Stu Wells, the former Osoyoos Mayor and former chair of the Okanagan Basin Water Board, spoke about water at the Rotary Club of Osoyoos luncheon recently. (Richard McGuire photo)
Stu Wells is passionate about water and Osoyoos Lake and he doesn’t hold back from discussing concerns about the lake.
He shared some of that passion as guest speaker recently at the Rotary Club of Osoyoos where, as former mayor of Osoyoos, former chair of the Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) and a current director in the Osoyoos Lake Water Quality Society (OLWQS), he covered a gamut of water-related topics.
“I’m noticing a challenge that’s coming,” said Wells, referring to an odour coming from his taps. “I’m smelling algae in my water.”
With the warmer lake temperatures, Osoyoos could again face algae blooms, which typically occur in August and September, he said.
He reminded his audience that in September 2013, there was an outbreak of toxic blue-green algae on Solana Bay. This algae, though toxic to humans, is also a potentially fatal threat to pets such as dogs, which ingest more water when they swim.
“It’s a fluorescent green, sitting in the water just below the surface,” he said, pointing to a bright green napkin on a nearby table to indicate the colour.
The incident two years ago was a learning experience for the town, which hadn’t encountered this toxic form of algae before to Wells’ recollection.
Wells hopes that Interior Health has made progress in developing a protocol for dealing with the health threats posed by algae.
Wells noted that although he believes algae is going to make an appearance this year, that doesn’t necessarily mean it will become the health risk posed by the blue-green variety.
“This is not ‘the sky is falling, the sky is falling,’” he said in a later interview. “But looking at the weather conditions, it’s setting us up for some algae blooms.”
His concern about algae was sandwiched between discussions about how the OLWQS collects water samples on Osoyoos Lake throughout the summer and early fall and about the Osoyoos Lake Water Science Forum taking place at the Sonora Community Centre from Oct. 7 to 9.
Wells is one of the organizers of this event and he chairs the forum’s committee.
The OLWQS was started in 1991 after an Okanagan University College study claimed Osoyoos Lake was a nutrient cocktail of nitrates, phosphates and other unknowns, Wells said.
Further testing of 124 lakes in the province rated Osoyoos Lake’s water quality poorly.
Among those involved in launching the society were Vince Fourt and John Matthews, Wells said. Lionel Dallas, who still lives in Osoyoos, was also one of the early members who carried it forward.
The group has done advocacy of water quality and has also gathered data on weekly outings to five measurement points on the lake where there are deep spots.
The tests include clarity, dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH (acidity or alkalinity) and conductivity, Wells said.
The flat pontoon boat used was originally a dock, he added. About four to six members go out to conduct the measurements.
“It’s three and a half hours on an absolutely gorgeous day,” said Wells. “Any time you get to be out with different people with a common cause, sharing in this testing, is seems really rewarding. Everyone comes off with a great smile on their face.”
The information is provided to the Ministry of Environment.
Wells said that in addition to doing outreach and gathering data about the lake, the organization also signals to government that people are concerned about the lake.
“I think it’s important that outside agencies and government ministries know that there is a concerned group of citizens here that are taking the initiative to get involved in the quality of the lake,” he said. “There’s not a lot of these organizations in British Columbia.”
People wanting more information on the OLWQS can go to osoyooslake.ca.
Switching gears to talk about October’s Osoyoos Lake Water Science Forum, Wells said this follows on earlier forums in 2007 and 2011.
Although the event brings together leading experts on water issues from both sides of the border, the discussion will be geared for the general public, Wells said.
Residents of Osoyoos, Oliver and Oroville will be charged a special admission price of $25 for the three days or they can pay $15 to go for one day. The cost for non-residents is $180 for the full event or $90 for one day.
There will be speakers from Osoyoos, the International Joint Commission, Washington D.C., Ottawa and others who are top scientists or experts on trans-border water issues, Wells said.
He expects such issues to be raised as guaranteed water flows at Zosel Dam, the fishery and salmon, invasive species, algae, the Columbia River Treaty and others.
For more information on the Osoyoos Lake Water Science Forum, visit obwb.ca/olwsf/.
For information about the Rotary Club of Osoyoos, visit portal.clubrunner.ca/830.
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
