It is becoming readily apparent that increased development is degrading shoreline areas along Kalamalka and Wood lakes. These lakes are key components of recreation, tourism, and urban settlement in the area. Agriculture and transportation are other key land uses associated with the lakes.
Development pressure has resulted in impacts to fish and wildlife habitat, important terrestrial communities, wetlands, and water quality. The spread of development to more remote areas is the result of an increasing demand for lakeside property and year round residences with better overall servicing. Some shoreline areas along the lakes are protected as park. For less developed areas, now is an opportune time to address lakeside development concerns to better manage future shoreline impacts.
In response to the need for better and more collaborative lake planning and management, the OCCP, with support of local governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the OBWB, initiated a process to document the current condition of the foreshores of both lakes and to help develop a more integrated approach to watershed management. This work was a continuation of previous projects initiated in the Central Okanagan.
These reports have been prepared based upon the belief that it is possible to manage both Kalamalaka and Wood Lake shorelines and the natural areas surrounding them in a sustainable manner.
Project Funders
