Advocacy for Watershed Health

The Shuswap Watershed Council plays an important role as an advocate for the Shuswap watershed. This work has included calling on provincial and federal authorities to take steps to address the watershed issues and encourage preventative and corrective actions.

On This Page:

• SWC Correspondence on Water Quality
• SWC Correspondence on Invasive Mussels

For earlier SWC correspondence (2016-2019), see the SWC Correspondence Archive (SharePoint folder).

Water Quality Correspondence

Algal Bloom Monitoring, Analysis and Communication of Results

SWC Letter of November 8, 2023

A follow-up letter to Interior Health from the SWC and four local governments respecting algal bloom response and responsibilities. The letter asks Interior Health, given its health mandate, to have lead responsibility for monitoring beach water quality and algal blooms, including collection and analysis of water samples, posting advisories based on the results of water tests, and communicating to the public.

SWC Letter of January 17, 2023

A letter from the SWC and three local governments to Interior Health regarding algal bloom response and responsibilities.

Environmentally Protective Agricultural Practices

SWC Letter of October 12, 2022 and attached images (below)

Letter from the Shuswap Watershed Council to the Hon. George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, to express concern about deteriorating water quality in the Salmon Arm of Shuswap Lake, and to ask for the ministry’s leadership in restoring and protecting this waterway. In particular, the SWC referenced the ministry's jurisdictional responsibility for ensuring environmentally protective agricultural practices through implementation and compliance with the 2018 Agricultural Environmental Management Code of Practice.

Letter attachments:

• Map of 2022 Algal Bloom Advisory: Cautionary Area
• Sample of water affected by 2022 algal bloom (photo courtesy of Linda Franklin)

Reply (by email) of March 2, 2023 from George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy

 Letter of October 11, 2022

Letter from the Shuswap Watershed Council to the Assistant Deputy Minister of BC Parks and Conservation Officer Service Division to express concern about the lack of watercraft wastewater pump-out and disposal facilities around Shuswap and Mara Lakes.

Invasive Mussels Correspondence

For background, see Invasive Mussels.

SWC Letter of February 22, 2024

Letter from the Shuswap Watershed Council to four federal departments to say that, while while supportive of recent federal investments towards invasive mussel prevention, the SWC remained concerned over significant gaps in the British Columbia Invasive Mussel Defence Program. The letter calls for immediate and long-term federal funding for the Province to undertake the necessary preventive work, including the establishment of permanent watercraft inspection stations at all entry-points into BC, open 24 hours/day and 365 days/year. The letter also calls for all watercraft at Canadian border crossings into Western Canada be inspected for invasive mussels.

SWC Letter of November 28, 2023

Letter from the Shuswap Watershed Council to three federal departments to reiterate concerns about the threat of Quagga and Zebra mussels being introduced in BC. In its letter, SWC advocated for a series of federal preventive measures as well as funding to support provincial measures.

 SWC Letter of November 2, 2023

Letter from the Shuswap Watershed Council to responsible ministries within the Province of British Columbia that the Invasive Mussel Defence Program be expanded, given the threat of Quagga and Zebra mussels being introduced in BC. In its letter, SWC advocated for a series of new preventive measures.

 Letter of November 15, 2022

Letter from the Shuswap Watershed Council to the Hon. Josie Osborne, BC Minister of Land, Water and Resource Stewardship to call for a greater investment of resources in the province’s Invasive Mussel Defence Program.

 Letter of November 26, 2021

Joint letter from the Shuswap Watershed Council, Shuswap Waterfront Owners Association, and Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society to federal Fisheries Minister, Hon. Joyce Murray, outlining concerns for the Shuswap and British Columbia, calling for more federal funding and resources to protect BC from aquatic invasive mussels, and for better containment of aquatic invasive species in infested waterbodies.

 Letter of April 16, 2021

Letter from the Shuswap Watershed Council to the Provincial Minister of Environment, Hon. George Heyman, calling for additional measures to protect British Columbia from invasive mussels and invasive freshwater clams.