By Sebastian Kanally, Times Chronicle
Mayor Sue Mckortoff, who was re-elected as Chair of the Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB), provided Osoyoos Town Council with an update from the water board’s Jan. 11 meeting.
The water board welcomed some new members, and re-elected returning directors. The OBWB directors returning include Victor Cumming and Rick Fairbairn from Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO), and Doug Holmes and Rick Knodel from RDOS. New Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) appointee Blair Ireland was elected vice-chair of the board.
New directors include RDNO’s Christine Fraser, and RDCO’s Wayne Carson and Charlie Hodge. Water Management Appointments include Coun. Tim Lezard as the new representative from the Okanagan Nation Alliance, and returning are Water Supply Assn. of BC Chair Bob Hrasko, and Okanagan Water Stewardship Council Chair Scott Boswell.
Some other highlights from the meeting include the fast approaching 2023 water grant program deadline. The board’s Water Conservation and Quality Improvement Grant Program for 2023 is accepting applications until 4 p.m., Feb. 24.
This program has awards up to $30,000 for local governments under numerous different categories.
Zebra and quagga mussel infestation is also still an issue that is being dealt with by developing a vulnerability assessment toolkit for local governments. This will help determine various options for mitigation, adaptation and determine priorities.
There is also a project underway looking at the value of water for Okanagan agriculture. This project will consider policy around protecting water for farming and how different investments in irrigation can support the Okanagan economy.
The OBWB is also looking into proposals for a modern amphibious milfoil harvesting machine. In the Spring and Summer a crew uses a harvester to take weeds to shore for pick up and disposal. The current ones they are using are 45 years old and in need of repairs.
More information can be found on the website: OBWB.ca, including information on various campaigns such as the Make Water Work (MWW) and the Don’t Move A Mussel (DMM) campaigns.
