It's been quite a summer so far at Wasa, with flooding, questions on water quality and a bumper crop of bugs.

Water levels are receding at Wasa Lake and BC Parks has announced they will be re-open the boat launches which were closed when water was high.

"We have been talking with BC Parks and this week it was decided the boat launches would re-open," explains Melody Munro, acting Information Officer. "While this is good news for boaters, there are still some sensitive areas at the south end of the Lake because of the flooding, so we're asking them to respect a no-wake zone in that area."

Munro says that residents were asked to keep their boats out of Wasa Lake because wakes could have created more damage to homes that had been flooded and potentially could have knocked over sandbag berms.

"The public and residents have been very respectful in keeping boats off the lake during this time to allow water levels to drop," Munro adds. "We are urging boaters to respect this no-wake zone because there are still some houses that have sandbags protecting them and water levels are still higher than normal."

The voluntary no-wake zone will be from the west side of the lake at Lodgepole Road to the east side of the lake at Cedar Road. Notices will be posted in the Wasa area and around the community to make sure boaters using the area are aware.

Now the RDEK is planning to begin clean-up of sandbags, although water levels are still being monitored.

During the flooding at Wasa Lake there were concerns around the advisability of swimming in the lake and the safety of drinking water. Interior Health performed several tests of Wasa Lake water and found that while normal fecal coliform counts were in the range of 5 per 100 milliliters, tested waters were higher than that. However health concerns don't arise until the count is over 100 per 100 mililitres and only one sample from Wasa Lake tested over that.

The advice was safe to swim, but try not to ingest the water. Munro says that she has no recent information from Interior Health on any subsequent testing.

As for the mosquitoes, people will just have to keep slapping and scratching. Munro says that the contractor has completed all mosquito control in the area and the contracted work is now complete with no plans to renew this year. The public may contact the Regional District Office and speak with Chris Bosman if they have any further questions at 250-489-2791.