The Board of Directors of the Lake Windermere Ambassadors Society has been designated the Lake Management Committee by two local governments.
Roles of the Lake Management Committee
The Committee provides commentary regarding proposed zoning alterations or applications for changes to the foreshore environment surrounding Lake Windermere.
These comments are advisory and non-regulatory in nature, but are significant in that they come from the only community-based, non-governmental review panel for these types of development referrals.
The Committee also provides public education to the community about the Lake Windermere Management Plan, and specific recommendations included within: including safe and responsible boating practices, zoning regulations, and lake health.
The Lake Management Committee is working closely with the District of Invermere and the Regional District of East Kootenay to provide information to people who live and recreate in and around Lake Windermere.
Projects:
Lake Management Report Card
The Committee released a 5-year update to evaluate local lake management in the form of a Report Card.
This Report Card evaluates the current progress of the Lake Management Committee, the District of Invermere, and Regional District of East Kootenay in terms of how well we’re jointly working to manage the lake and implement recommendations from the management plan.
Areas that the Lake Management Committee can improve on were identified: improved communication about boating safety, mooring buoy regulations, and requesting improved access to the east side of the lake for public use.
Safe Boating Education and Outreach
Since 2018, the Committee has purchased and installed 6 information buoys at the mouth of Taynton Bay to inform boaters about the existing recommended “Slow, No Wake” zone in this area. These buoys are meant as an educational and communication tool to promote boating safety and Management Plan awareness. The buoys are not meant to be seen as a “keep out” sign, but rather as a reminder to “please slow down and be careful in this area”.
Boat Launch Signage
The Lake Management Committee have designed and installed a public map at the Athalmer boat launch, to improve boater knowledge and awareness of natural features and hazards surrounding the lake.
Protecting the Lake’s Edge: Government Regulations
The local districts have used the Lake Windermere Management Plan as a guide for developing some new regulations. The regulations are put in place to better protect wildlife and lake health — and therefore protect our investments and quality of life!
| Development Permit Area |
| Surface Water Zoning |
| What would be regulated? Red & Orange shorelines (RDEK only) |
Shorelines are the narrow strips of land located along water bodies. These transition zones where land and water meet each other create unique, and often highly productive, ecosystems. Some call them “corridors of blue and green, with a value of gold” because they are so important to our economy.
Do you know about the dredging planned for the Trethewey Marina. There is a 1/2 million dollar plan in the works that will probably upset the ecosystem of the water around there. Could you bring it up at the next meeting to discuss what the effects might be. Thanks
We will include this in our next meeting. If you would like to attend in person or virtually to talk about this issue please email me at info@lakeambassadors.ca