Coldstream takes aim at marina -- By Jennifer Smith

With its drinking water possibly in jeopardy, Coldstream is rocking the boat over a proposed marina neighbouring Kalamalka Lake.

A 200-slip marina is proposed on Wood Lake in Lake Country. Ponderosa Enterprises has applied to the Integrated Land Management Bureau to use 2.3 hectares of Crown land near Ponderosa Road for a marina.

Wood Lake not only neighbours Kalamalka Lake, but there is direct access between the two bodies of water via a canal.

Since Kalamalka Lake is a direct source of drinking water for many Coldstream residents, some local politicians are making waves over the issue.

Coldstream council agreed Monday to voice its concerns in a letter to the ILMB.

Mayor Jim Garlick also has a meeting scheduled with Lake Country Mayor James Baker March 18 to discuss the issue.

“Coldstream is the municipality that is most greatly affected by this,” said Coun. Maria Besso.

The North Okanagan Regional District has written its own letter to ILMB and the District of Lake Country, but Coldstream felt more should be done.

“I think we should add a little more meat on the bones here,” said Coun. Richard Enns.

“There are a pool of problems that are created from increased boat traffic on the lake.”

Coun. Gyula Kiss also isn’t convinced NORD is truly concerned about the issue.

“NORD have seem to thought that it was none of our business, that tourism is more important than protecting our water supply,” said Kiss.

Several Coldstream residents have also expressed their concerns about the potential for increased boat traffic on Kal Lake, including Margot MacDougall.

“Considering the relative size of Wood Lake, the boat traffic is sure to accumulate on Kalamalka Lake thereby affecting the quality of our lifestyle as well as negatively impacting the environmental integrity of our water system,” wrote MacDougall in a letter to Coldstream.

Coldstream is also taking action with proposed changes to the Navigable Waterways Act.

Coun. Doug Dirk says amendments to the act don’t make any environmental sense.

“We’re trying to protect our waterways and it seems as though they’re going backwards,” said Dirk of the federal government.

Coldstream is sending a letter to MP Colin Mayes about the issue, also asking that it be separated out of the budget and made a separate issue.

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