WLLID History - Wasa Lake Land Improvement District

History of Wasa Lake and the WLLID

Wasa Lake and the Kootenay River have always been shaped by seasonal and intermittent flooding. Over the decades, local residents have worked together to protect the lake, the surrounding land, and the quality of life for the community.

Early Efforts: 1960s

By the early 1960s, Wasa residents had formed an informal association to address ongoing flooding issues. In 1965, they requested help from the Regional Water Rights Branch, resulting in the installation of water level gauges on both Wasa Lake and the Kootenay River. Residents began taking daily water level readings to monitor conditions.

When extensive flooding occurred in 1967 and again in 1969, the community petitioned the provincial government to create a land improvement district. This led to the formation of the Wasa Lake Land Improvement District (WLLID) with a mandate to:

“…maintain a good quality of water in Wasa Lake by lake-level control and treatment of the water therein and land improvement purpose, the acquisition of land, and the acquisition, maintenance and operation of works for these purposes and all things incidental thereto.”

Studies and Reports: 1970s

Flooding in 1974 prompted WLLID to hire Environmental Planning and Engineering Consultants (EPECH) to study the situation. Over several years, numerous reports were produced, including:

Stage I Assessment Report (1975, EPECH)
Stage II Assessment Report (EPECH)
The Hydrology of Wasa Lake (1976, Ed Livingston for BC Hydro)
Stage II Investigation and Assessment (1977, EPECH)
Stage III Investigation and Assessment (1979, EPECH)

The Baker Report and Floodgates: 1980s

In 1984, WLLID approached the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) and the Ministry of Environment and Parks for a flood control feasibility study. The Ministry’s engineering team began a conceptual investigation, reviewing past studies and identifying potential solutions.

The resulting Baker Report (1987) confirmed what earlier studies had shown — Wasa Lake levels were directly tied to the Kootenay River through overland flow and groundwater connections.

The report recommended installing flood control flapgates to manage overland flow — an effective and cost-efficient solution. By 1989, two flapgates were installed:

On the Kootenay River side of the Hanson Channel, which runs under Highway 93
Along an old abandoned highway between Cameron Pond and the Wasa Sloughs

The installation of the second gate required partially draining Cameron Pond, leading to low water levels and fish deaths during the winter of 1989–1990. While the decision was initially controversial, the flapgates have since been credited with significantly reducing the effects of flooding. The WLLID continues to maintain these gates today.

Expanding Efforts: 1990s and Beyond

Since then, WLLID has commissioned several important studies, including:

Drought Planning for the Wasa Lake Area (McArthur, 2005)
Wasa Lake Foreshore Inventory and Mapping (Interior Reforestation, 2009)
Preliminary Review of Flood Works Related to 2012 Flooding (McElhanney, 2012)

Today, WLLID continues to work closely with the Regional District of East Kootenay and the Ministry of Community, Sport, and Culture, ensuring that Wasa Lake remains a safe, healthy, and sustainable resource for the entire community.

History of Wasa Lake Land Improvement District

History of Wasa Lake and the WLLID

Early Efforts: 1960s

Studies and Reports: 1970s

The Baker Report and Floodgates: 1980s

Expanding Efforts: 1990s and Beyond