TO: Hon. John Roberts - M.P. Minister of Environment - House of Commons. Ottawa, Onto KlA OX2 i SUMMERLAND, Reading time approximately 12 minutes

Transcription

1 .. DRAFT ( ;;;;/~!/~~~II I; TO: Hon. John Roberts - M.P. Minister of Environment - House of Commons f L) ' Ottawa, Onto KlA OX2 i ) / } / I-' LA-t- <;.~ (' c' '.1-? ft7~: -I' /--t!.. ~~t PROPOSED SPA~VNING CHANNEL AT TROUT CREEK DELTA, SOUTH OKANAGAN LAKE SUMMERLAND, B.C. Reading time approximately 12 minutes Proposal It is proposed here to construct a spawning channel for sport fish at Trout Creek delta, Summerland B.C. on property presently owned by the Federal government, department of agriculture. Reference Letter of Oct. 12 '79 to Fred King M.P., copy filed with Federal minister of agriculture. Property The proposed property L C.L.S.R. Plan 597 B.C. belongs to the Federal government. It is currently held for use by the Summerland Agricultural Research Station but has had minimal usage for the last 64 years. It fronts on the beach of Okanagan Lake immediately south of Trout Creek. It w~s acquired in 1916 for use by the Research Station. The parcel of land being requested has had minimal usage.

2 - 2 Part of the parcel has been left "wild", that is, uncleared, in its original condition, and part has been used for hay or fieldcrops some time ago. Present usage is an area for retrieving "wild" insects for research purposes. Hi th the proposed use as a spawning channe 1, sufficient area should be left "wild" to accommodate the present usage without harming either activity. Reasons for the Proposal 1. Fishing in Okanagan Lake has deteriorated tremendously in recent years, and at an accelerating rate in the last 8 to 10 years. Regional fisheries biologist estimated (1971) that fishing in Okanagan Lake was about 15% of potential total, with a much lower percentage in the southern eighteen miles. >'< REF. OKANAGAN BASIN SWOY - TECHNICAL SUPPLEMENT IX 2. The main reason for lack of sportfish. All spawning potential in the south end of the lake has been destroye1 by nearly total creek water diversion for domestic and irrigation water usage. There is no known shoreline spawning. 3. Spaw~ing facilities are urgently needed for both rainbow trout and kokanee salmon to reduce possibility of further deterioration of the spr~t fishery. Kokanee salmon are a premier small game fish, are very prolific, given adequate spawning potential. They are also much needed, and most efficient as forage feed for larger trout. Trophy sized trout must have similar forage to reach large size.

3 Present hatcheries do not have capacity to benefit the fisheries, in large lakes, as their total capacity is needed to help maintain a fishery in the smaller mountain lakes, where predation is not such a major problemo 5. The Okanagan Valley is recognized as a depressed area. It has high employment for the sumner and early fall periods due to fruit growing, tourist activity and a very depressed economy for the remainder of the year. Millions of dollars have been granted as incentives for small industries, to try to ameliorate this badly unbal*anced economic situation. 6. An improved sport fishery could strengthen the economy of the Okanagan valley by increasing spring, fall and winter tourism to the area. Enclosures Map of the Okanagan lake area Partial map of the (federal~ Agricultural Research Station Part of the marine map of Okanagan lake Air photo of the proposed development area. The Proposal There are four alternatives:

4 That the federal government build and operate a spawning channel for kokanee - rainbow trout on the property as designated below. 2. That the federal government lease the above property for 99 years to the province of B.C. providing they will build and operate a fish spawning channel there, as designated below. 3. That the federal government enter into a joint agreement with the provincial government for construction and operation of a spawning channel as designated below. 4. That the federal government lease the above property to the Summerland Sportsmen's Association for 99 years. The association to undertake to construct and operate a spawning channel as noted below. \~e prefer alternative No.2. The province has technical and operational people almost On site. The Spawning Channel The spawning channel would be constructed on the above property according to strict engineering standards as used in many other places in B.C. or Canada. Natural spanwing channels are very efficient and well plast the experimental stage. The water used would either be pumped from Okanagan Lake to the head of the spawning channel, or possibly partly pumped from shallow wells. Temperature of the water used would be controlled by moveable intakes,

5 - 5 which could be raised or lowered over considerable depth. Power source is at the edge of the proposed area. It is suggested that personnel from the Summerland fish hatchery could operate the channel at low cost, with minimal attention being needed. The idea of a spawning channel where there is no creek is a new one which deserves great attention because similar conditions exist or will exist soon in many parts of Canada. If this one is successful, great benefits could be derived not only for the Okanagan valley, but for m3ny other parts of Canada. The Need for a Spawning Channel in South Okanagan Lake In earlier days, Okanagan Lake was a fishermen's paradise. All of the creeks with year round flows contained spawning grounds for kokanee land-locked salmon and rainbow trout. The outlet of the lake was also a major spawning area. First the city of Penticton was built near the outlet of the lake and much of the outlet area was filled. Later, a low dam was built at the outlet to control water levels, thus finally destroying the outlet spawning beds. Later, as it was realized that value of the area for fruit growing, creeks were dammed to provide irrigation water. Still later, as populations expanded, more dams were built on the creeks. creek was put into a concrete channel because of flood danger. Penticton At the present time there are no year round creeks flowing into the into the

