About me
The Okanagan Hydrometric Information Network has evolved to meet the region’s growing water management needs. In the 1980s, the National Hydrological Service operated 156 stations in the Okanagan, but this declined to 25 by 2007. OBWB later provided project funding to expand the network, resulting in an informal ad hoc system of about 75 third-party stations, though this data remained uncoordinated and lacks centralized management.
Since 2020, the Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) and Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) have jointly led and managed efforts to expand and modernize the network, working with local stakeholders to strengthen regional hydrometric monitoring.
The network has progressed from manual data collection (Version 1.0) to real-time monitoring with low-resolution sensors (Version 2.0). Version 3.0 introduced improved accuracy with DataGarrison and high-resolution sensors. The upcoming Version 4.0 pilot at Shorts Creek will integrate NOAA GOES DCS, Sutron Satlink3, and high-resolution sensors, enabling near-instantaneous updates every five minutes. This advancement makes ONA the first First Nation organization to utilize NOAA GOES DCS in hydrometric monitoring. Data collected and reviewed adheres to BC provincial and WSC standards and is made publicly accessible through the provincial web portal.
Under ONA and OBWB’s leadership, the network supports environmental flow needs, flood and drought management, municipal planning, and long-term water security. It serves as a model for third-party hydrometric programs.
This presentation will highlight the network’s evolution, technological advancements, and the vital role of Indigenous and regional collaboration in securing real-time hydrometric data for the Okanagan Basin.
