Rattlesnakes, cacti, bunch grass; all species which characterize South Okanagan Region of BC's southern interior. Oh, and yes... Sockeye Salmon!
Okanagan River Salmon
The salmon stocks of the Fraser River system have in recent years gained high profile coverage both in British Columbia and internationally. However for time immemorial Salmon, including Sockeye and Chinook, have migrated from the lakes and streams of the Okanagan to the Pacific ocean via the great Columbia river, and then back again in their ongoing four year cycle. The historical spawning range extends to the tributary streams at the north end of Okanagan Lake near Vernon. Annual salmon returns where once a significant resource for Aboriginal communities with in the region. In recent times however this ancient pattern has been disrupted. Local stream alteration and larger regional hydroelectric developments over the past 50 - 100 years have dramatically changed the character of the Columbia drainage system. This change has had two significant affects on migratory fish species: First, the extent of their upstream migration has been limited, effectively cutting of access to their traditional head water habitat. Second, channelization and agricultural irrigation infrastructure have altered the habit that can currently be accessed. These combined pressures have resulted in an Okanagan salmon population that has struggled. In fact the furthest reach of the return has been until recently limited to a small damn at McIntyre Bluff just north of the community of Oliver. The public profile of the return is so low in fact, many local residents are unaware that they live adjacent to potentially highly productive salmon habitat.
The Good News
Through the efforts of the Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) http://www.syilx.org/naturalresources-fisheries.php sockeye and chinook salmon are now regaining use of the some of the waters that have been unavailable to them. The ONA in partnership with the Colville Confederated Tribes have secured funding from the Bonneville Power corporation to work pro-actively toward the long term goal of enabling salmon passage into skaha lake and ultimately enabling their passage into Okanagan lake.
At this point the measures intended to allow fish passage into Vaseux lake have proved to be successful. Both sockeye and chinook salmon have been observed in Vaseux as well as in the Okanagan River Channel at Okanagan Falls. In fact chinook salmon have been observed as far up the system as Penticton, indicating that last years prolonged high water runoff allowed fish to navigate up stream beyond the damn at the south end of Skaha lake.
This effort, although still very much on going is an excellent good news story. It is a First Nations lead project with cooperation from industry, and various levels of government on both sides of the boarder, and it is producing exciting results.
I thank the members of the ONA fisheries department who welcomed me to participate in the conservation fishery efforts this year. Though I am quite comfortable in the water I have never before worked a net with a team. I was lucky enough to spend the day with the crew in the mild mid October waters of the Okanagan River. Thanks !
I would like to extend a larger thank you to the Okanagan Nation Alliance and it's partners for taking on the project. It is ambitious and it is meaningful.
This fall as we buzz around our communities in preparation for the winter ahead we should take a moment to pause and imagine the streams and rivers of our communities once again being connected to the ocean through the migration of the salmon.
Sources for further information about Pacific salmon:
Okanagan Nation Alliance,
http://www.syilx.org/naturalresources-fisheries.php
Canadian Okanagan Basin Technical Working Group,
http://www.obtwg.ca/reg_description.html
Oceans and Fisheries Canada,
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/species-especes/salmon-saumon/index-eng.htm
David Suzuki Foundation,
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/issues/oceans/science/sustainable-fisheries-and-aquaculture/marine-planning-and-conservation/canadas-pacific-north-coast/
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