The following is a letter the Vaseux Lake Stewardship Association sent to Jonathan Wilkinson, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans on June 4th, 2019 regarding milfoil control on Vaseux Lake, British Columbia.
Dear Minister Wilkinson and Minister Donaldson,
The Vaseux Lake Stewardship Association (VLSA) was created in July 2017 to promote sound stewardship practices on Vaseux Lake through;
(a) Educational Programs;
(b) Promoting community participation;
(c) Liaison with other organizations, various government agencies, First Nation Organizations and companies;
(d) Disseminate information on stewardship initiatives;
(e) Monitor and assess environmental sensitive activities that negatively affect the lake by causing siltation, milfoil growth, and pollution;
(f) Help to protect water quality, biodiversity, habitat, ecosystems, and watershed-based landscapes.
The Association was first created to try and deal with the proliferation of milfoil throughout the lake.
Vaseux Lake is a small nutrient-rich, shallow lake in the Okanagan Basin which makes it very susceptible to milfoil.
By the summer of 2016, the Lake was 20 to 25% covered in milfoil which had displaced local plants and caused a decrease in water flow and water circulation. The lake experienced major algae bloom and in the spring of 2016 local residents saw several hundred fish die from an anoxic layer of
water most likely caused by the breakdown of milfoil during the winter months which depleted the oxygen in the water.
The Board has attached several pictures relating to the extent of the milfoil problem, algae bloom and dead fish which were collected for the Provincial Ministry in 2016.
The Vaseux Lake Stewardship Association Board is concerned by recent conservation efforts for the Rocky Mountain Mussel which now jeopardizes the ability of the Okanagan Basin Water Board to use the rototiller in Vaseux Lake to treat the milfoil.
The VLSA certainly understands and fully cooperates in the protection of endangered species but we feel more study is required on the long term benefits or risk associated with using the rototiller in well-established milfoil beds.
Milfoil and algae pictures taken August 2016 on Vaseux Lake Pictures of dead fish were taken in May 2016 in front of one property owner on the South side of the lake over a ½ hour period.
The thick layer of decomposed material found under the milfoil beds are simply not an environment conducive to locating Rocky Mountain muscle populations which prefer more aerated and rocky environment. There is plenty of evidence to show that milfoil left unchecked has consequences to water quality and biodiversity in a lake.
The Board feels it would be beneficial for the Provincial Ministry of Forest, Lands and Natural Resources, the Federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada to work with the Okanagan Nation Alliance, The Okanagan Basin Water Board to study the ramifications of leaving milfoil bed untended, compared to areas that are rototilled on a regular basis.
The study could be jointly funded between the Federal and Provincial Government.
Vaseux Lake would be ideal for this study since the rototiller has not been used in our lake in the past and there would be no problem identifying sample areas that are treated for milfoil compared to areas that are not.
This will help all stakeholders determine the long-term benefits and risks to overall water quality, the indigenous plants, fish, shellfish, and any other local species of invertebrates and animals found in the lake.
It is important to study the overall impact of the rototilling the milfoil, not just one species.
The following picture of dead fish was taken in May 2016 in front of one property owner’s property in a 1/2 hour period.
The thick layer of decomposed material found under the milfoil beds are simply not an environment conducive to locating Rocky Mountain muscle populations which prefer more aerated and rocky environment. There is plenty of evidence to show that milfoil left unchecked has consequences to water quality and biodiversity in a lake.
The Board feels it would be beneficial for the Provincial Ministry of Forest, Lands and Natural Resources, the Federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada to work with the Okanagan Nation Alliance, The Okanagan Basin Water Board to study the ramifications of leaving milfoil bed untended, compared to areas that are rototilled on a regular basis.
The study could be jointly funded between the Federal and Provincial Government.
Vaseux Lake would be ideal for this study since the rototiller has not been used in our lake in the past and there would be no problem identifying sample areas that are treated for milfoil compared to areas that are not.
This will help all stakeholders determine the long-term benefits and risks to overall water quality, the indigenous plants, fish, shellfish, and any other local species of invertebrates and animals found in the lake.
It is important to study the overall impact of the rototilling the milfoil, not just one species.
Sincerely,
Norm Gaumont
Chair Vaseux Lake Stewardship Association
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