Putting aside the issue of noise pollution, water pollution and air pollution as an argument against power boats in the north end of Kalamalka Lake my primary concern is safety.
I can appreciate the risks and safety concerns pertaining to access to and from the Kekuli Boat Launch. My own family has been involved in three serious accidents on Highway 97 north including a fatality. Sadly a family friend and person in our neighbourhood also were involved in fatal accidents on this highway.
However, I believe there is a real danger posed by power-boats at the north end of Kalamalka Lake with respect to the the safe recreation of scuba-divers, swimmers, kayakers, canoeists, children and youth on air mattresses etc. In addition, the safety of those on foot or bikes are threatened by increased motor-vehicle traffic in the Kalavista neighbourhood.
Although defensive driving on highway 97 is not a satisfactory solution to the dangers posed by this highway, newer vehicles have safety features such as airbags . Those enjoying the north end of Kalamalka lake who are not protected by the sturdy shell of a power boat are extremely vulnerable, especially swimmers and divers.
Safety studies with respect to Highway 97 and the resulting improvements have been reported in the Vernon Morning Star. Input from concerned Boaters and R.V.-ers who frequent Kekuli Bay ought to be brought to the attention of the media and pertinent ministries.
In conclusion, the offhand suggestion that residents in the vicinity of Kalamalka Lake move away from the disturbance created by power boats does not take into consideration that this would mean leaving family, friends, community, trusted health care providers: the list is long.
Furthermore, there are those who may want to visit the lake from Lavington or Armstrong or even much further away who do not appreciate the visit to the lake being diminished by the intrusion of power boats.
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17 comments:
I am not suggesting that people move out of Coldstream, I am only suggesting that if a person finds the noise associated with all Lakes in the Okanagan is unbearable they may be more successful in locating further from the lakes. This does not necassarily mean leaving the area entirely. This whole issue is once again being blown out of proportion as seems to be the case when talking about boating in this area.There have been more close calls at the beach crosswalk than on the lake all year. Even the fellow from Lake Watch said that the Kalavista area was not that bad this year and I know their office only receieved a couple of complaints all summer. There have always been boats on the north end of Kalamalka Lake and if you think I would risk my families life on the highway versus some neighbors being slightly inconvienced for two short months you are sadly mistaken. Boaters are polluting less than the people living on the lakes or the creeks flowing into it so why don't you all take a look at your real motivations for attacking boating and maybe you will see how petty your arguments really are. There is a need for more designated swim and diving areas and I am sure boaters could live with more buoys and more designated no boat areas at the north end but we will never relinquish our right to access and enjoy Kalamalka Lake! And as long as the anti-boaters continue to stir up negative perceptions and half truths they will be met with stiff opposition at every turn. Unfortunately we can't just enjoy a pastime that is a long tradition in this area. It is not just boats causing increased traffic in this area...give us a break!
Well said. I've long argued that a few simple changes to the Kalavista launch would certainly ease the congestion: two, sturdy long docks and a launch wide enough to accommodate two vehicles. As the area grows, the reality is that it will keep getting busier and so will the boating public. To suggest that we boaters just go away is laughable, but it appears that everything that can be done to inconvenience a boater takes priority over addressing these obsolete launches (all launches in the north end remain inadequate for the population of the area). I can understand the safety arguments but in reading this article, there is an agenda below the surface and I have a hard time accepting that it's sincere. This from the perspective of someone who uses the lake for both boating and swimming. Even as a swimmer I get dirty looks from lakeshore residents when I swim in front of their houses from one of the very few lake accesses in the area.
My "agenda" is to live in peace, and safety. Nothing more.
Freedom from noise pollution, air pollution and water pollution is a right.
Boating is not a right, it is a privilege with serious responsibilities.
No one group has the right to monopolize the lake.
Surely with a little consideration all user groups can peacefully and safely enjoy the lake.
Again, it does not matter what your proximity to the lake is, all visitors from near and far should be able to enjoy the lake in peace and safety.
Perhaps you doth protest too much?
Would someone please supply the facts that back up the constant complaints that boats are causing air and water pollution.
As far as noise pollution I agree boats cause some noise and open mufflers or excessively noisey boats should be dealt with. The lakes are currently shared by all user groups and on whole everyone is getting along. Blaming boaters for all pollution on the lakes is just not right. Boating is a short two month season and it is not that noisy, I live close to the lake and hear more noise from cars and motorbikes than I do from boats.
While you are trying to find actual evidence of pollution from boats could you also find me a example of a totally quiet lake in the Okanagan during summer...I thought not.
Perhaps you doth protest too much?
It is not boaters that are constantly complaining!
Good question! Where do I begin the answers?
1. Boats burn gasoline. Gasoline is a hydrocarbon produces CO2. CO2 is an air pollutant.
2. Try swimming by the boat launch and check your skin. There is a fine oily film floating on the water.
3. Boaters drink lots of refreshments. What goes in, comes out. Where does it go? Back into the bottles or cans? I hardly think so.
4. Boat wakes stir up the water and along with it the fine silt and mud.
5. Check out the bounty of Kal Lake: http://coldstreamernews.blogspot.com/2010/08/readers-write-bounty-of-kalamalka-lake.html.
See what treasures boaters leave behind. Remember, not all boaters are conscientious especially after a few beers.
Just a few examples, I am sure there are others.
