By Steve Hubrecht
[email protected]

Lakeside summer days at Kinsmen Beach may be months in the future, but a concerned Invermere resident is already thinking about those warmer temperatures — and the dozens of motorboats summer will bring to Lake Windermere. They are now asking Invermere council to consider putting up a sign educating boaters about the damage they may be causing.

Bill Ark sent his concerns and outlined his request in a letter, received by Invermere council during its Tuesday, Feb. 22 meeting.

“Wake boats are increasing in numbers, in power, and in noise on Lake Windermere. They are also causing major sediment and toxic damage to lake bottoms shallower than 10 metres deep,” wrote Ark citing studies on this topic conducted in the Okanagan in 2016 and 2017.

Ark noted that the section of Lake Windermere that is adjacent to to the District of Invermere is only six metres at its deepest point during high water level (when spring runoff occurs) and, outside of this time, is often only about one-metre deep. 

He suggested the mayor and council put up a sign to raise awareness among boaters about the damage wakeboarding boats and other boats with large wakes can potentially do. Ark suggested the sign could be attached to the Lake Windermere Ambassadors (LWA) signboard, could be put up by the boat launch in Athalmer, or could be set up somewhere else on or by the lake that the district has jurisdiction over. 

He noted that some boaters will surely ignore the sign, but that many may be simply unaware of what their boats can do. 

“Imagine a quiet lake with calm kayaks, canoes, sailboats, paddle boards, and swimmers only. That would be respectful and nice for us, and be clean for future generations,” wrote Ark.

Council members were generally receptive to Ark’s letter, and agreed to forward his letter on to the LWA and ask for that group’s input on Ark’s suggestions.

“I don’t disagree with some of the points raised,” said Invermere Councillor Gerry Taft. “Sometimes some signage can be effective…even if it doesn’t carry any legal weight.”