Osoyoos Lake reaches lowest water level in several decades | CBC News
Listen to this article
Estimated 3 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
A lake in B.C.’s South Okanagan that attracts beachgoers has reached its lowest water level in nearly 40 years.
In early March, Osoyoos Lake registered about 30 centimetres lower than what is typical that time of year.
The low lake level has prompted the Town of Osoyoos to temporarily close its boat launch designed for powerboats in order to protect its infrastructure along the shoreline.
“The marina belongs to the town and we are responsible for it and if we allow things to happen right now at this low level then it could damage our marina and then we would have to fix it before we ever did open it,” said Osoyoos Mayor Sue McKortoff.
A popular tourist spot in B.C’s South Okanagan is experiencing historically low water levels. Osoyoos Lake attracts beachgoers every year. As the CBC’s Tiffany Goodwein reports, the drop in water levels has prompted officials to take action.
Osoyoos Lake rests between the Canada-U.S. border and is regulated by the U.S-Canada Boundary Waters Treaty.
A low snowpack, mild winter and reduced inflows into the lake are said to have contributed to the lower than normal lake levels.
David Henderson, chair of the Canadian section of the International Osoyoos Lake Board of Control, said Okanagan Lake, which spans from Kelowna to Penticton, also impacts Osoyoos Lake’s water levels.
It is part of the Okanagan Lake Regulation System, and a series of dams and structures down the valley and into the U.S. are used to regulate the flow of water to Osoyoos Lake.
“The provincial dam operator has been holding back water to bring Okanagan Lake back into target elevation and this is critically important to ensure there is late-summer, early-fall water supply,” Henderson said.
Lake levels in Osoyoos have been rising steadily. The Washington State Dept. of Ecology, which is responsible for operating the Zosel Dam south of the border, was recently granted permission by the International Joint Commission to raise Osoyoos Lake’s water level, a decision that will allow its water level to return to a normal range by the end of the month.
Despite the water level issues, Osoyoos Lake is still open for tourists to enjoy as long as they don’t require a boat launch.
“There is just a little more beach showing than if it was a foot higher,” McKortoff told CBC News.
The town’s mayor stressed the importance of being mindful of water levels when visiting the lake community.
“We are really trying to do our best, but sometimes it is just climate change and sometimes it is just people not being aware of what the issues are,” she said, adding people could run the risk of hitting rocks and damaging their equipment if boating in current conditions.
Officials hope powerboating will return to Osoyoos Lake in time for peak summer season, now that water levels are starting to rise.