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

That鈥檚 according to Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) communications director Corinne Jackson.

The precipitation over the weekend didn鈥檛 make much of a difference, Jackson said.

鈥淲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 didn鈥檛 make much of a difference,鈥� she said.

鈥淲hat we need, really, is a lot of precipitation to make up for our deficit and help the creeks.鈥�

Jackson said there are a number of creeks that have been flagged as having low flows, including Shuttleworth, Vaseaux, and Nk鈥橫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.

鈥淭here have actually been fish kill noted at Powers Creek and Mill Creek here in the Central Okanagan,鈥� she said.

鈥淭he fish just can鈥檛 possibly survive with this water鈥� and when water levels drop too, that creates stress in terms of cool water and having enough water.

鈥淲ith the hot temperatures we鈥檝e been experiencing as well, it鈥檚 a double whammy and fish can鈥檛 survive.鈥�

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

鈥淔ish are important to the Okanagan people and their culture. It鈥檚 critical to tourism in our valley, as well as a food source,鈥� 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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