By Corey Fischer

Vernon Urged To Do More To Protect Lakeshores

Sep 21, 2017 | 6:12 AM

Urbanization is having an impact on the shoreline of Okanagan Lake.

That’s one of the findings of natural resource biologist Jason Schleppe who conducted foreshore mapping last year.

“One of the biggest results that came from this is that, as we see the level or urbanization increase, going from, say, rural to single family, to multi family to industrial or sort of increasing a level of urbanization, the associated levels of impact increase.”

Schleppe, who is with Ecoscapes Consultants, told Vernon council, wildlife and fish have trouble adapting to the development.

“We need to transition our thought from managing from the current short period of time to managing in the long run. Where do we want to see our lake 100 years from now, or 150 years from now? These are the questions that are becoming very important.”