Contaminants such as metals (e.g., mercury), pesticides (e.g., DDT), and industrial chemicals (e.g., PCBs) are found in small—and sometimes large—amounts throughout the environment. When these contaminants enter aquatic ecosystems, many of them can accumulate to high concentrations in the tissues of fish at the top of the food chain. Okanagan Nation people have been catching and consuming resident fish in the Okanagan Valley lakes and rivers for millennia, and some continue to do so. Other people are concerned about the quality of fish, including contaminant levels. Fish are an excellent source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids, and people should be encouraged to eat them. However, concrete information needs to be provided about how much fish of which species people can safely eat so that they can benefit from including resident fish in their diet. Read More
Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis, commonly referred to as Bti, is a bacterium found naturally in soils. Since 1982, it has been used successfully worldwide as a biological pest control agent to combat mosquitoes and blackflies. Read More
The Okanagan’s ecosystems are coming under increasing pressure with the population growth and associated development currently experienced in the region. We sought a method of assessing the health of the Okanagan’s lowland streams, many of which are in or near urban areas. We chose to use benthic invertebrates as indicators of stream health. Read More
Wood Lake is one of the few remaining low elevation lakes in the Okanagan where Kokanee [Oncorhynchus nerka] fishing can take place. To maintain this important sports fishery the Oceola Fish and Game Club (OFGC) has been working over the last 15 years to protect, restore, and enhance Middle Vernon Creek, the principal creek used by the Wood Lake Kokanee population for spawning. The numbers of Kokanee spawners in Middle Vernon Creek are shown below in Figure 1. Read More
Groundndwater is an importantnt and often essential part of wild salmonid habitat. Yet, groundwater use is almost entirely unregulated in British Columbia, groundwater management rarely considers wild salmon, and British Columbia’s water policy focuses mainly on surface water. Read More
This report describes the state (health) of fish and fish habitat in the Okanagan and Similkameen River basins. It is one component of a watershed based fish sustainability planning (WFSP) process that was initiated in 2003. The ultimate goal of the WFSP process is sustainable long term conservation of fish and fish habitat. To achieve this goal requires knowledge of factors that have Read More
