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ajor Point Sources '"" itrient Pollution Affecting Kalamalka

Prepared by:

Citizens' Coalition to Save Silver Stay Provincial Park

P.O. Box 1625 Vernon, B.C., Canada V1T8C2 entail: lnfoQravesUverstarpark.org

101- Citizens' Coalition to Save Silver Star Provincial Park ^a^w7^s7osaw©s8Sw(Bi?s6sDg'g)aB(feB©tygT P.O. Box 1625 Vernon, B.C., Canada V1T8C2 emails info®»ave»ilveg»tairpa»fc.og{| Major Point Sources of Nutrient Pollution Affecting Kalamalka Lake Author: R. Schellenberg, Spokesman Citizens' Coalition to Save Silver Star Provincial Park Abstract: This document is a brief summary of information to be presented to Coldstream council on April 26th, 2010 by the Citizens' Coalition to Save Silver Star Provincial Park. The presentation will focus on point sources of pollution affecting Kalamalka Lake, including Silver Star and Vernon wastewater, dairy and feed lot operations, biosolids composting, and the Municipal Solid Waste landfill. While this summary provides extensive detail on the issues at the watershed headwaters, the presentation to council will attempt to provide a balanced view of the various pollution sources throughout the community watershed. Introduction

The Citizens' Coalition to Save Silver Star Provincial Park is an ad hoc committee of concerned citizens dedicated to saving Silver Star Provincial Park.

Silver Star Provincial Park was established in 1940 to preserve and protect the unique subalpine environment of Silver Star Mountain, both for ecological reasons and for recreational purposes. One of the main objectives of the park was also to protect the headwaters of our community watersheds.

Almost 8000 acres, or 38% of Silver Star Provincial Park has been deleted over the past 26 38% of Silver Star Provincial Park has been deleted, splitting the park into two pieces. The resort's soon-to-be-released years in order to encourage commercial Master Plan calls for 26,550 bed units on the mountain at development of the Silver Star Mountain Ski buildout, with no plans to replace the outdated lagoon-based Resort. sewage treatment plant. Sewage effluent is discharged to groundwater, with a significant portion migrating to the Antwerp Springs aquifer and Coldstream Creek. Concern over loss of parkland and parks values inevitably led to concerns about water quality and contamination of the surrounding community watersheds. In order to gain perspective on the scope of the problem, investigations progressed from focusing on pollution at the headwaters, to sources of pollution further downstream. These investigations led to some startling discoveries that have implications not only for Silver Star Mountain and the park, but also for the entire North community.

Of particular concern are the numerous unacknowledged significant point sources of nutrient and pathogenic pollution to Kalmalka Lake. The lake is a priceless recreational resource as well as one of the main domestic water sources for Vernon and Coldstream. Unless steps are taken in the near future to significantly reduce these sources of pollution, water quality in the lake will likely continue to decline, with the lake eventually experiencing chronic algal blooms and creating associated health risks and costly domestic water treatment challenges. Declining Water Quality

To the casual observer, Kalamaika Lake appears to be pristine and relatively unpolluted. Long-time residents who live along the lake however will tell you otherwise. Many have witnessed an increase in noxious aquatic weeds and algae, while in certain areas of the lake, residents fear swimming in the water due to ensuing eye, ear, nose and skin infections. Those drawing domestic water from the lake are also concerned, wondering if their water is safe to drink.

To the casual observer, Kalamaika Lake appears pristine and unpolluted.

Declining water quality in Ossol.ed E;ica 8^d su'phate have decreased in Ka'&rialka and Wood Sod.um has rvcreased m KalamalKa Lake but decreased in Wood Tola' cal-cium and particularly chloride have increased in coin Kalamaika lake has been Kalamaika Bnd Wood Lattes Some of these changes ni3y t>= related to hydrologlc processes T ransfer of recognized as a serious problem lower sulphate waters from into Wood and KatamaVa Lakes may explain the decrease in sulphate Ellison Lakij sulphate it lljftif ..in'iy kjww than Okanajgart, KaWnaika or Wood Lakes, however, ite for many years, yet few steps have rapid flushing rale \%cu!d ma'

