Important creeks are a little too warm and a little too low for them to be healthy for fish.

Thatsa国际传媒檚 according to Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) communications director Corinne Jackson.

The precipitation over the weekend didnsa国际传媒檛 make much of a difference, Jackson said.

sa国际传媒淲e were already in such a (water) deficit and we were already so dry due to the very hot temperatures and lack of precipitation, so it really didnsa国际传媒檛 make much of a difference,sa国际传媒� she said.

sa国际传媒淲hat we need, really, is a lot of precipitation to make up for our deficit and help the creeks.sa国际传媒�

Jackson said there are a number of creeks that have been flagged as having low flows, including Shuttleworth, Vaseaux, and Nksa国际传媒橫ip Creeks in the south, Bessette Creek in the north, and Mission Creek in the Central Okanagan.

But these are just the ones that have been noticed and flagged. Jackson said there may be others that are experiencing similar bouts of low flows and warm waters. She said not only are the fish affected but the greater ecosystem as well.

sa国际传媒淭here have actually been fish kill noted at Powers Creek and Mill Creek here in the Central Okanagan,sa国际传媒� she said.

sa国际传媒淭he fish just cansa国际传媒檛 possibly survive with this watersa国际传媒� and when water levels drop too, that creates stress in terms of cool water and having enough water.

sa国际传媒淲ith the hot temperatures wesa国际传媒檝e been experiencing as well, itsa国际传媒檚 a double whammy and fish cansa国际传媒檛 survive.sa国际传媒�

Jackson said that conserving water, reporting dead fish in the water, as well as unauthorized water diversions from creeks, are all important to do.

sa国际传媒淔ish are important to the Okanagan people and their culture. Itsa国际传媒檚 critical to tourism in our valley, as well as a food source,sa国际传媒� she said.

If you see dead fish in creeks or an unauthorized water diversion, report it to the Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-7277.

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twila.amato@blackpress.ca
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