Boat Impact Study For Kalamalka & Wood Lakes

Lake Country Council has received a report on a Boat Impact Study for Kalamalka and Wood Lakes.

The study looks at the need to create a meaningful balance between protecting the lakes and recreational activities.

Lake Country Mayor James Baker says while safety is important, the environment is paramount.

“The natural wave action is north and south. You get wake boats on Wood Lake and they’re pushing big waves east and west onto the shorelines that aren’t use to having wave action and they’re eroding badly.”

The study is a collaboration of various municipalities and the North Okanagan Regional District.

Mayor Baker says all stakeholders need to be involved in keeping the lakes safe.

“We’d like to work with Vernon and Coldstream and the band land as well. The Okanagan Indian Band has a lot of interest in the environment on those lakes too.”

At some point, there will be a public consultation.

“We would take it to the public. We would get public input because the boater community wants to have some say if any kind of restrictions are coming on.”

Also at issue is the effect of boating activity on drinking water.

A committee is to be struck to devise implementation strategies and public consultation