BACKGROUND INFO
OSOYOOS LAKE WATER SCIENCE FORUM
DATE: |
September 17 – 18, 2007 |
TIME: |
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
PLACE: |
Sonora Community Centre |
|
8505 68th Avenue, Osoyoos, BC |
FEE: |
$30 per person (Canadian dollars) |
2007 Osoyoos Lake Water Science Forum
When: Welcome Reception, Sunday September 16, 2007 from 5 to 7:30 pm; Science Forum, Monday, September 17 and Tuesday, September 18, 2007. click here to view the agenda.
Where: The Sonora Centre, Town of Osoyoos, British Columbia, Canada
Background: This forum is your opportunity to share your experiences, learn and provide input on issues pertaining to water sustainability in Osoyoos Lake, as well as the Okanagan Basin. Public concerns regarding existing water quality and the sustainability of Osoyoos Lake continue to be expressed. To address this concern, the Town of Osoyoos - working collaboratively with many local, state, provincial, federal and bi-national organizations - is holding a bi-national water science forum focused on this basin straddling the Canada-US border.
Come join us to learn, share your experiences and provide input on various aspects influencing the sustainability of Osoyoos Lake. One forum outcome proposed is a facilitated citizen and agency leader round table discussion concluding in defining possible action items and next steps to be incorporated in the final forum report. The report will be made available to forum participants and the public.
The forum will emphasize a local and regional watershed approach to sustainable water resources by geographically focusing on the Lake’s biological, chemical and physical integrity within the context and as it may be influenced by factors taking place within the larger Okanagan.
The Okanagan basin, including Osoyoos Lake has the least water per capita of all Canadian basins (Statistics Canada) and consistently ranks at or near the top in lists of Canada’s most threatened rivers. The river and lake provide essential spawning and rearing habitat to one of the two remaining Sockeye runs in the Columbia basin.
Forum discussion topics include:
- History of Osoyoos Lake;
- Upstream Okanagan River, Osoyoos Lake, and Downstream Okanogan River water quality scientific findings;
- Possible affects of Zosel Dam on water quality;
- Possible aspects influencing water quality; what do we and don’t we know?
- Groundwater;
- Land Use Planning;
- Municipal and regional urban planning;
- Restoring natural channel morphology and habitat;
- The influence of water quality and quantity on fisheries and Species-at-Risk;
- Lake water quality case studies from other basins;
- Basin flow augmentation perspectives;
- Basin water resources and fisheries in the context of climate change;
- International Osoyoos Lake Board of Control activities;
- Communication and technical information sharing;
- Stewardship activities and programs; and
- Audience round table discussion on working collaboratively towards a sustainable Osoyoos Lake and Okanagan basin with discussion ending with defining action items and next steps.
Who should attend: This is a forum for exchanging information, ideas and experienced and brainstorming among all who have an interest in Osoyoos Lake and the Okanagan Basin Water Resources - citizens, business owners, local industry, property owners, agency representatives scientists, First Nations and Native Americans, and municipal governments.
Osoyoos Lake Science Forum Committees:
Local Arrangements Committee
Denise Eastlick - Community Resource Coordinator, Destination Osoyoos
deastlick@osoyoos.ca
(250) 495-3366
Stu Wells - Osoyoos Town Councillor
stuwells@telus.net
Science Committee
Kim Hyatt
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Hyattk@pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
(250) 756-7217
Mark Peterschmidt
Water Quality Program, State of Washington
Department of Ecology
MAPE461@ECY.WA.GOV
(509) 454-7843
Lionel Dallas
Osoyoos Lake Water Quality Society
dallas@vip.net
(250) 495-3341
Organization Committee
Denise E. Mills - Section Manager,
Water Quality Program
Central Regional Office
(509) 457-7107
dmil461@ecy.wa.gov
Craig Nelson
Okanogan Conservation District
craign@okanogancd.org
(509) 422-0855
Bob Clark
Okanogan Conservation District
bobc@okanogancd.org
Brian Symonds
Section Head, Floodplain Management
Ministry of Environment
brian.symonds@gov.bc.ca
(250) 490-8255
Daniel Millar
Secretary, Canadian Section, International Osoyoos Lake Board of Control
Environment Canada
Daniel.Millar@ec.gc.ca
Phone: (604) 664-9345
Fax: (604) 664-9126
Robert Kimbrough
Secretary, U.S. Section, International Osoyoos Lake Board of Control
U.S. Geological Survey, Washington Water Science Center
rakimbro@usgs.gov
253-552-1608
Tom McAuley
Engineering Advisor
Canadian Section, International Joint Commission
McAuleyT@ottawa.ijc.org
(613) 995-0433
Mark Colosimo
Engineering Advisor
United States Section, International Joint Commission
ColosimoM@Washington.IJC.org
202-736-9021
Alfonso Mejia
Water Resources Engineer, International Joint Commission - US Section
mejiaa@washington.ijc.org
To Register: click here.
