RARE SIGHTING | Catch a glimpse of a partial eclipse late Sunday afternoon [A29]
Morning gStar
The
Friday, May 18, 2012
P R O U D L Y
S E R V I N G
O U R
N O R T H
We’ll get you home! HILLTOP TIRE
www.vernonmorningstar.com
O K A N A G A N
C O M M U N I T I E S
F O R
O V E R
2 0
24 Hour # 250-309-4440 1830 Hwy 6, Vernon 250-542-7737
Y E A R S
SOCCER PATCH
LISA VANDERVELDE/ MORNING STAR
Soccer Patch under 4 girls Eva Morrison (from left), Ashley Burke, Madison Brown, Abby Collins, Daelynn Boulter and Cedar Arding all react a little differently to having their team photo taken Sunday at the VantageOne Soccer Centre.
Anglers reeling in empty lines RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
Authorities are trying to determine where all the fish have gone in Wood Lake. Spring fishing has been extremely slow, with few anglers landing kokanee. “There’s been no massive kill-off that we know of but the population has taken an abrupt downturn,” said Paul Askey, a provincial fisheries stock assessment biologist. “We’ve been getting all kinds of calls from people asking what’s wrong because they’re not catching fish this spring.” Technicians are trying to determine what factors are at play, and one theory is related to poor water quality last year. “There was a lot of algae and the bottom, cool layer of water ran out of oxygen while the top layer got really warm in the summer,” said Askey.
VERNON TOYOTA
“We’ve been getting all kinds of calls from people asking what’s wrong because they’re not catching fish.” — Paul Askey “It’s the biggest wild stock fishery we have. One of the great things about Wood Lake is the great number of nutrients but it appears to have tipped over the edge last year.” Kokanee stocks took an abrupt downturn starting last year, and this trend is expected to continue this year based on 2011 acoustic data and 2012 angler reports. Last year’s spawner return was the lowest on record
STOP!
2
LESS THAN E KS WE F T! 3401 - 48th Ave • Phone (250) 545-0687 LE VISIT US 24/7 AT WWW.VERNONTOYOTA.COM DL# 30382 2
since regular counts began in 1994. Askey isn’t giving up on the kokanee fishery. “We have a number of projects underway,” he said. Among them is the impact of low water levels in Middle Vernon Creek on spawners. Besides Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, the initiative also involves the Okanagan Nation Alliance, the Oceola Fish and Game Club, the District of Lake Country and the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation. “If we fix the water problems in the creek, that may help out,” said Askey. The ONA is also focused on egg-to-fry survival. The scope of the situation on Wood Lake should be more obvious this fall when spawning begins. If both populations (shore and stream spawners) drop off, we know the problem is in the lake,” said Askey. “If it’s water quality, there’s no easy fix to that.”
STOP SHOPPING AROUND! HURRY INTO
VERNON TOYOTA
Best Value In
T H E VA L L EY
UR AD SEE OUR EA 15 ON PAGE A-15
SPECIAL PRICING FOR GRADS! Se Vernon Toyota See ta For Details.