Cow manure from a nearby dairy occasionally washes down a storm sewer into Kalamaika Lake near the Kinloch boat launch, posing health risks to swimmers, while encouraging growth of eurasian watermilfoil and localized algal blooms. Manure is spread year-round on the fields above the storm sewer inlet on Kidston Road. The East Kalamaika domestic intake is only a few hundred metres from the storm sewer outfall. As with spring phosphorus, the most pronounced changes In spring total nitrogen (TN) have Kalamalka Lake's trophic occurred In Wood Lake, with a decreasing trend from the 1970s through to 1991 (Figure 4). A s t a t u s is o l i g o t r o p h i c , decreasing trend In spring TN In Ellison Lake also occurred from 1974 to 19S1. A decrease In spring nitrate nilrogen In Wood Lake may have occurred between 1986 (0.2mgt) and 1999 tending toward (0.082mg'L), however, there was considerable year to year variation for this parameter mesotrophic. Nutrient (Appendix Figure 17) There are recent indications that spring nitrogen, (Figure 4) and pollution is likely playing a particularly nitrate nitrogen (Appendix Figure 18> has been mcreasina in Kalamalka Lake, from leading role in the gradual 0.045 mgt in 1974 to 0.142 mg 1 in 1999 eutrophication of the lake. If w e fail to significantly Nutrient pollution in Kalamalaka Lake has been recognized as an ongoing problem for many years, as shown by this paragraph from a 1999 water quality study. reduce this nutrient loading, algal blooms may become a chronic problem, posing Limnologlsis ascribe trophic status to these lakes based on the levels of nutrients, productivity huge challenges for the and clarity. For Ellison, Wood and Kalamalka Lakes, this is shoiyn In Table 3 which also gives typical values for lakes that are in each of the three trophic categories (Nordin 1984). tourism industry, as well as Oligotrophic lakes have little biological production, eutrophlc lakes have considerable, and f o r d o m e s t i c w a t e r mesotrophic lakes are Intermediate between the two. For Ellison, and Wood lakes, the values treatment. are averages of all data on record for both spring and autumn. For Kalamalka Lake, the average statistics combine data for the spring and autumn, as well as for two periods when seasonal data was also collected ( 1987y88: 1996/7). Accordingly. Ellison Lake may be termed eutrophlc. Before we can take steps to Wood Lake varies from mestrophic to eutrophlc and Kalamalka Lake is oligotrophic tending s l o w o r s t o p t h i s toward mesotrophic, with higher nitrogen than normally associated with this trophic level, and eutrophication process, we relatively high phytaplankton indicators and spring phosphorus must clearly identify the major sources of nutrient The same study documents the slow eutrophication of the lake due to nutrient loading. pollution flowing into the lake. As with any illness, 2.3.3 Algal blooms successful treatment must An oopong p/ok'em in lakes thai aie mesotrophic to eutrophlc Is tlie occurrence of algal and cyanobactettal begin with an accurate blooms One of the ma'n reasons ihat these blooms are detrimental to lakes is thai when the blooms end, the diagnosis! cells fail to the botloni of the lake and decomoose. This leads to deoleton of oxvaen in the lower deoths. wtvch is detrimental to deep-s.vimming fish and some other aquatic species Oxygen depletion also leads to great;,' enhanced release of phosphorus from trie deep-water sediments. Later, when the lake mixes, some of this '.'.ill What most of us don't become available to algae in the surface water, Thus algal bloorrs help to increase the phosphorus evaJabie to support more alga! b*ooms realize is that the lake is being heavily polluted right Chronic algal blooms are a very real possibility in the future, posing huge challenges under our noses, with most to the local tourism industry and expensive problems for domestic water treatment. of the nutrient point sources being hidden from view.

Once we clearly identify these pollution sources, will we take the steps necessary to correct the problem? Is there the political will to take action? Only time will tell.

Will we wait for a crisis before we act? Will it take a massive algal bloom on Kalamalka Lake, which could close the beaches or contaminate Vernon and Coldstream's domestic water supply?

Hopefully, we will take a our role as stewards of the lake seriously, and make the necessary changes to ensure that future generations will also have the opportunity to enjoy this priceless resource.

