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Bre a k i ng n e ws at n el s on st ar. c om
P u b l i s h e d e v e r y We d n e s d a y a n d F r i d a y
Friday, February 20, 2015
PM41537042
Vol. 7 • Issue 67
Free
Youth
This week’s feature:
On the road in wine country
MENTAL HEALTH
with an Acura MDX…
Seven-part series on child and youth mental health issues.
See West Kootenay Advertiser
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Youth MENTAL HEALTH
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RE-GRIP SPECIAL Ends March 15th
Tom Lang and Mike Jeffrey of the Eastshore Freshwater Habitat Society are hoping to be part of the solution that addresses dwindling kokanee salmon stock in the Kootenay Lake fishery. A public meeting is set for the Balfour Hall on Monday.
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Dwindling kokanee numbers cause alarm
last we ry!! of Februa
t, Nelsopanck e e r t S r e k a B now 333 | Toll Free: 1-87-S 6411
Phone: 250-352-
WILL JOHNSON Nelson Star Balfour businessman Randy Zelonka routinely keeps a close eye on Kootenay Lake’s fishery, and not just because he’s a long-time fishing enthusiast — he’s built his whole life around it. As owner of the Gill and Gift for the past 12 years and president of the local business association, he’s starting to feel alarmed at the recent free-fall in kokanee salmon populations. He’s just not sure what to do about it. “There are a thousand conclusions out there. People are talking about excess fertilizer, there have been mentions of algae blooms. The biologist believes it’s too many rainbow trout from the main lake, and they’ve been eating the kokanee, but now there’s none left to feed them. Basically, they’ve eaten themselves out of house and home,” said Zelonka. One of the most alarming things, according to Zelonka: this year’s Kootenay Lake BC Family Day Fishing Derby, which included a $10,000 prize, had to be cancelled due to declining stock. In response, a meeting is being held on Monday at 7 p.m. in the Balfour Hall to tackle the issue. Zelonka said he hopes the community will come together to demand action from the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations. “Kootenay Lake is a world-class fishery that attracts people from all over the place to come fish in our lake. We’ve got some of the largest rainbow trout in the world and they’re unique to us. We need to look after them,” said Zelonka. Mike Jeffrey, chair of the Eastshore Freshwater Habitat Society, which has 200 members, said they are willing to pitch in. “We would enhance the creeks for spawning, improve the shores, mostly manual work,” he said. “Some of it even gets to the point you’d study water quality and make sure any creeks that would be supportive of these salmon are in fact looked at to enhance their ability to live there.” They’d also like to see fry introduced to streams and creeks in the spring. “If Kootenay Lake wasn’t here, we wouldn’t be either,” Jeffrey said. “We’ve all got a common bond on the lake here, and a lot of people want to know what’s happening. Hopefully we can get that information.” Tom Lang, the society’s treasurer, said this issue is gathering momentum in the community: “The lake is dead. There’s no
s t r e p x E Y Your DI
Residents hope to tackle issue during meeting in Balfour on Monday
Continued on Page 8
S T R E P X E
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