I can hardly stand living at my place too. I live near a busy road, Pleasant Valley. It never used to be so busy, now there are gasoline burning cars and trucks driving past, some are even speeding! I am demanding that either speed humps be put out, or the road be turned into a walking/bike path. I have the right to live in peace and quiet too! Sheesh, you people really need a dose of reality! Maybe no one should even live on the lake. You are destroying precious riparian areas, and the ecology of the lake too! I dont think docks and retaining walls are natural, and surely cant be helping the fish and ducks
re the lack of complaints. My better half has called the RCMP re irresponsible boating.
I hear many complaints but boats are hard to id and people feel they would be wasting their time.
So what you are implying is that all of the cans and bottles in the lake are frome boaters?
I witnesses a huge amount of garbage entering the lake from Kal beach. I talked parks into putting a garbage can at the end of the dock to help lessen this pollution.
While at another of our small beaches on Kalavista Drive I witnessed a lakeshore owner shovelling their dog feces into the lake and telling their children to do the same.
If you take the time to talk with our local water quality experts they will tell you that boating is way at the bottom of the list of lake polluters and oil and gas residue is virtually nil and no affecting our drinking water according to their tests.
Air pollution? Really? All modern boats have catalytic converters.We do not run around with leaking motors and gas and oil coming out of our boats. I woudn't be surprised to find that lakeside residences and their cars and lawnmowers leak more into the lake than boats.Lets also ban planes,cars,motorbikes,etc.
Do you also think that kids and adults swimming in the lake at residences and local beaches hold it until they can find a washroom?
And for your information not all boaters are out drinking beer.I see your points and some are valid but if we apply these higher standards to boating should we not rule and regulate all other forms of recreation?
Even a kayak or canoe driven to the lake affects our carbon footprint. What is it that you like to do? Do you drive a car, take a plane or use pesticides on your lawn?
Let he who has not sinned cast the first stone.
I think once the study on the economic impact of boating in the North Okanagan comes out it should help people think twice about trying to ban power boats in this area. It should also open the eyes of several Coldstream councillors who have publicly stated that Coldstream doesn't benefit from tourism.
Coldstream and its residents would benefit from eco-tourism, farm-gate tourism, health retreats featuring organic products, cultural tourism including tours of historical points of interest.
All these ventures are compatable with a healthy sustainable environment all of which enhance "Rural Living at its Best".
To the person on Pleasant Valley, I suggest you bring your concerns forward to your elected representative. No taxpaying citizen should be subjected to anything that detracts from their quality of life.
Good luck in replacing hysteria with facts!
Did you know that people also expel the air pollutant CO2 (and that some people even produce methane!), that swimming is not normally allowed at boat launches, that swimmers also expel their wastes into the lake while swimming, that boating regulations exist to promote safe use of watercraft, and that safe use of watercraft includes not driving close to beaches and swimming areas, and not kicking up enough of a wake to disturb sensitive shoreline areas?
We don't ban driving just because some drivers get speeding tickets or cause crashes or run red lights, why should we consider a ban on boating?
Thanks Anonymous #3 and #4 for demanding actual evidence of boat-caused pollution on our lakes.
I suspect that agricultural runoff and pollution from septic systems are a more worrisome problem for both Kal and Okanagan Lakes, and that claim can be backed up with actual evidence.
Thank you EastHillResident for all those scientific revelations of which I was not aware. As the saying goes, you learn something new every day.
Thanks Coldstreamer, but surely those are hardly 'scientific revelations'? People have always breathed out CO2, and depending on their genetic makeup and what they eat, some even produce methane.
I am definitely a proponent of safe boating. Unfortunately, obtaining your Pleasure Craft Operators Card does not mean you receive any instruction on boat launch etiquette.
Our regional boat launches do not have much in the way of education for boat launchers - no signs telling you how to do it correctly, safely and politely, just signs telling you where to park and how much to pay.
As for agricultural runoff and septic pollution, these factors affect lake quality throughout the year and not only during boating season.
In the case of Okanagan Lake, milfoil is on the increase and so are algae - a sure sign of nutrient pollution.
Common sense unfortunately is not always common. It is unlikely that more signage would function as a remedy for the blatant disregard of basic good manners and consideration.
Unfortunately there are not enough resources to monitor power-boat operators.
Zoning lakes according to use has solved this conflict in many jurisdictions.
Anyone who has time to search Google can find out about how the internal combustion engine contributes to persitant pollutants in water.
Good neighbours live and let live but do not create an intolerable nuisance for those in their community.
Those who wish to create a nuisance in a location where the majority have the reasonable expectation that they can enjoy a summer day without others monopolizing the quality of the day is offensive.
Considerate boaters will not expect the many to tolerate the pleasure of a few. It all comes down to consideraton and respect.
I really dont see it being intolerable. There is the odd busy weekend in the summer, but 10 months out of the year it is dead quiet. I also do not see the evidence that it is as bad as the residents say, I am in the area lots, and have yet to see the activities that are mentioned. I think we'd see the Commisionaires drive past every thirty seconds patrolling, and maybe with some extra patrolling by the RCMP on the lake any of the alleged drunks on the lake can be controlled and fined. But really, there is no way its as bad as the couple of residents that are complaining say it is. Maybe they need to be good neighbors and let the rest of us enjoy the lake too...
Did these boats just magically appear or have they always been here? The only real intolerable nuisance is the handfull of complainers that expect the lake to all of a sudden turn into "On Golden Pond"
A good neighbor would be tolerable and put up with a little inconvience for two short months!
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