An older milfoil harvester on Okanagan Lake (Vernon Matters file photo)

By Liam Verster

Invasive Weed Control

Water board asking public to submit names for new milfoil harvester in Vernon

Jun 14, 2024 | 2:00 PM

The Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) will be launching a new amphibious milfoil harvester at Vernon’s Paddlewheel Park, and is asking the public to submit names for the machine.

“This is the newest tool in our toolbox to help control invasive Eurasian water milfoil in Okanagan lakes,”James Littley, OBWB Deputy Administrator, said.

An event will be held at Paddlewheel Park from 1-2 p.m. Thursday, June 20, to launch the new harvester, during which the OBWB will open its naming contest.

“Now we’re looking for some help coming up with a name for our new machine,” Littley said, adding their older machines did not have particularly creative names.

“Our old harvesters are called ‘long-nose Harvey’ and ‘short-nose Harvey,’ based on the length of their offloading conveyors. Our rototillers are called ‘blue roto, red roto, and orange roto,’ based on their paint colours, and ‘MRV’ for ‘milfoil rototilling vessel,’ which is also red, but ‘red roto’ was already taken. Our boat is called ‘ugly.’

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“Obviously, we need some help from the public to come up with something more catchy.”

The new machine will replace a harvester from 1978.

The new one will be able to be launched without a trailer, and carry almost two and a half tons of milfoil that has been chopped up and harvested from the lake floor.

The OBWB added the new machine has a more efficient engine, is more stable, and is quieter than the old harvesters.