Sugar Lake, B.C., a pristine mountain lake in the Monashees of British Columbia, forms part of the headwaters of the Shuswap River Watershed and should be saved from the pollution caused by large motor boats.   

Sugar Lake has long been enjoyed as a fishing lake and a paddlers' destination. The majority of people who come to Sugar Lake come to enjoy the clear waters, the good fishing, the waterfowl and wildlife sightings, and the serene surroundings, without the noise and pollution of big power-boats.  Below and above Sugar Lake is the Shuswap River, which is a narrow river also enjoyed for its clear waters by swimmers, tubers, paddlers, and wildlife enthusiasts for its serenity.

The Sugar Lake And Middle Shuswap Stewards (SLAMSS), along with the Cherryville Water Stewards, are groups of citizens who have been working for over 10 years to protect the quality of this watershed.  On July 8, 2009, the Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) was presented with a 600-name Petition asking the Board of Directors to begin the process with Transport Canada to implement boat motor restrictions on Sugar Lake, for public safety and environmental reasons.  The Board at that time unanimously passed a Resolution to do so.  A 3-year study was completed and prepared for RDNO as a guiding document called the Shuswap River Watershed Sustainability Plan (2014).  In the summer of 2015, the public consultation portion of this process commenced with Town Hall meetings and an online survey, inviting public input about boating restrictions on the lower reaches of the Shuswap River, but Sugar Lake and the Middle & Upper Shuswap River were not included.   The process is ongoing.

This Petition is asking RDNO to apply to Transport Canada to implement boat motor restrictions on Sugar Lake and the Middle Shuswap River.  (for example, to either a maximum horsepower limit or for a "no-towing" restriction, thereby prohibiting water-skiing/wakeboarding and jet-boating activities on this lake and river system.)

The reasons for such boat motor restrictions include:  public safety (due to floating debris and fluctuating water levels), preservation of water quality, preservation of fish habitat, preservation of wildlife, preservation of serenity, and preservation as a fishing and eco-tourism destination.  There are many larger lakes in the Okanagan area where power-boating recreational pursuits can be enjoyed.  Sugar Lake should be saved for its purity as part of the headwaters of the Shuswap River Watershed.

Reference:  Shuswap River Watershed Sustainability Plan (2014) at:  www.rdno.ca     .../shuswap-river-watershed-sustainability-plan

Note* The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resource's study on "The Effects of Motorized Watercrafts on Aquatic Ecosystems" shows that:

1) Motorboats add metals and chemicals to water

2) A certain amount of the fuel entering the motor is discharged unburned and ends up in the water

3) This affects the pH and dissolved oxygen in the lake which negatively affects fish and all aquatic species and wildlife

4) Motorboats can cause algal bloom by churning up the lake bottom in shallow areas, stirring up sediment, re-suspending nutrients (phosphorus) that are at the lake’s bottom feeding algae and causing algal bloom. This stirring can also decrease the water clarity because of additional particles suspended in the water column

5) Motorboats create substantial noise pollution known to harm all aquatic animals as well as humans and wildlife in the surrounding area

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FROM RDNO:
"Vessel operating restriction regulations are the responsibility of Transport Canada and are established under the Canada Shipping Act, 2001.  Any level of government (federal, provincial, municipal and territorial government authorities) can request federal government to restrict the use of all vessels on all bodies of water in Canada. Regulations may help achieve safety, environmental or public interest objectives and may:
- prohibit all boats
- limit engine power or type of propulsion
- impose speed limits
- restrict towing activities on any sporting or recreational equipment including wake surfing
- prohibit a sporting, recreational or public event or activity