TIME TO TAKE ACTION ON OSOYOOS LAKE WATER QUALITY

(OSOYOOS TIMES — September 26, 2007) —

If anyone in Osoyoos didn't know our lake is teetering on the edge of being in real environmental trouble, they must know it now.
Those involved with the lake water quality issue over the years have known it all along.
Many studies have addressed different aspects of the big ecological challenges our lake faces.
But until now much of this information has been fragmented and known only to scientists, academics or government officials.
Now, thanks to the Osoyoos Lake Water Science Forum held last week, everybody should know at least the gist of our lake's problems.
The lake is not only the main attraction for tourists and residents alike “ it's the lifeline that is key to the health of our economy and our ecology. If it dies “ as the most dire of the pronouncements at the Lake Water Forum warn “ much that is good and special about Osoyoos will die, too.
This Forum should serve as a wake-up call not just for public policymakers, but for all of us, to take whatever actions we can “ big and little “ to do our part to help the lake survive.
The organizers of the Forum “ notably Osoyoos Councillor Stu Wells and the staff of Destination Osoyoos “ are to be roundly commended for pulling together a great program and making sure that it ran smoothly. Everyone we've talked to who attended the many sessions said it was well-run, accessible to the lay person (which was one of the symposium's goals), and brought together into one place nearly all of what is currently known about the history, science, and issues concerning our lake.
That's all great “ but now the real issue is what do we do about it? We know the problems; we know many of the actions that would make up at least part of the solution.
But, everyone is asking, who is going to take the lead?'rnTown Council hinted at its meeting last Wednesday that it sees the need to take action.
We urge the Town to take the lead. There are many agencies and hundreds of citizens who will no doubt fall in and become good troops in this critical battle for the future of Osoyoos.