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South Okanagan Photos

Harvesting milfoil on Vaseux Lake likely before April

Headline statement a result of a presentation at RDOS Thursday by a staff member of the Okanagan Basin Water Board

Operations and Grants Manager

  • James Littley, CD, BA – coordinating logistics and keeping the OBWB machine up and running smoothly. James also administrates the board’s two grant programs – for wastewater infrastructure, and water conservation and quality improvement. Littley comes to the OBWB with more than 12 years management experience as an officer in the Canadian Forces Reserve. He graduated from UBC Okanagan in 2012

Littley told directors that the OBWB has three harvesters looking after 50 miles of shoreline on a number of Okanagan Lakes where Eurasian milfoil is a problem including Osoyoos Lake – and likely Vaseux Lake this winter. As to capacity, Littley says the amount of work can be doubled when needed by having two operators working a machine each day. Prior to the summer is the most productive time for cutting the weeds and removing same from lakes where this is a problem.

OBWB website:

The OBWB has been responsible for Eurasian watermilfoil control in the Okanagan Basin since the 1970s.

After many years of experimenting with different methods, the OBWB now focuses on harvesting in the summer and rototilling the root system on shallow portions of the lakefloor in the fall and winter.

According to Littley – permits are needed from many levels of government prior to a harvester dipping into Vaseux. The bloom this last summer set off residents and tourist operations at the south end of the lake with unprecedented growth. Littlely met with residents and local government leaders prior to Christmas to review the problem and the solutions.

The provincial government, MLA Linda Larson urging fast action prior to the summer of 2017. MLA Dan Ashton jested that the milfoil was so prolific you could walk across the lake in snowshoes.

To be fair, all the ice must melt, all the permits gathered and a plan to access the lake by a harvester before the needed action on the lake can be taken.

RDOS director endorsed a five year capital replacement plan presented to the regional district.

(See earlier story on ODN)