Efforts are underway to limit the spread of milfoil while ensuring Greater Vernon water quality.
The Greater Vernon Advisory Committee won’t agree to the Okanagan Basin Water Board rototilling milfoil on Kalamalka Lake during a fixed period from Dec. 1 to Jan. 31 annually.
“We want to work on the best schedule for us,” said Zee Marcolin, Greater Vernon Water manager, adding that a flexible process should address all needs.
GVW recently had to switch customers from the Kal Lake source to Duteau Creek because OBWB rototilling created some turbidity in the lake water.
Ideally, GVW would like to see rototilling occur on Kal Lake when there is sufficient water within the Duteau Creek system to meet the needs of all Greater Vernon residents.
“They are suggesting December and January but January is not good for us,” said Renee Clark water quality manager, adding that early fall would be preferred because turbidity already occurs because of lake turnover.
Marcolin added that a more flexible schedule could be adjusted to both weather and lake conditions.
“Maybe March would have been better because of the early melt,” she said.
Marcolin is confident an agreement can be reached.
“We do work well with OBWB.”
According to OBWB, federal fisheries regulations dictate that rototilling can only occur between Oct. 15 and April 1.
“In years when Wood Lake freezes, the only viable work window for Kalamalka Lake generally occurs between Dec. 1 and March 1,” said Doug Findlater, OBWB chairperson.
“It takes a minimum of six weeks to treat the area, with eight weeks being preferable.”
Findlater says there is a need to establish an annual window for rototilling so OBWB can conduct its work while addressing GVW’s water quality concerns.
