This article discusses the importance of keeping waterways clean to support the return of sockeye salmon to the Okanagan River system. It provides tips for residents to conserve water and avoid contaminating streams and lakes, such as using biodegradable products, taking cars to commercial car washes, and properly disposing of chemicals and medications. Recent projects by the Okanagan Nation Alliance Fisheries Department have helped salmon populations rebound after years of decline due to human impacts on local waters.

1. Capital News Friday, September 30, 2011 www.kelownacapnews.com A13
NEWS
▼ SALMON
Remember…sockeye returning home need water too
Gwen Bridge stresses the fish. goes for your pets. Off- ter. Wise is an initiative of the
CONTRIBUTOR • Remember that wa- road activities near water • Choose biodegrad- Okanagan Basin Water
ter that enters storm sources can kick up sed- able products where pos- Board.
The return of sockeye drains flows directly into iments, creating murky sible. Gwen Bridge is the
to the Okanagan River creeks, rivers and lakes, water that harms aquatic For more on Okana- natural resources manag-
system this year is some- carrying with it chemi- life. Grease and oil from gan WaterWise, visit www. er for the Okanagan
thing for everyone to cel- cals from our yards, drive- bikes, and pet waste can okwaterwise.ca. Nation Alliance and an
ebrate. ways, streets, and park- also contaminate the wa- Okanagan Water- ONA board director.
Not since the 1950s ing lots. This damages
have we seen this type the health of these waters
of return, and the future and the creatures that call
looks even better. them home. HONESTY • INTEGRITY • QUALITY • COMMUNITY
*
However, it’s also a re- • If you need to wash TH
ON ! FREE ESTIM
minder that we must all your vehicle, take it to a A MR A ROOF ATES
*
69
do our part to keep the car wash that recycles its FO EW
N
waters clean and plentiful
enough for the fish.
water and treats it before
it’s returned to the envi- $
Before there were ronment.
Okanagan people here • If you must give the
there were salmon—chi- car a quick wash at home,
nook, coho, chum, steel- use a trigger nozzle to
head and sockeye. prevent water from be-
Today, those salm- ing wasted, and wash the YOUR RELIABLE ROOFING CONTRACTOR
on are either completely car over grass. The lawn For all your Residential & Commercial roofing needs
gone or found in very low will act as a natural filter We offer THE BEST WARRANTY in the industry: covers workmanship for 25 yrs!
numbers. that removes many of the *
$69/mo. covers the cost of an asphalt re-roof, based on an average-sized roof costing $5600,
The annual return of chemicals before the wa- repaid over 10 yrs @ 7.24% interest, OAC.
Okanagan adult sockeye ter makes its way back to Call us toll free
info@vistaroofing.ca
1-250-860-8832
has been as low as 2,048 our lakes and streams.
(recorded in 1998). • Medications and www.vistaroofing.ca
This is mostly the re- chemicals should not be
sult of human activities flushed down the toilet or
in and around water— washed down the drain.
as homes and docks built Instead, take unused med-
up along the banks of the ications to any pharma-
Okanagan, with the chan- cy, and take paints and
neling of Okanagan Riv- ONA FISHERIES DEPARTMENT/CONTRIBUTOR other chemicals to appro-
er in response to flood- STAFF WITH Okanagan Nation Alliance’s fisheries priate disposal locations.
ing, and the construction department collect mature salmon from Okanagan Check out the waste re-
of dams on the Colum- River for breeding. duction department of
bia River (the Okanagan your regional district for
River flows into the Co- baby salmon. plentiful for fish: more information on haz-
lumbia). It is important we all • Conserve water ardous waste disposal in
All of these chang- make an effort to keep our in your home and out- your area.
es have made it hard for water clean and healthy. doors. Low water levels • When enjoying the
the salmon to return from Here are a few tips to in spawning channels cre- outdoors, stick to main-
their passage to the ocean. keep our water clean and ate warmer water which tained trails. The same
However, since 2000
the Okanagan Nation Al-
liance Fisheries Depart- ATTENTION: DR. NINA BLINKHORN’S PATIENTS
men has been working Dr. Blinkhorn would like to inform all of her patients that as of October
hard to bring the salm- 1, 2011 her new address and phone will be: 102-3040 Tutt Street,
on back. Kelowna 250-763-7701. Anyone who is her patient will have their chart
In the past two years, moved to the new address. Sorry, she will be taking no new patients.
the ONAFD has record-
ed between 80,000 and
120,000 spawners (2010).
Projects that have con-
tributed to this success in- Kids Matter.
clude the reintroduction
of sockeye into Skaha Teacher Care!
Lake, the alteration of the
gates at McInytre Dam
to make salmon passage In a world of almost
possible, and the Okana- 7 billion people,
gan River Restoration Ini- children make up
tiative (returning parts of one third of our
the Okanagan River to population and all of
its natural state, making our future.
salmon migration easier).
While there is much to
celebrate with this year’s Teachers
amazing sockeye run, it have made the future
is important to remem- our life’s work.
ber that clean water is ab-
solutely necessary for Talk to a
healthy fish, especially teacher today.
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