Talk:Osoyoos

Climate

Hi, I changed the climate data table to reflect the Environment Canada climate normals [9] for the most recent period available, but I see it has been reverted back.

Since Environment Canada has yet to release the "climate normals" for the period 1981 to 2010, it makes sense to me to use the 1971 to 2000 period. This is the standard way of posting climate normals for other Canadian cities, but obviously someone has taken the time to do their own research by combing through Environment Canada's database and calculating the normals for the period of 1990 to present (a non-standard time-frame by the way).

I applaud someone for taking the time to do their own independent research (although I'm not sure that Wikipedia is the right place to post such findings), but wouldn't it make more sense to use the weather station with a longer record? The shorter time-frame would be less accurate. Not only that, they are using the temperature data from the period from 1990 to present and precipitation from 1971 to 2000, but I would think that it makes more sense to have all your averages reflect the same period of time.

I'm going to update the table to reflect the climate normals as calculated by Environment Canada [10]. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Tatlayoko (talk • contribs) 20:09, 20 February 2012 (UTC)

I've deleted the sentence about Osoyoos being hotter than Oliver because it's simply not true (and the person who put this here did not back up their claim with a source). I'm sure they will retort back that they are comparing the Osoyoos CS station against the Oliver STP station, but without providing a source that compares a long run average (over the same time frame), it's merely speculation. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Tatlayoko (talk • contribs) 07:03, 12 July 2012 (UTC)

I have updated the climate data and taken out a lot of the unsourced erroneous information. Please stop reverting to data from the Osoyoos CS weather station for the reason I specify above. In addition, that station is known to be inaccurate during the summer. The problem is now fixed, but only within the last 5 years. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Tatlayoko (talk • contribs) 00:45, 21 December 2012 (UTC)

Hi - I see here that there is considerable conflict surrounding which climate data is more appropriate to use seeing as some people feel there may be some irregularities around the Osoyoos CS data. Seeing as how there has been no evident presented to showing any specific period of temperature data as flawed, I feel that the Osoyoos CS data stand as true. While the Osoyoos Times article (http://www.osoyoostimes.com/news/2012/05/09/council-looking-at-new-site-for-environment-canada-weather-station/) identifies that the station has shown some irregularities due to it's situation, that does not equate to all data being spoiled. Environment Canada's Standard for 30 year averages do not require that all 30 years of data be present in order to satisfy 30 year average requirements for that period. In fact, they only require 15 years worth (see the link: http://www.climate.weatheroffice.gc.ca/FAQ_e.html) and the Osoyoos CS has 23 years of data. Further, the 1971-200 averages are now out of date, and a 1990-2012 dataset is more reflective of the areas's climate today. I would be willing to provide the running spreadsheet of temperatures for the station should anyone like to see it. Niel.bd (talk) 19:54, 4 January 2013 (UTC)

Thank you for coming into the talk section. With all due respect, the 1971 to 2000 time period is considered the most recent climate normal period by Environment Canada (see the link: http://www.climate.weatheroffice.gc.ca/climate_normals/index_e.html). The Osoyoos West station goes right up until 2009, so when the new climate normals come out it will still have more data points that the Osoyoos CS station. When I have more time, I will provide further details on irregularities, but even without irregularities, the Osoyoos West station has more data, so it should be the one used. Cheers. “Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.” - James Baldwin (talk) 06:04, 5 January 2013 (UTC)

The most appropriate climatic data to use is the 1981-2010 dataset as per the link provided with the table. The CS station is lacking the 1980s data, and thus is not complete by WMO standards. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 96.50.233.155 (talk) 19:11, 16 September 2015 (UTC)

RE location of Desert Centre

RE this edit, I'm darned sure, and it's burned into my eyeballs, that this is right by the hwy 3=hwy 97 intersection, which so far as I know is within the municipal boundary.....do you mean 3km from the beach strip?Skookum1 (talk) 05:14, 16 April 2013 (UTC)

Thanks for discussing here. To verify claims made in articles, we can only cite published reliable sources, primary (the center) or secondary (a newspaper or magazine). Your personal experience doesn't match what the organization says about itself. See WP:42. If there's another independent published reliable source, we'll cite that. --Lexein (talk) 07:23, 16 April 2013 (UTC)

New help editing History & Agriculture

Erased despite dozen refs HELP HELP HELP (don't send a form letter or use ambiguous phrases pls) between NEW //// & end NEW END////

− Although the fruit-growing possibilities were noticed by the early settlers, it was not until 1907 when the first commercial orchard in the area was established, growing cherries, apricots, peaches, plums, and apples. Osoyoos Orchard Limited was formed in 1920 and an irrigation project was planned which finally brought water to the west bench via “The Ditch”

NEW////or " Canal" in 1927., by the Water Rights Branch of the British Columbia Department of Lands, the Southern Okanagan Lands Project was est. 1918 with the Soldiers Land Act. The Province bought 22,000 acres of land from the Southern Okanagan Land Company for the Soldier Settlement project. Established the townsite of Oliver, subdivision and sale or lease of lots in , and construction of an open canal for irrigation. The Oliver section was completed between 1918 and 1927. See BC Archives . Mostly volunteer work, by Osoyoos'es settlers extended the aqueduct father south through a system of ditches & tin lined wooden flumes, that needed a high level of constant maintenance till the late 60's when it was modernized( No photographs available online from the Osoyoos project yet. Link to 2 period photographs of building Kelowna's flumes). NEW END////

Although the fruit-growing possibilities were noticed by the early settlers, it was not until 1907 when the first commercial orchard in the area was established, growing cherries, apricots, peaches, plums, and apples. Osoyoos Orchard Limited was formed in 1920 and an irrigation project was planned which finally brought water to the west bench via “The Ditch” in 1927. The former shrub-steppe environment was transformed into a lush agricultural belt and Osoyoos promoted “the earliest fruit in Canada.” 20:07, 17 February 2014 (UTC) − The former shrub-steppe environment was transformed into a lush agricultural belt and Osoyoos promoted “the earliest fruit in Canada.” Today, the area continues to produce many of these soft fruits. Aside from tourism, agriculture is a major component of the local economy, as is evident by the abundant produce stands along Highways 3 and 97, and the numerous commercial orchards surrounding the town. With the growing popularity of viticulture, some of these orchards are being converted to vineyards, as the area is a major wine producing region of Canada. Some of the main wineries in the area are Nk’Mip, La Stella and Osoyoos Larose.

− NEW////?? The some of the land in the valley bottom surrounding the town is protected by the Agricultural Land Reserve ALR, enacted 1973 - implemented 1975-1976, which theoretically prevents valuable agricultural lands from being converted into other uses. It should be noted that before and after this legislation was enacted a couple hundred acres of orchard were cleared for development and in corporation into the townsite, i.e. 22 acres around Peanut Lake. Primary vineyard areas that were Grazing land, hay and tomato fields of the southern low & high bench were not protected by this legislation. At the low western bench, a hayfield that had been planted as a vineyard is now the Osoyoos Airport.. The Hayfield across the highway, also planned as a vineyard is an industrial park & Casitas del Sol Subdivision . The area south of town leading to the US border, some Valley floor lake front and the whole western bench was not protected for farm use. Though the average person would see no agricultural use, technically the majority of this bench is agricultural, under the ALR definitions, as there are large sewage sludge spray fields, a grass filled horse race track, and a golf course EnD NEW//// — Preceding unsigned comment added by PemGateway (talk • contribs) 20:07, 17 February 2014 (UTC)

References