Water board grants to protect Okanagan water supply

By Shannon Quesnel

The Okanagan Basin Water Board has awarded three area groups $37,500 in grants to better protect the area's water supply and marine life.

The Okanagan and Similkameen Invasive Species Society received $10,000 for its invasive mussel prevention program. The money will be used for public education on the dangers of zebra and quagga mussels which have already damaged the Great Lakes. These tiny hard-shelled animals have been detected as far west as Saskatchewan and it's expected they will be transported to B.C. lakes at some point.

The Friends of Summerland Ornamental Gardens got $22,500 for innovative landscaping which will result in better water retention.

And the Rotary Club of Summerland will get $5,000 for its Lakeside Trail project to capture and filter polluted runoff. The money will also be spent on raising awareness on water conservation.

Water board office manager James Littley said, “The water in this valley is all connected. This grant program is a way to bring residents of the Okanagan together to take on projects that improve water in their own backyards, but which also have valley-wide benefit."

To contact a reporter for this story, email Shannon Quesnel at squesnel@infotelnews.ca or call 250-488-3065.