How long before we see algal blooms like this in Kalamalka Lake? General Observations About Water Quality in the Okanagan Valley

Whereas cities like Vancouver, B.C. enact extreme measures to protect their water supply by barring any development in, or even public access to, the community watersheds, most Okanagan communities have adopted the fundamentally flawed and risky strategy of multi-use watersheds, whereby just about any activity is allowed in the community watershed. Cattle grazing, garbage dumps, dairies and feedlots, manure spraying, wastewater lagoons, effluent irrigation, biosolids composting, tailings ponds, storm sewer outfalls, automotive traffic, hazardous material transport, residential construction, septic fields, ski resorts, herbicide and pesticide spraying, all terrain vehicle sports, power boating and industrial operations are just a few of the practices commonly permitted above domestic water reservoirs in the Okanagan Valley. Instead of focusing on source protection, water authorities opt for narrow margins of safety, relying on extensive testing, sophisticated water quality warning systems, advanced water treatment, frequent water quality and boil water advisories, backup water sources in case of contamination, and of course, just plain luck.

Identifying Point Sources of Nutrient Pollution

Kalamalka Lake's surface is situated at approximatley 390 metres (1290 feet) elevation, which puts it below many of the potential sources of pollution listed above. Kalamalka Lake serves as one of the main domestic water sources for much of Vernon and Coldstream. There are two major domestic intakes on Kalamalka Lake near Kekuli Bay Provincial Park the north end of the lake; the North Intake is located just west of Kal Beach, and the East Intake is located at the west end of Coldstream Creek Road. Many residents living along the lakeshore also draw their domestic water directly from the lake.

Though by no means intended to be a comprehensive watershed assessment, the major point sources of nutrient pollution identified here demonstrate that there are serious problems associated with having one's domestic water reservoir below so many sources of contamination. It's tempting to think that the solutions to watershed contamination are simple and inexpensive; some like to think it may be as simple as planting willows along the stream banks, constructing fencing or cattle waterers along creek banks, or adding a few more monitoring wells below contaminated sites. Unfortunately, these measures, while somewhat helpful, are woefully inadequate to address the massive scale of the problem.

Following is a photo essay of some of the major point sources of nutrient pollution affecting Kalamalka Lake, followed by some suggestions for further action. The presentation on April 26th will cover the subject in much greater detail, with allowance for input from council members and the public gallery in order to gain further knowledge and perspectives on the scope of the problem. Coldstream Creek Pollution Point Sources

Coldstream Creek is one of the main tributaries supplying surface water to Kalamalka Lake. Its headwaters are in Silver Star Provincial Park, where it flows south through Noble Canyon, then west through Coldstream, reaching the lake near Kirkland Drive. According to Silver Star Mountain Resort's 1997 "Environmental Review of a Portion of Silver Star Provincial Park", conducted by Geoalpine Environmental Consulting, Coldstream Creek has been identified as one of the ten most polluted rivers in .

Major Point Source: Silver Star Sewage Lagoons

It is sobering to realize that unlike most streams which are purest at their headwaters, Coldstream Creek is actually most polluted at its headwaters, where one of its first order tributaries emerges from the ground below the Silver Star sewage lagoons. The resort produces over 20 million gallons of wastewater annually, with most of the sewage influent being produced during the ski season.

When the idea of permitting on-hill accommodations was first advanced in the early 1980's, Silver Star Sports Ltd. proposed constructing a sophisticated, then-state-of-the-art treatment plant capable of producing a high quality effluent with less than 20 mg/l Silver Star Mountain Resort's sewage treatment plant BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) and less than 10 employs trickling filters, 3 aerated lagoons, and an mg/l TSS (Total Suspended Solids). The original exfiltration lagoon, with effluent irrigation conducted in the discharge permit specified these numbers, however, in summer months nearthelagoons. reality the high-tech plant never materialized, and instead a low-cost, lagoon-based system was constructed in 1983. It was only capable of producing a poor quality effluent, with typical values of 40 mg/l BOD and 60 mg/l TSS. Instead of replacing the woefully inadequate system however, the permit was instead amended in 1994 to allow 45 mg/l BOD and 60 mg/l TSS. Perhaps of more concern is the high level of nutrients in this effluent, since the majority of the effluent is discharged to the fractured bedrock aquifer at the 5000 foot level on the mountain.

