Because the inherent value of saline lakes to their unique inhabitants, to waterfowl, and to scientists are not fully appreciated by many people, they are often threatened by development. In Kelowna, Alki Lake was destroyed to create the present landfill. Nearby development is threatening to destroy Robert Lake, an important saline habitat and waterfowl staging area. Spotted Lake, west of Osoyoos, is an extremely unusual saline habitat, which attracts the curiosity of many scientists, as well as other persons. Mahoney Lake Mahoney Lake, an interesting saline lake west of Okanagan Falls, has been set aside as an ecological reserve.
Meromictic lakes are lakes that never mix completely at any time of the year.
The cause of meromixis is usually related to the presence of very saline, and thus, very dense water at the lake bottom. Often these lakes are also sheltered from wind action, limiting the extent of wind-generated waves and currents within the basin. At Mahoney Lake, as in many meromictic lakes, the saline bottom water has been depleted in oxygen by decomposing organic matter. Hydrogen sulphide, a gas highly poisonous to most organisms, is present in high concentrations within this anoxic bottom water. Purple sulphur bacteria, are unusual purple-coloured bacteria, that can perform photosynthesis.