A recent discussion at a meeting of the Similkameen Valley Planning Society centred around the need for an “early warning system” to alert officials and the public to events affecting the quality of water in the Similkameen River watershed.
The discussion was prompted by two events in August that resulted in downstream residents puzzled by changes in river clarity.
In the first instance, heavy rain and a subsequent landslide into the river resulted in the Similkameen taking on a greenish like hue for a few days. The appearance of the river had several Keremeos residents wondering what had happened further upstream.
In the other, a coal mine tailings spill turned the Tulameen jet-black, raising local concerns amongst those who had no knowledge of what had happened.
Society members are correct in their assessment that warnings and information about Similkameen water quality could be improved. (At least one member hadn’t even heard of the coal tailings breach - as no doubt, had many Similkameen residents.)
Monitoring the river to the degree discussed by the SVPS could be a challenge, however. Because of the size and remoteness of the Similkameen, it would seem that a strong reliance on riverside residents and those with the potential to introduce material into the valley’s river system will be necessary for a warning and / or detection system to work.
Rather than using a system that has a priority approach to notification, relying on expensive regional district personnel, perhaps a dedicated telephone line might work. The line could allow reporting, in addition to delivering reports strictly regarding river conditions.
Whatever system is considered, it would need to be easy to access by the public, simple inexpensive and well publicized in order to be successful.