Water Stewardship Information Sources
| ID | 1662 |
|---|---|
| Citation | Summit Environmental Consultants Inc. 2010. Study 7 (Part 1): Demonstration of factors that govern Osoyoos Lake levels during high water periods. Prepared for the International Joint Commission. |
| Organization | International Joint Commission |
| URL | http://ijc.org/rel/boards/osoyoos/study_7_part_1_final_report.pdf |
| Abstract/Description or Keywords | The operation of Zozel Dam at the outlet of Osoyoos Lake is governed by the International Osoyoos Lake Board of Control (IOLBC), under ﾓOrders of Approvalﾔ prescribed by the International Joint Commission (IJC). These ﾓOrdersﾔ specify that the lake must be maintained within certain ranges of elevations in winter (November 1 - March 31) and summer (April 1 - October 31) (the elevations are given with respect to the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey Datum (USCGS)). The Dam has a limited ability to manage high inflows, particularly when downstream backwater conditions exist, and the lake frequently exceeds the upper limit of the acceptable range in the summer period. The ﾓOrdersﾔ will be renewed in 2013. The IJC has initiated this study to review the operation of Zozel Dam in order to help determine whether the Dam can be operated any differently to mitigate high water conditions, and to determine whether any changes to the Orders are required prior to 2013. Summit Environmental Consultants Inc. and Sequoia Mediation were retained by the IJC to complete Study 7. Study 7 was divided into Part One: an investigation of the factors controlling Osoyoos Lake level, and Part Two: development of an outreach program to communicate the results of Part One to local stakeholders. Part One was completed by Summit Environmental Consultants Inc., and Part Two was completed by Sequoia Mediation. The overall objectives of Part One of Study 7 are to: 1. Review the circumstances and factors responsible for Osoyoos Lake levels exceeding 911.5 feet (277.8 m) USCGS between 1988 and 2008; 2. Review the capabilities of Zosel Dam to regulate water levels, and demonstrate how water levels (especially high levels) would compare in the absence of the dam; 3. Provide an assessment of how Zosel Dam could have been operated differently between 1988 and 2008 to control high water levels on Osoyoos Lake, and how much difference this would have made in terms of the magnitude and duration of the high water levels; 4. Provide a review of the effects on lake levels and Okanogan River flows of operating Zosel Dam with the principal goal of minimizing lake levels that have a negative impact on stakeholders and property owners; and 5. Provide recommendations on how to optimize the storage potential in Osoyoos Lake in the future in order to minimize high water events, while accounting for other stakeholders and the aquatic environment. flood, peak flow |
| Information Type | report |
| Regional Watershed | Okanagan |
| Sub-watershed if known | Osoyoos Lake |
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| Comments | |
| Project status | complete |
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