The Issue: Ice jams can occur at the outlet of Osoyoos Lake on the border of Canada and the United States, resulting in a decrease or complete interruption in streamflow on the Okanogan River. These ice jams appear to be occurring at a greater frequency than they have in the past and interruptions in streamflow can hinder the passage of anadromous fish and impact downstream water rights and water supply.
How USGS will help: USGS scientists at the Washington Water Science Center are quantifying the past frequency of ice jam occurrence on Osoyoos Lake by investigating satellite images, changes in streamflow, and reservoir level. Combining this data with meteorological data including temperature and wind direction and speed, the USGS will assess the environmental conditions correlated with ice jam formation and break up.
Problem:
Ice jams can occur at the outlet of Osoyoos Lake on the border of Canada and the United States, resulting in a decrease or complete interruption in streamflow on the Okanogan River. These ice jams appear to be occurring at a greater frequency than they have in the past and interruptions in streamflow can impact downstream water rights and negatively impact incubating salmon in the Okanogan River downstream due to decreased discharge that could cause dewatering and freezing of eggs. Increased levels of Osoyoos Lake during this period have the potential to exceed allowable lake levels established by the International Join Commission's, International Osoyoos Lake Board of Control.
Objectives:
USGS scientists at the Washington Water Science Center are working to determine the frequency of ice jams on Osoyoos Lake and determine the environmental conditions most highly correlated with the occurrence of ice jams.
Relevance and Benefits:
Both countries benefit from the regulation of Osoyoos Lake levels by Zosel Dam to prevent shoreline inundation and erosion, while maintaining adequate lake levels for boating, fishing, and other recreation. In addition, storage of water in Osoyoos Lake is important for the maintenance of downstream water rights and discharge in the Okanogan River downstream of Zosel Dam for migrating, spawning, and rearing anadromous fish that have cultural and economic value for both the U.S. and Canada. Native American tribes in the U.S. and First Nations in Canada maintain treaty rights to fish for anadromous fish at usual and accustomed areas within the Okanogan/Okanagan basins.
Approach:
USGS scientists are analyzing streamflow and lake level along with satellite imagery to identify the occurrence of historic ice jams and multivariate statistical approaches to identify the environmental conditions corresponding to those jams.
The Issue: Ice jams can occur at the outlet of Osoyoos Lake on the border of Canada and the United States, resulting in a decrease or complete interruption in streamflow on the Okanogan River. These ice jams appear to be occurring at a greater frequency than they have in the past and interruptions in streamflow can hinder the passage of anadromous fish and impact downstream water rights and water supply.
How USGS will help: USGS scientists at the Washington Water Science Center are quantifying the past frequency of ice jam occurrence on Osoyoos Lake by investigating satellite images, changes in streamflow, and reservoir level. Combining this data with meteorological data including temperature and wind direction and speed, the USGS will assess the environmental conditions correlated with ice jam formation and break up.
Problem:
Ice jams can occur at the outlet of Osoyoos Lake on the border of Canada and the United States, resulting in a decrease or complete interruption in streamflow on the Okanogan River. These ice jams appear to be occurring at a greater frequency than they have in the past and interruptions in streamflow can impact downstream water rights and negatively impact incubating salmon in the Okanogan River downstream due to decreased discharge that could cause dewatering and freezing of eggs. Increased levels of Osoyoos Lake during this period have the potential to exceed allowable lake levels established by the International Join Commission's, International Osoyoos Lake Board of Control.
Objectives:
USGS scientists at the Washington Water Science Center are working to determine the frequency of ice jams on Osoyoos Lake and determine the environmental conditions most highly correlated with the occurrence of ice jams.
Relevance and Benefits:
Both countries benefit from the regulation of Osoyoos Lake levels by Zosel Dam to prevent shoreline inundation and erosion, while maintaining adequate lake levels for boating, fishing, and other recreation. In addition, storage of water in Osoyoos Lake is important for the maintenance of downstream water rights and discharge in the Okanogan River downstream of Zosel Dam for migrating, spawning, and rearing anadromous fish that have cultural and economic value for both the U.S. and Canada. Native American tribes in the U.S. and First Nations in Canada maintain treaty rights to fish for anadromous fish at usual and accustomed areas within the Okanogan/Okanagan basins.
Approach:
USGS scientists are analyzing streamflow and lake level along with satellite imagery to identify the occurrence of historic ice jams and multivariate statistical approaches to identify the environmental conditions corresponding to those jams.