Since it was always assumed that most of the effluent eventually made its way into either Vance Creek or Coldstream Creek, the sewage utility is required to monitor both streams on a regular basis at several points from just below the lagoons, all the way to Kalamalka Lake, or in the case of Vance Creek, down to Trinity Valley Road.

Sewage effluent surfaces approximately 130 metres from the exfiltration lagoon, forming a first order tributary of Sewage effluent surfaces 100 metres Coldstream Creek. Nitrate levels in this stream typically north of the lagoons, flowing Into reach up to 25 mg/l in mid-winter. Vance Creek Water quality is tested quarterly in Coldstream Creek by the resort's sewage utility, at Noble Canyon, and near Coldstream Lumber, Coldstream Cemetary, and near McClounie Road. Test results indicate that water quality is relatively good at Noble Canyon, with a rapid decline in quality as the creek flows through the Coldstream Valley. This fact was confirmed by the 2009 study conducted by the Ministry of Environment, which showed the most rapid deterioration occurring in the reach between Noble Canyon and School Road in Lavington.

Further investigation along this reach by members of the Citizens' Coalition to Save Silver Star Provincial Park revealed high-nitrate springs north of Highway 6 and east of School Road, which feed into the creek via culverts under the highway. Comparison with wells on the west side of Silver Star mountain showed these springs to have unnaturally high nitrate levels. Water quality reports for the Antwerp Springs wells also confirmed a nitrate problem in Antwerp #1, which pumps from the shallow unconfined aquifer. Nitrate levels, monitored weekly by Water, rose dramatically every ski season, almost in lockstep with the nitrate levels in the lagoons at Silver Star.

Hydrological studies have shown that the Antwerp Springs shallow aquifer catchment area includes the south slopes of Silver Star Mountain, all the way up to the divide upon which the sewage lagoons are situated. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that a significant portion of the Silver Star effluent is migrating through the bedrock quite quickly to the Antwerp Springs shallow aquifer.

Nitrate levels at Nobel Canyon were very low, but increased sharply between Noble Canyon and School Rd (Figure 3). Nitrate also peaked at School Rd on March 31 and was above the BCWQG for drinking water (10 mg/L), but this appeared to be an isolated event. For sites below Noble Canyon, nitrate levels were generally high and many were near or above the BCWQG for aquatic life (2.9 mg/L). This included both Vimy Rd and School Rd on March 31 and April 7, and Howe Dr on four consecutive sampling dates (March 18 to April 7). Although highest concentrations of nitrate were found at School Rd and Vimy Road during periods of higher flow, nitrate levels were also near or above the aquatic life guideline during low flow conditions in the fall.

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Figure 3. N0 2+N0 3 monitoring results from Coldstream Creek.

B.C. Ministry of Environment's 2009 report on Coldstream Creek Water Quality clearly shows the spike in nitrate levels between Noble Canyon and School Road. Further investigation on this reach of the creek by the Citizens' Coalition narrowed the spike in nitrates to an area between Hill Drive and School Road, where several culverts were feeding high-nitrate water into the creek. This high nitrate water originated in artesian springs north of Highway 6. Groundwater flows south from Silver Star Mountain to the Antwerp Spring wells, as shown by this diagram from the Groundwater Protection Plan report (Golder and Associates, 2006) prepared for the North Okanagan Regional District. C0]lTAMIMAHII8AMSPJ>RT-T]iR0y.Qil.ERACB;B£0jCABflQ«AIEAQlifEB

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Diagram showing how Silver Star wastewater could migrate through bedrock, emerging in the Antwerp Springs shallow ({ I '• ) 1 H i i > I I ! ! aquifer some 12 kilometres distant.

Nitrate levels in the Antwerp Springs shallow aquifer spike every ski season in lockstep with the nitrate levels in the Silver Star sewage lagoons.

