Readers write.

Hello Coldstream Council - Mary, Jim, Doug, Glen, Gary, Carol and Bill

This morning I listened with great interest to CBC Radio as they explained the announcement by the Honorable Bill Bennett and the Honorable Stan Hagen regarding Lake Windermere. In essence, due to massive growth and specifically over crowding of motor boats on Lake Windermere 'a two year Land Act reserve' or freeze on any new developments on the lake has been put into place.

To quote Mayor Shmigelsky "We are all interested in growth for our communities, but it must be managed effectively." In brief, the "parties are collaborating on the newly formed East Kootenay Integrated Lake Management Partnership, which will inventory water and shoreland conditions, as well as make recommendations to protect the lakeshore. This information will inform the Official Community Plan, which is also underway. Together the plans will guide zoning for the lake and surrounding areas."

All of us who are proposing and supporting the development of a Kayak and Canoe Society and a Society for the Protection of Kalamalka Lake are deeply appreciative and would like to thank all members of Council for their support and encouragement which we have received to date. That said, all of the supporters of these two societies as well as many residents of Kalavista Drive are very concerned about the draft plans which were presented by the "Traffic Safety Committee" to once again expand the parking for motor boats on Kalavista Drive.

Clearly, the public must have access to the lake and the "fortress mentality" of some people who live on the lake to restrict public lake access is simply not creditable. Hence, what we are proposing is the encouragement of non-invasive, environmentally sustainable recreational uses of the lake. We strongly believe that a further expansion of the boat launch parking will simply exaggerate the issues of over crowding of motor boats on the north end of the lake, flies in the face of the Official Community Plan and as well as our need to collectively protect our drinking water supply. In short, it follows the example of Lake Windermere of uncontrolled and unplanned growth.

To close, we would like to thank Coldstream Council for their on-going support and we would like to ask Council to seriously consider the potential lessons learned from Lake Windermere and, in particular, the issues which are created from unfettered and uncontrolled growth of motor boat traffic.

The article from the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands is attached for your review.

Kind Regards,

Jim Cookson

Kalavista Drive

PS: Please distribute this letter and news article to Ms Williams and Mr Firman.

http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2005-2009/2008AL0036-001369.pdf

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