Milfoil ladened year for Okanagan lakes
Blooming Invasive Milfoil at surface of water on Osoyoos Lake. Photo Credit: Neil Bousquet
James Littley, chief operating officer with the Okanagan Basin Water Board, said in a memo that they’ve already collected 300 cubic yards of milfoil, or, enough “to cover a hockey rink with six inches of milfoil or fill a curling sheet nearly four feet deep.”
This summer, Littley said, significant milfoil blooms started “unusually early” in Osoyoos and Vaseux Lakes.
“In response to public requests, I directed our milfoil team to begin harvesting in Osoyoos Lake two weeks ahead of schedule,” Littley said.
“Harvesting is also underway in Wood Lake, with operations scheduled to begin in Vaseux and Okanagan Lakes by early August.”
The water board also received requests for milfoil control in Duck, or Ellison Lake.
“While we have assessed access options, the lake is only reachable by amphibious harvester via private property,” Littley said.
“Given the lack of public access and beaches, it remains a lower priority compared to other sites. However, we continue to explore options.”
Removing milfoil may get a bit more efficient in the days ahead.
A new harvester is expected to arrive in mid-August, replacing a 1978 model that has reached the end of its service life.
As of July 25, the new machine is fully manufactured, painted, and in final assembly.
The Okanagan Basin Water Board received in 2024 a five-year permit from the province to manage invasive milfoil, allowing previously prohibited areas to be treated.
The new permit granted last year allows the organization to assess and potentially treat milfoil in any area where invasive milfoil is identified, both existing areas that were not permitted before, or areas where milfoil may have spread.
For more than a decade, all milfoil treatment areas in the Okanagan were designated on a map and then reviewed by provincial staff. If the aquatic plant moved or grew, however, it would require more provincial reviews before it could be treated.
The new process now relies on updated maps of Okanagan lakes and takes into account all known aquatic habitat protections,.
-with files from Wayne Moore
During July, 2025, Eurasian Milfoil was plentiful as demonstrated by this mound of floating milfoil collected from a single boatslip at the Osoyoos Cottages. Photo Credit: Neil Bousquet