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Greater Vernon Water monitors nitrate levels In the Antwerp Springs #1 well weekly. This graph clearly shows how activity at Silver Star Mountain ri«u-« H »vj-Trtji!iit'c.a**Cf»pMio:o-2&:fi correlates to the high nitrate levels in the Antwerp Springs shallow aquifer. Silverhawk Utilities' permit application estimates the effluent exfiltration rate from its lagoon at 300 cubic metres (85,800 gallons) per day, which is Silverhawk Utilities' 2008 Annual Report clearly shows the mid- equivalent to an Olympic size swimming pool every week. winter spikes in nitrates in the Coldstream Creek headwater stream below the exfiltration lagoon. These high nitrate levels were confirmed by tests conducted by the Citizens' Coalition.

On January 13th 2010, the Antwerp Springs well was contaminated due to manure being washed down from a field above the well during a rain-on-frozen ground event. As a result ofthat event, the Antwerp Springs shallow aquifer is no longer used for domestic supply. However, the shallow aquifer still has a chronic nitrate problem, likely due to effluent migrating through the bedrock from Silver Star. Much of Coldstream Creek downstream of Hill Drive is recharged by groundwater (i.e. the Antwerp Springs shallow aquifer), so it is unlikely that the creek's chronic nitrate problem will be solved until the source of the nitrates is clearly understood.

Recommendation: A dye trace study of the Silver Star effluent should be conducted with the utmost urgency in order to quantify impacts on Coldstream Creek, Vance Creek, and the Antwerp Springs shallow aquifer. Such a study would also serve to determine if the Silver Star exfiltration lagoon is in compliance with the Municipal Sewage Regulation, which stipulates a subsurface travel time of not less that 10 days before Class C effluent surfaces. Effluent Irrigation on Silver Star Mountain

In the Spring of 2002, the Silver Star Mountain sewage treatment system reached a crisis stage where the exfiltration lagoon almost overflowed. It was at this point that the sewage utility had to come up with an alternate method of effluent disposal in order to lower the level of the lagoon. Although the discharge permit allows for disposal of effluent via snowmaking, this is comparatively expensive and labor intensive. In the end, the sewage utility proposed implementing an effluent irrigation program, with the first trial commencing in the Fall of 2002.

The program was expanded in 2003 to include the Phase 1 and 2 irrigation areas, covering a 6 hectare forested area immediately adjacent to the sewage lagoons. In this way, the m sewage utility did not have to rely on exfiltration alone for 4 fairways of the proposed Silver Star Golf Course were ciearcut In 2007 to serve as an effluent disposal area. effluent disposal, and the lagoon level could be lowered to the point where excavators could scrape the lagoon bottom in order to increase the exfiltration rate.

The Municipal Sewage Regulation (MSR) stipulates that there must be two exfiltration basins, each capable of storing the entire year's accumulation of effluent (to allow maintenance to be conducted while one basin remains in operation). However, B.C. ski resorts are exempt from many of the requirements of the MSR, which is ironic considering the sensitive areas that they typically operate within. Thus, Silver Star's sewage 1 treatment system is permitted to operate with only one exfiltration basin, lacking capacity to store the annual flow volume. Because much of the effluent seeps out from the unlined lagoon, the system is able to operate without overflowing. As the resort grows however, the lagoon will likely fill to capacity midway through the ski season, necessitating disposal via snowmaking.

In 1997, the ski resort proposed building a golf course A 4 kilometre long effluent pipeline has been laid along the access road leading from Silver Star's sewage lagoons to the in the southeast corner of Silver Star Provincial Park, golf course. with a proposed opening date of June 2000. The course was never built, yet 510 hectares was still deleted from the southeast corner of the park in April 2001.

The original golf course application lapsed, and the resort was sold to new owners in November 2001. The new owners reapplied to go ahead with the golf course in 2006, but instead of building a golf course, they instead granted permission to the sewage utility to ciearcut 4 of the fairways and to construct a road to the clearcuts beside which a sewage effluent line was laid to feed wastewater to the golf course clearcuts.

