The Zosel Dam in Oroville, WA helps to maintain the level of Osoyoos Lake. It is planning to raise the lake level to 912.5 feet by June 20. (File photo)
Osoyoos Lake water levels are rising to respond to a declared drought in Washington’s Okanogan region.
“Extreme low flows forecast in the Okanagan and Similkameen rivers threaten the ability of local irrigators to use water from the river later in the summer,” a press release from the Washington State Department of Ecology states.
“In conditions such as this year, the lake can provide some limited backup going into the summer.”
Lake levels are managed at the Zosel Dam in Oroville, WA under orders of control mandated by the International Joint Commission (IJC).
The joint commission recently approved recommendations that the Zosel Dam now operate through Sept. 15,according to drought-condition rules.
“Filling the lake will occur immediately,” said Al Josephy with Ecology’s water resources program.
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It’s estimated that it will take until June 20 to raise the lake level by a half a foot higher than usual, from 912 feet to 912.5 feet.
“Although storage capacities in Lake Osoyoos are limited an extra half foot of water will give us 3,000 acre-feet of water to help maybe even into September,” Josephy said.
The Department started filling operations, in anticipation of a favourable ruling from the IJC, during the week of June 3.
Along with the local operator, it will endeavour to keep the lake at that level until mid-August at which point residents can expect the lake to slowly decline to 911 feet or lower by mid-September.
In B.C., both the Okanagan and Similkameen regions are currently classified as a Level 2 “dry” drought level as of May 30.
