Media Release: Milfoil Harvester Back in Vaseux Lake After 30+ Years

News Release

August 9, 2022

Milfoil Harvester Return to Vaseux Lake After 30+ Years

The Vaseux Lake Stewardship Association would like to thank James Littley of the Okanagan Basin Water Board who, through his persistent efforts and support from the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, has been able to get the milfoil harvester back into Vaseux Lake for the first time in over 30 years. A founding premise for the establishment of the Vaseux Lake Stewardship Association in 2017 was to improve water quality and fish habitat by removing the infestation of milfoil which is an invasive species in lakes throughout North America and contributes to declining water quality and plant diversity. Vaseux Lake has become a very popular tourist area for those who would enjoy nature without motorized boats and large numbers of cyclists and ebikes. It is one of the last areas in the South Okanagan with a wildlife and bird sanctuary along a lake that allows people to enjoy nature peacefully.

Vaseux Lake Stewardship Association continues to advocate through a pilot project to get a rototiller in the lake which is better at permanently removing the milfoil by its roots. The Association has been in talks with representatives of the Okanagan Nation Alliance to collaborate on this pilot project in efforts to move forward for next year. For now, home owners and visitors to the lake can once again enjoy swimming, kayaking and other aquatic activities without having to move through a large infestation of milfoil.