The sewage utility plans to log all 18 fairways even though they have no firm plans to build a golf course, the fairways will serve as a wastewater disposal area, Silver Star Mountain Resort's sewage utility disposed of 6.5 via spray irrigation. To date, the sewage line has been million gallons of high-nutrient effluent in 2008 by spraying it on run down to the clearcuts, but no irrigation apparatus a forested area around the sewage lagoons at the headwaters ofhas been installed. Vance and Coldstream Creek. Future Ski Resort Development Plans Threaten Coldstream Creek

Silver Star Mountain Resort's soon-to-be-released Master Plan calls for 26,550 bed units on the mountain at buildout. Almost all the cross country ski trails deleted from Silver Star Provincial Park for the 1991 World Cup are slated for condo, hotel, and vacation home development. In addition, almost 1000 vacation homes are planned for the golf course area.

There are no plans to replace the outdated sewage treatment plant. At buildout, sewage volumes could exceed 80 million gallons annually, even though the sewage exfiltration lagoon can only store 20 million gallons. The remainder would have to be disposed of via snowmaking or by constructing new storage lagoons at the golf course clearcuts.

The new 50 million gallon Vance Creek reservoir sits empty silver Star's new Master Plan calls for almost 1000 vacation homes almost 2 years after its construction. The $7.2 million dollar a t t n e 0 , f course and a chaUm downhill from the driving range, reservoir was financed by the North Okanagan Regional District. ■ The plan shows homes constructe d on rare subalpine wetlands. Major Point Sources: Dairy and Feedlot Operations

The nutrients and pathogens associated with cow manure pose a significant threat to water quality in Kalamalka Lake, and therefore to the health and welfare of local residents. Dairy operations near Lavington and beef cattle feedlots along Coldstream Creek have the potential to seriously contaminate Coldstream Creek and subsequently Kalamalka Lake. In fact, the Antwerp Springs incident on January 13th is testament to this fact.

While attention was focused on Lavington's contaminated community well, what most local residents didn't realize was that the same rainstorm that washed contaminants into the Antwerp well also washed manure from the beef cattle feedlots further downstream into the This photo, taken January 14th, 2010 shows conditions creek. The next day, massive accumulations of foam typical of feedlots beside Coldstream Creek during the formed on the creek downstream from the feedlots. rain-on-frozen-ground event of January 13th.

This clearly demonstrates how Mother Nature occasionally provides conditions that can carry contaminants great distances. Cattle in these feedlots were safely fenced well away from the creek, but no amount of barb wire fencing could keep the feedlot runoff from entering the creek. It is somewhat naive to believe that the solution to solving the water quality problem in Coldstream Creek is as simple as constructing fences along its banks. This is another one of the myths of multi-use watersheds.

The same cattle that winter along Coldstream Creek are moved in the summer to rangeland on the Aberdeen Plateau, where they once Foam on Coldstream Creek approximately again pose a threat to water quality in the Duteau Creek watershed. 2 kilometres downstream from beef cattle feedlots -January 14th, 2010 Extensive measures to fence along creeks and provide off-stream watering troughs may improve • 1 w S W N ■ f M l l f t k U l i o l l / l 11)1/ (C'.illll -5 water quality somewhat, but be ri/i iMuii) tuuAoonii) assured that Mother Nature will • eventually provide ideal conditions 70.0 to render these measures M1.0 ineffective. btiJO • i o n m ■

Suggestion: IOJO ♦ m.o ■ ♦ ■ ♦ * ■ The Regional District should IOJQ determine if it is appropriate to o.o | risk the health of thousands of ? * s i i local residents in order to 3 a a a 2 n perpetuate dairy and feedlot Figuir 12 North Kabmalka Intake E. coli rwult% on untrralrd nattr operations in the Kalamalka Lake community watershed. Observations The highest E coli MPN observed was 73.8 CFU per 100 mL on December 4*. The Just because land is zoned for F coli counts with the Membrnne liltintion niwlliod were highest in Hit: winlei months, agriculture, does this mean January 16 1* and December 18* at 41 and 42 C r u per 100 ml. that any agricultural operation In 2006 Hie peak for I- coli bacteria occurred in late November un<] in 2007 it was December should be p e r m i t t e d ? If feedlots and dairies are In 2007 the North Kal Intake did not meet the criteria set by BCWQ for using retained, should alternate only chlorine to disinfect. water sources be explored? Excessive E.coli levels in Kalamalka Lake coincide with times when beef cattle are wintering beside Coldstream Creek. Nutrient Pollution Point Sources Adjacent to Kalamalka Lake

Major point sources of nutrient and pathogenic pollution can be found on both the east and west sides of Kalamalka Lake. To the casual observer, these pollution sources are not immediately obvious, even though the pollution is entering the lake right beneath our noses!