6 - 6 southern 18 miles of the lake. There is no notable spawning capability in that whole area. The north end of the lake is rapidly approaching the same situation. There was some spawning in Trout Creek until about 8 years ago, when the ARDA water program was developed for the Summerland area. No considerltion was given to the fishery resource. The B.C. Fish and Wildlife Branch has a small experimental hatchery program on Penticton Creek. The opportunity to catch sport fish in the souther 18 miles of Okanagan Lake is now extremely limited. The lake itself is large, open year round, and capable of producing good quantities of sport fish under proper conditions. The valley is highly developed a tourism area because of its warm, sunny dry climate. The touism business produces a booming economy for the two summer holiday months, and a depressed economy for the rest of the year. Beautiful motels, campgrounds, picnic sites and all public servies are sadly overcrowded during July and August and virtually empty for the rest of the year. More parks and campsites would only complicate the service problem for July-August and magnify the "depressed area" situation. The area needs something to stimulate the economy October through June. Because of its good climate, the Okanagan Valley has become one of Western Canada's fastest growing retirement centres. Because of rapid development, need for irrigation water, and the consequent pollution combine to the detriment of Okanagan Lake, its value as a recreational unit, and the fishing in it Oth.. er commun~t~es south

7 - 7 of Penticton, need the outflow waters for domestic and irrigation waters. Availability of water will be the limiting criteria for further development in the valley. These things point out the need for adequately funded research into wat2r usage, its quality conservation (qf,r essential needs, and recreational usage, and ways of combining both. The proposal we are making is a new concept. '~e believe it to be not only viable but completely possible. If successful here, it has hundreds of applications throughout Canada and the rest of the world. The expenditures here would be minor compared to the benefits accruing to the Okanagan valley, and, later, to the rest of the country. The usage of the land would not be counter to its present intended usage, in a broad sense. What we are proposing is research in public "fish farming". Needs and Some Foreseen Problems 1. Over usage by people. Being adjacent to "Sunoka beach", a major picnic and bathing site, there will be all the "people problems". We recommend complete fencing and exclusion of the public except in a minor conducted way. The large trees should be left, if possible, to shade the proposed creek area. We would like to retain, as much as possible, the area's wildness for insect collection by the research group also to leave the spawning fish undisturbed for the good of the operation. 2. {<Ie wi 11 need to "fence of f" the beach area wi th an enclosure of part of the lake for a pond to which the young fish can migrate

8 - 8 and stay, safe from predation, while they grow till they are able to protect themselves from over predation in the main lake. When they have reached this size, they would be dispersed to the main lake by opening gates from the enclosure pond. The pond would have to be covered by netting to protect the small fish froln diving birds. We would need a permit for the enclosure, and the pumping, from t he provincial water rights branch. 3. The intake pipe for the pumping would have to be moveable, possibly with two or more intakes, so that temperature of the water could be controlled. It might be necessary to pump SOme ground water from wells to aid in temperature controls. This is not seen as a major problem, because water temperatures 000 a can vary from at least 48 to 58 F (8 to 14.5 C). 4. Adequate provision must be made to keep weeds out of the intakes, to ensure absolutely uninterrupted flows. 5. Artificial feeding in the "lake pond fl shouldn't be necessary as there are probably sufficient nutrients in the main lake water. 6. ~.Je would recommend the introduction of highest quality fish eggs, from Kamloops (rainbow) trout and Kokanee from Kootenay Lake. 7. Kamloops rainbow trout spawn in the spring, and Kokanee spawn in the fall, thus ensuring no conflict, and fuller usage of the facilities.

9 - 9 We urge you to consider this proposal carefully, because something similar to this is urgently needed in Okanagan Lake. In our efforts to assess this situation, we have accumulated some detailed information on pumping and power costs, which we would be glad to share with any group prepared to go ahead with the spawning channel. We have not asked for support from other organixation~ However, in our quest for information, the mayor of Summerland became aware of our plans. He strongly supports the plan, and requested us to let him know when his supports is needed. We have not done that yet, as we felt you would appreciate being able to assess the situation without pressure. We would appreciate an early reaction from you, so we can let the public and our members know what we are doing. Yours truly, Frank Shannon Summerland Sportsman's Association cc. Federal Minister of Agriculture Federal l--linister of Environment Federal Minister of Fisheries Federal M.P. Fred King Dr. Russell - Research Station Director B.C. Minister of Environment Bill Bennett - Premier B.C.; MLA Kelowna Jim Hewitt - MLA - Penticton Chris Bull [2 copies] B.C. Wildlire Federation Director B.C. Fish and Wildlife Branch Pat Jordan - Minister of Tourism [3 extra copies] [15 copies]