated by each signatory from each country’s respective civil servants.
Unfortunately, there are no elected members and I feel it is time to have elected councillors from Osoyoos and Oroville as members of the board.
None of the current members live within “sight” of the lake.
Osoyoos Lake is the important asset for both towns for many aspects of life and economic activities.
The lake level should be operated within the Order of Approval from 1982 and its supplement from 1985, prescribing normal summer levels of 911 feet with a possible minor and time limited deviation to 911.5.
Living on shore of the lake myself for the past 27 years, I know that in the majority of years the level was kept around 911.0, although some years we had some flooding in our town.
Several years ago, Mr. T. Shields, then the Mayor of Osoyoos, classified the flooding correctly, in my mind, as “manmade.”
The co-ordination to monitor the lake levels between both governments has since improved.
In 1934, the USA Board of Engineers examined the level of the lake and declared the flooding in Canada starts from a level of 911.0.
No further Environmental Assessment Report has been done since and only the Osoyoos Indian Band has been compensated for lost land caused due to flooding.
This year the operator of the dam deviated from the standard level of 911 from April and started to keep the level close to 911.5.
By such operation it is reducing the safety margin to maximum permitted levels, notwithstanding the current weather pattern as snowpack across the Okanagan and Similkameen basins has not yet been completed.
Just two days of heavy rain last week forced the increase to the lake level above the permitted level and it took some time to get the proper level on the lake back to where it belongs.
We all can check out this information on the USGS website. The operation as it has been done this year jeopardizes the safety of our town as is not within the spirit of the original treaty.
Several weeks ago I contacted the Canadian chair of the control board with my concerns relating to how the dam is operated.
The reality of what has happened proved my concern was proper and within my professional duty to inform the public.
I strongly criticize the current governance by the control board.
In response,  I am issuing this as an open letter to the International Osoyoos Lake Control Board by sending it as attachments to chairs on both sides of the border.
I wish the local government would do the same on behalf of residents.
Because this lake is so important to people living in both the Osoyoos and Oroville areas, I thought it was important that I explain exactly what is happening with lake levels.
We must hope this spring will pass without flooding of some residential areas in the Town of Osoyoos.

Ivo Tyl
Osoyoos, B.C.