Okanagan Lake collaborative monitoring

In 2011, the Ministry of Environment and Parks (ENV), in partnership with the City of Kelowna, the Regional District of Central Okanagan, and the District of Summerland began a seasonal sampling program on Okanagan Lake.

The purpose of this program is to increase water quality data.

This program was performed collaboratively between ENV staff, Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA 2011) and Larratt Aquatic Consulting (2012 to 2018).

Collaborative monitoring combines resources from local government and the province to provide water quality information for planning and management on Okanagan Lake.

The monitoring serves multiple functions, including:

• Assessing attainment of Okanagan Lake water quality objectives
• Enabling seasonal long-term trend analyses of physical, chemical, and biological data in Okanagan Lake
• Fulfilling lake monitoring requirements for municipal wastewater discharges and informing liquid waste management planning

Sampling of 4 key sites is carried out on 7 dates:

• 5 dates are handled through a contract (April to August)
• 2 dates are part of ongoing ENV long-term lake trends sampling (March and September)

Sampling focuses on 3 broad subjects at each site:

• Physical parameters
• Water chemistry
• Biological activity

Physical parameters, including temperature profiles and water clarity (as Secchi depth), are collected at each site.

Water chemistry sampling includes dissolved oxygen profiles, along with nutrients collected from water in the epilimnion (1-5-10 m composite), and the hypolimnion (20-32-45 m composite).

Biological sampling includes generic parameters, such as chlorophyll-a concentrations and biomass, as well as detailed taxonomic classification of phytoplankton and zooplankton.

Reports and summaries

• Okanagan Lake Collaborative Monitoring Agreement Summary Report 2024 (PDF, 3.2MB)
• Okanagan Lake Collaborative Monitoring Agreement Summary Report 2023 (PDF, 3MB)
   
• Okanagan Lake Collaborative Monitoring Agreement 2022 Summary Report (PDF, 3MB)
• Okanagan Lake Collaborative Monitoring Agreement 2021 Summary Report (PDF, 3MB)
   
• Okanagan Lake Collaborative Monitoring Agreement 2011 to 2020 Synthesis Report (PDF, 4MB)
• Okanagan Lake Collaborative Monitoring Agreement 2019 Summary Report (PDF, 2.4MB)
   
• Okanagan Lake Collaborative Monitoring Agreement 2018 Summary Report (PDF, 2.2MB)
• Okanagan Lake Collaborative Monitoring Agreement 2011 to 2017 Summary Report (PDF, 2.3MB)
   
• Okanagan Lake Collaborative Monitoring Agreement 2016 Summary Report (February 2017) (PDF, 2MB)
• Okanagan Lake Collaborative Monitoring Agreement 2015 Summary Report (June 2016) (PDF, 1.4MB)
   
• Okanagan Lake Collaborative Monitoring Agreement 2011 to 2014 Sampling Program Synthesis Report (November 2014) (PDF, 1.3MB)
   
• Okanagan Lake Collaborative Monitoring Agreement 2013 Summary Report (PDF, 2.5MB)
• Okanagan Lake Collaborative Monitoring Agreement 2012 Summary Report (PDF, 3MB)
   
• Okanagan Lake Collaborative Monitoring Agreement 2011 Summary Report (PDF, 3MB)