Shoreline Eco-systems

[OldIslander]

Appreciate the info even of it's not the news I was hoping for, alot of coyotes where they live. Hoping they found a way to stay safe until the water level drops.

I'm afraid that to have air inside the lodge when the whole thing is covered with water, the dome would have to be 100% airtight, and that's not possible with sticks and mud. So it's going to be solid water inside. They wouldn't be trapped though -- they probably gave up and left after the water covered the platforms or banks inside where they live. They are resilient little buggers, with amazing instincts to help through things like this -- I'll bet they're just fine.

[OldIslander]

Speaking of shoreline ecosystems, how is the milfoil situation these days?

When I grew up in the Okanagan through the 50's and 60's, there was none. We camped at various places along the length of the lake and you could swim anywhere, without a trace of milfoil. In secluded bays, from a rowboat, you could see down 20 or 30 feet through crystal water to the bottom. Has there been any progress in figuring out how to eradicate it?

[gman313]

Speaking of shoreline ecosystems, how is the milfoil situation these days?

When I grew up in the Okanagan through the 50's and 60's, there was none. We camped at various places along the length of the lake and you could swim anywhere, without a trace of milfoil. In secluded bays, from a rowboat, you could see down 20 or 30 feet through crystal water to the bottom. Has there been any progress in figuring out how to eradicate it?

it is invasive so that is why you didn't see any in the 50s and 60s.

They have not made progress on eradicating it- just control. It can only be done certain times of years.

And the equipment is getting old so alternatives will need to be figured out soon. The good news it only grows in shallow depths - in this lake up to about 8 metres. So some areas may have a late start once the water recedes

http://www.obwb.ca/milfoil/about-eurasian-watermilfoil/

[Catsumi]

I live near Cools Pond where the viewing platform has been submerged for the past few weeks. Spotted two tiny mallards with their mother out on the roadway today (perhaps they were a bit tired of all the excess water too?).

I just wish that drivers would SLOW DOWN as these little guys just cannot move fast enough to get out of the way. Wildlife is having a bad time of it already with a bitter winter and now nest sites being inundated.

Last year someone drove over a turtle trying to cross the road to the pond on other side. Split his shell into three sections. It had to be intentional as he was the size of a football helmet. What joy for a moron!

I have yet to see a yellow-wing blackbird there. Has anyone, or are they caput?

[Terris]

All these creatures, great and small, and their plant foods, will do as they have for eons before humans arrived here, and even before the internet was available to voice such concerns; that is, they will all survive and carry on just fine.

Thanks for your concern.

What should be of greater concern is all the encroaching human activities on land and off shore when the water levels are not so high.

Example: While it may present great photo ops, Rotary Marsh is not an intact habitat; it is a faux reconstruction that has been polluted and landscraped several times over.

Shoreline eco systems are at just as much threat at normal water levels from boat wakes, fuel spills and other wanton human constructions/destruction.

These concerns for wildlife might be better served during non flood times.

[Queen K]

I see Rotary Marsh as a learning tool. People bring their kids there to see the Ospery, Deer, Beavers, Muskrat, and bird life galore, not to mention the fact that they do not cut the grasses or manicure the trees to suit people. The man who is a Naturalist wanted to ban dog walking and when the city council said "no" he quit and moved on to a different department, which is a crying shame.

Terris, a true natural environment is a rare find these days with even remote mountain lakes being developed and used year round. Would you not agree?

[Terris]

Has Kelowna lost itself?

Do people here actually not see the plasticization of urban spaces? The Disneylanding of the environment

[Terris]

Do people here now just blindly accept the Disneylanding of Kelowna urban garden spaces (as opposed to remote wilderness) as a natural environment?

Wow...

Pretend away...

[Queen K]

Oh God the wind has just picked up.

As it stands, we did a huge tour around Westside Road to Commanage Road and Okanangan Center Rd and took a look at the flooding situation.

Lots of tree stands in water, pretty predictable right? But entire conifers, how do they do in standing water?
And lots of debris at Everly Campsite, campsites in water, and again, lots of decidious in water, not just bushes.

Some think it's time that the shore had a "good wash".

[gman313]

Do people here now just blindly accept the Disneylanding of Kelowna urban garden spaces (as opposed to remote wilderness) as a natural environment?

Wow...

Pretend away...

it would appear we don't give two flying f's.

[Queen K]

Thistle report: two days ago they appear to be doing well in standing water and are almost ready to bloom. My concern is that they make it to the seed stage, ie food for seed eaters.

Let's hope so.

Also, we have seen horrendous flooding in fields all the way down to Osoyoos.

[Queen K]

And now the sand in all the sand bags is deemed "contaminated."

Can't dump it on the beaches.
Or in the lake.
Or for any use whatsoever.

So what will happen to it all? And what of the sandbags which never got touched by lake water? Lots of those out there.

So what is the best guess as to what will eventually happen to all the sand bags?

[Fancy]

Easy to guess - no one is going to try and lift wet sandbags.

[Queen K]

https://www.castanet.net/edition/news-s ... htm#199482

What to do with the sand bags article right here.

[Fancy]

https://www.castanet.net/edition/news-story-199482-3-.htm#199482

What to do with the sand bags article right here.

That's more of what NOT to do.

Local emergency authorities will notify when and how to dispose of the sandbags.

I mentioned on the sandbag thread the best case scenario is dumping the sand at a sandpit etc.