Campers at Kekuli Bay Provincial Park may occasionally grimace as the rancid fumes drift down from the biosolids composting facility, but they may not be aware of the sewage effluent surfacing in the park and running down alongside the beach where they swim.

Residents dropping off garbage at the dump may not notice the toxic leachate pond only metres away, nor realize that the landfill has no liner to prevent leachate from migrating to Kalamalka Lake.

Amateur naturalists scouting out turtles at Rose's Pond on : Commonage Road may not 3 notice the drowned trees or ^F f y***" W ' foam buildup on the shore of 1 the pond indicating a m'^Lii f hydroiogicai connection to Vernon's wastewater lagoon, Year-round stream parallelling Bailey Road MacKay Reservoir. emerges from groundwater below a i wastewater-flooded ravine east of MacKay Kayakers paddling up the Reservoir. High nutrient levels indicate wastewater contamination. The stream west side of the lake might enters Kalamalka Lake near the Kekuli boat notice the streams and small launch. waterfalls entering the lake, B but not question why so • i much water is flowing in an area with so little rainfall.

Golfers driving to Predator Ridge may notice algal blooms on some of the ponds below MacKay reservoir, but not think to ask why these ponds have such high nutrient levels. Ravine below MacKay Reservoir flooded with Vernon's wastewater. Swimmers enjoying the lake near the Kinloch boat launch may begrudge the rashes and skin infections that ensue, but not realize it may be due to cow manure in the water.

Pedestrians walking along Okanagan Avenue near Fulton School may marvel at all the algae and aquatic plants in the ditches, but not realize that the nutrient-rich water seeping into the ditch originates 5 kilometres away in a wastewater lagoon.

Swimmers on the west side of Kalmalka Lake, just east of the biosolids composting plant may wonder later how they developed such serious skin, ear or eye infections, unaware Foam and flooded trees in Rose's Pond on that leachate from composting human fecal matter is running Commonage Road suggest a hydroiogicai connection to Vernon's wastewater lagoon, into an unlined pond 1.5 kilometres distant and 200 metres MacKay reservoir. above where they were swimming. If they were to hike a short distance up one of the creeks flowing down to the railway tracks, they would have been appalled by the strong sewage smell emanating from the swiftly flowing water. Residents on the east side of the lake in Long Lake Estates and the Kinloch subdivision have to put up with the smell of year-round manure spreading on the fields above their homes. As well, the lake water in front of their homes often turns murky as storms or hydrant flushing washes the manure into the storm sewer and down to the lake. Foam scum occasionally emerges from the storm sewer outfall on the lakeshore, and has even been seen billowing out of the storm grate on Kinloch Drive!

These are just a few of the many impacts that pollution is having on Kalamalka Lake and the people who live around it. The presentation at the council meeting will cover the topic in far greater detail, with the main Foam scum billows from a storm sewer oufall south of Kinloch intention of raising public awareness, and of hopefully boat launch In February 2010. serving to generate the political will to take action.

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Foam flows down the street on Kinloch Drive in February, 2010

Aquatic plants thrive in the nutrient-rich waters flowing from seeps in Kekuli Bay Provincial Park.

Tentative Conclusions

The brief summary presented here is by no means a comprehensive study of the Kalamalka Lake community watershed. It should however serve as a wakeup call for us to take action. Is there the political will to take the steps necessary to save the lake? Let's hope so. We owe it to future generations to be good stewards of this priceless treasure. a DSO • o i

From: Sharon MacKenzie [ mailto:[email protected] ] Sent: Sunday, April 18, 2010 7:45 PM To: [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] Subject: Attention: Mayor

I2i Intergenerational Society of Canada

www.intergenerational.ca

i2i(5)intergenerational.ca

April 18 th , 2010

Dear Mayor Lippert, Mayor Garlick and Mayor Acton:

Two years ago the i2i Intergenerational Society was founded in Vernon as a result of local, provincial, national, and international attention to Intergenerational Projects whose history was couched in the Vernon area. The Executive Director and ten of the Board Directors are Vernon, Lumby and Coldstream residents. In age they range over seven decades, 18 to 93 years. A visit to our comprehensive website (www.intergenerational.ca ) will help you understand the depth and breadth of our mission and our work to date.

