A little more shoreline showing at Inga Lake this fall

Inga Lake is going to look a little different this fall, with water levels being lowered while work continues around the dam.

Photos courtesy of Ducks Unlimited Canada.

Ducks Unlimited Canada is lowering the lake by about a meter this September, while engineers and technical staff get a closer look at the dam and other water-control infrastructure, work that should give them a better idea of what may be needed at Inga Lake over the longer term.

For a lot of people in the North Peace, of course, Inga Lake is more than just another conservation site.

The lake supports approximately 6,000 angler days each year according to information released by the Province in June, and has long been used by local families, anglers and groups including the North Peace Rod and Gun Club.

Photos courtesy of Ducks Unlimited Canada.

“Inga lake is a very popular destination for local anglers. The North Peace Rod and Gun Club also took thousands of students up to learn about the value of fish, wildlife and conservation. It's great to see this investment in such an important public fishery,” said Jesse Zeman, executive director of the B.C. Wildlife Federation, in that June 18 provincial announcement.

That announcement was the first word of approximately $500,000 being put toward assessment, planning and engineering work at Inga Lake, part of a larger $1.5-million investment in conservation infrastructure around B.C.

At the time, the province said the water-control infrastructure at the lake was aging and reaching the end of its service life, with repairs and upgrades needed to reduce the risk of future lake-level changes affecting fish habitat and public access.

Now, some of that assessment work is getting underway.

The controlled drawdown began in mid-September and is intended to give crews better access to inspect the dam and water-control structures, evaluate their condition and start figuring out what options make sense over the longer term.

How long Inga Lake remains at the lower level will depend on what is found and what further planning is needed afterward.

Ducks Unlimited Canada says the drawdown itself should not be taken as a decision about what will ultimately happen with either the dam or Inga Lake.

“As a popular recreational fishing spot and a true community treasure, Inga Lake holds immense value in the Northeast,” said Matt Christensen, manager of provincial operations for Ducks Unlimited Canada in B.C.

“This assessment work is essential for understanding the water-control structure's integrity and identifying practical paths forward. We thank the Province for supporting this work and appreciate the community’s patience throughout the process.”

There is also a long history behind the arrangement at Inga Lake.

Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Province of British Columbia have worked together at the site since 1990. The Province owns the dam and holds the water license, while Ducks Unlimited Canada is contracted to oversee habitat conservation management, including operation, maintenance and regulatory compliance of the water-control structures.

Once the assessment is finished, what crews find will help with the discussion about where things go from here.

There has not been a long-term decision made on the dam or the future of Inga Lake, and Ducks Unlimited Canada says it will continue providing updates as more information becomes available.