Okanagan Basin Water Board mows the Osoyoos Lake each summer but the growth was early this year.

When the Town of Oliver staff made inquiries about the possibility of some OBWB action – here was the response from Kelowna:

The first issue with Tuc El Nuit Lake is the no gas motors restriction, which preclude us from using our machines to treat. Also, I’m not sure there is a boat launch sufficient to get our machines on the lake. This year is the worst and earliest milfoil growth in at least 30 years throughout the entire valley. We are seeing growth where it has never been before, and it is 4-6 weeks earlier than usual.

There are some alternative treatment options which could be very effective for the lake, such as divers hand-pulling the weeds out from the root. This is the program that is used in Christina Lake. Any treatment would require an environmental permit from the province based on fisheries and other environmental values.

I am reporting on this year’s milfoil growth to our Board on July 7th in Vernon. We will discuss the future direction of the milfoil program, as there is a possibility that bad, early milfoil years become more frequent due to climate change.

K. James Littley, C.D., B.A.
Operations and Grants Manager
Okanagan Basin Water Board

Town Council will hear from the Water Board at its meeting next week.