A mystical sea creature is shining her lantern on a potentially devastating issue in the Okanagan.

Mermaids, the guardians of water, are bringing attention to some of the threats to our lakes, including invasive mussels. And they will be making a splash at the . That害羞草研究所檚 right, there will be a mermaid at the Vernon Yacht Club for the weekend-long event, which goes Saturday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

害羞草研究所淓veryone loves them, and they attract attention,害羞草研究所� said Bonnie Donovan, a Kelowna photographer who will be at the show with her mermaid, Martha and business Bonne Belle Photography. 害羞草研究所淪he is an ambassador between us and our environment and a reminder of how precious our waters are.害羞草研究所�

Using the alluring mermaids, Donovan photographs and films them to bring attention to issues that affect our lakes. Called Project Mermaid Okanagan, beautiful photographic art highlights real-life concerns such as mussels.

The project consists mainly of a series of one-minute commercials and print ads featuring portraits of mermaids on Okanagan beaches to circulate on social media and beyond.

The portraits draw attention to issues such as the invasive mussels which threaten our lakes.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 not just Okanagan Lake we害羞草研究所檙e worried about,害羞草研究所� said Donovan, who has photographed mermaids at Kalamalka, Mabel, Wood and more.

害羞草研究所淚 love our lakes,害羞草研究所� said Donovan, who sees how important they are in the Okanagan害羞草研究所檚 economy. 害羞草研究所淧eople don害羞草研究所檛 realize how important it is.害羞草研究所�

Donovan is pleased to see that stricter rules are being made and boat checks are in place, but after seeing how fast the mussels can spread she is hoping to do her part to do more to raise awareness.

害羞草研究所淧eople need to talk about it. It害羞草研究所檚 horrible. That害羞草研究所檚 it, once you get it,害羞草研究所� she said of the mussels which clog drinking water, cover lake floors with their sharp shells and ruin ecosystems. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檇 lose a lot of our tourism.害羞草研究所�

Along with watching over the lakes, mermaids play another special role in Donovan害羞草研究所檚 life.

害羞草研究所淢y daughter is a paraplegic but she swims and she swims like a mermaid,害羞草研究所� said Donovan of her now 28-year-old daughter. 害羞草研究所淪o I got the tail and I put it on her. I told her she害羞草研究所檚 a real mermaid because real mermaids can害羞草研究所檛 walk either.害羞草研究所�

And like the Okanagan害羞草研究所檚 Ogopogo, Donovan hopes the mermaids will attract attention to the Okanagan.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 just another fun thing to have because we害羞草研究所檙e so water-minded here.害羞草研究所�

Mermaids are just one of many attractions that will be at this weekend害羞草研究所檚 boat show. For more information visit .