Okanagan Fish/Water Management Tool

Testimonials, 2005-2006 water year

Elmer Fast
Resource Management
Fisheries and Oceans Canada

“… Brian's note captures the feelings of all members of the Canadian Okanagan Basin Technical Working Group (COBTWG) who have been actively involved in the development and use of the Fish-Water Management Tool in managing flows in the Okanagan River to address fisheries and non fisheries issues. The development of this tool was a cooperative venture undertaken by 3 levels of government within British Columbia [DFO (federal), MOE (provincial), Okanagan Nation Alliance (First Nation)] in conjunction with an international U.S. partner (Douglas County Public Utility District). Without the expertise, dedication and in-kind contribution of time of staff from these agencies and the tremendous funding support from our U.S. partner - Douglas County PUD, this accomplishment would not have happened.

Year 2006 was the first real test for implementation of this flow management model and use of the model was clearly a success in balancing the interests of fish against other issues affected by flow management. In summary... use of the model this season to date has reduced mortality of salmon and other fish species (eg. kokanee) at their various life stages from levels of mortality that occurred prior to development of the flow management model. I think I can safely say that, based on assessment and use of this model to date, this group effort has resulted in the development of a flow management tool that is likely one of the best water management tools to be had anywhere in North America and perhaps the world. Long term use of this model and annual assessment over time will be the ultimate test in terms of ongoing benefits to the fishery resource. However, using this model in the 2006 spring season really demonstrated the benefits that can be derived from this tool.

I have spent nearly 34 years employed by Resource Management agencies at the federal, provincial, and territorial level and the cooperative effort displayed by the FWMT partners noted above is the best example of domestic / international inter-agency cooperation to achieve an important resource management objective that I have ever witnessed. With the right people, dedication and a common objective, bureaucratic challenges that can present themselves when dealing with complex resource management issues can be surmounted.”

Elmer Fast
Resource Management
Fisheries and Oceans Canada