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鈥檚 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.

鈥淓veryone loves them, and they attract attention,鈥� said Bonnie Donovan, a 琉璃神社 photographer who will be at the show with her mermaid, Martha and business Bonne Belle Photography. 鈥淪he is an ambassador between us and our environment and a reminder of how precious our waters are.鈥�

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.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not just Okanagan Lake we鈥檙e worried about,鈥� said Donovan, who has photographed mermaids at Kalamalka, Mabel, Wood and more.

鈥淚 love our lakes,鈥� said Donovan, who sees how important they are in the Okanagan鈥檚 economy. 鈥淧eople don鈥檛 realize how important it is.鈥�

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.

鈥淧eople need to talk about it. It鈥檚 horrible. That鈥檚 it, once you get it,鈥� she said of the mussels which clog drinking water, cover lake floors with their sharp shells and ruin ecosystems. 鈥淲e鈥檇 lose a lot of our tourism.鈥�

Along with watching over the lakes, mermaids play another special role in Donovan鈥檚 life.

鈥淢y daughter is a paraplegic but she swims and she swims like a mermaid,鈥� said Donovan of her now 28-year-old daughter. 鈥淪o I got the tail and I put it on her. I told her she鈥檚 a real mermaid because real mermaids can鈥檛 walk either.鈥�

And like the Okanagan鈥檚 Ogopogo, Donovan hopes the mermaids will attract attention to the Okanagan.

鈥淚t鈥檚 just another fun thing to have because we鈥檙e so water-minded here.鈥�

Mermaids are just one of many attractions that will be at this weekend鈥檚 boat show. For more information visit .