We have erected ‘Do Not Feed the Geese Signs’ along community beaches
Erected Aquifer information signs in the Town and in Rural Area “A”
In 2003/4 with help from Dept of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, we had the 2 schools in Osoyoos take on the task of caring for 800 salmon eggs. They monitored the hatching of these eggs in specially-constructed tanks, and six months later the classes came out on a field trip to the Okanagan River where the young salmon ‘fry’ were released into the waters. The students studied fish food in the River, had use of microscopes, and the process was covered by the local media.
Attend conferences and workshops in Canada and the U.S.
Accumulated an extensive library of literature, CD’s, videos, books, reports etc – all of which are available for public use. Just give us a call and tell us what you want! Subjects include beavers, aquatic weeds, algae, diseases in fish etc.
Publish regular news articles in the local media as part of our education program.
Have a portable display booth for trade shows, festivals etc
Provide a ‘hotline’ (250) 495-3366 for people who have questions about the Lake.
Monitor the Lake for infractions such as the building of concrete walls or removal of vegetation along the shoreline, and report to the specific Ministry involved.
In 1995 we held a “water crisis in the Okanagan Valley” seminar which attracted a great deal of public interest.
In 1994 the BC Ministry of Environment asked us to take over their monitoring of Lake Osoyoos, due to provincial funding cutbacks. This has been carried out ever since by the Society on a weekly basis between April and October. We test for water turbidity (clarity), dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, and specific conductivity. The results are forwarded to the Ministry of Environment each year. This data first began to be collected in 1972 and is available to the public on request. We were the second community society to undertake lake monitoring in the Province and are well known.
Over the years we have assisted Area “A” in interviewing and taking samples of drinking water from all the residents in the Lacey Point area and subsequently in the Northwest Sector, for which government funding is required to eliminate the septic systems in those areas.
Part of our ongoing education was the production of a booklet: “Checked the water in the Osoyoos Fish-bowl Recently” (with help from several government agencies, Destination Osoyoos and other sources).
Provide, free of charge to anyone who wants it, an excellent book ‘On the Living Edge’ (value $20.00) which gives tips and advice on creating and maintaining an eco-friendly lakeshore property.
Since the year 2004 we’ve had a contract with the Ministry of Environment to monitor the water levels in seven “observation wells” in the Osoyoos area every month of the year.
We also assist the Groundwater Dept in taking samples from domestic wells each September to test for nitrates and other contaminants.
Since 1997 we have had local groups (Air Cadets, etc.) come out and paint yellow fish by the storm drains that empty directly into the Lake. We also tried a program with plastic discs but some of these were either damaged by Town sidewalk sweepers, or stolen, so we have gone back to painting the yellow fish. We have brochures on this which we hand out to those interested and get local news paper coverage.
Assisted with geese management research in Osoyoos and the Okanagan Valley.
Completed research on the 10 stormwater outflows in Osoyoos, with photos etc.
Compiled a report for Area “A” on river channels and river oxbows (meanders) around the world, plus those of the Okanagan River oxbows north of Osoyoos Lake.
Compiled reports on Milfoil in Osoyoos Lake, and the problems affecting the lake.
In 2003 we purchased our own 22-ft pontoon boat with a grant from the Gaming Commission plus several local sources. We use the boat to do our weekly monitoring (see above), and it is used in the summer to take small groups on “eco-tours” of our Lake during which we speak about the history, area etc. There is no charge for these trips although donations to the Society are welcome.
We work closely with all three levels of government, and have active membership of many non-government organisations (see below):
- Serving as representatives on their boards.
- Helping with specific projects.
- Making presentations & conducting workshops at annual conferences
- Acting as advisors, providing people with data etc.
- Osoyoos Oxbows Restoration Society
- South Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Program
- Washington Lake Protection Society
- BC Lake Stewardship Society (founding members)
- State of Washington Watershed Management Plan
- Ducks Unlimited
- Osoyoos Indian Band
- Osoyoos Desert Society
- Okanogan Planning Unit (representing B.C.)
- GAOB (Groundwater Assessment in the Okanagan Basin)
- Regional Growth Strategy Committee
- Washington Lake Protection Society
- North American Lake Management Society (and were first Canadian to be awarded the NALMS Technical Excellence award in 2000. We also made 2 presentations at their Convention held in Victoria in November 2004)