We have a vision for a special day to be set aside for recognition of the richness of intergenerational - friendships. It is in realizing this vision that we request your assistance. We are not asking for money, we are asking for you to help us. What we have accomplished on our own in breaking down isolation of youth and older adults is, we believe, impressive, but now we need you.

The i2i initiative has been applauded by Governor General Michaelle Jean, BC Premier's Office (2009 BC Premiers Award for Excellence in Teaching), Lieutenant Governor Stephen Point, Canadian philanthropist the late June Callwood, Ed Asner, actor (Oscar award winning movie 'Up'), BC Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport, BC Ministry of Education, Public Health Agency of Canada, Kal Rotary (Service Above Self Award, 2009), Silver Star Rotary, Canadian Cancer Society and BC Healthy Living Alliance (Innovative Community Capacity Building Award, February 2010), Vernon Women in Business (2010 nomination of Executive Director for Woman of the Year Award), Spider Agile Technology, , and so on.

As a result of the work we have done in our community, the i2i Society has been called upon- in January 2010 by the International Federation of Ageing and the International Network for Elder Abuse Awareness as a key resource for their pilot work. This pilot project now also involves international schools in India. The World Health Organization has been informed of our work as it relates to keeping seniors socially active in urban areas around the world. As well, in 2008, the University of Victoria committed $50,000 to assessment of the work we have done over the last eight years with the Meadows School Project and the summation of this assessment is being presented in Singapore to an international conference, Spring 2010. Your efforts would be backed by this recent history of support.

Our organization is supported in kind by several local area businesses who help with pro bono and discounted professional services. We have been designated by the Federal Government as the intergenerational resource website, and presently the BC Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport is working with us on a pilot project beginning in Fall 2010, that will create a Centre for Excellence in Intergenerational Connecting for all layers within community.

Now to get down to our request:

I am the Executive Director of the Society and a teacher (on leave, SD #22). Over the past two months I have been working within five regionally representative areas of Canada, presenting workshops to youth from 14-19 years on the topics of elder abuse awareness, and prevention of mistreatment of older adults. 121 This dovetails with standing efforts within schools and communities to bring an end to bullying and disrespectful behaviour and attitudes between and within generations. Spearheaded by i2i and a High School Leadership group in St. John's, Newfoundland/Labrador, June 1 st , 2010 will be promoted as the first annual 'i2iDay, International Intergenerational Day, helping generations see eye to eye' from coast to coast.

As the i2i Society is headquartered in the Vernon area, and its work is well-known there, we thought that it would be an excellent idea to host a kick-off event for i2i Day here. A senior member of our Directorship has been giving musical presentations around the Vernon area in the last few months, and recently said to me that his great dream is to play in the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre. We also have another senior member of our organization who was an unsung author. Her great dream was to have one book published. In finding out about this dream, our Society was able to help her publish ten of her stories, all illustrated by children. The profit from the sales of these books has created a scholarship fund for a Vernon high school student who has been involved in intergenerational work. It is the thought of the dreams of these two senior citizens of the North Okanagan that brings me to this proposal.

Would you be able to assist us in acquiring the use of the Performing Arts Centre for an evening performance on June 1 st , approximately 7-8:30 pm, without cost to us. We could charge a $5 fee (waived if a person of one generation accompanies a person of another generation, i.e. grandchild brings grandparent, etc.) as well as a Silver Collection, which we would be able to donate towards your expenses. I would expect an audience of 150-200 patrons. We would be responsible for advertisement of the event but would benefit greatly from your assistance in also spreading the word to our citizens, and your colleagues in nearby communities.

We would canvas Vernon, Lumby, and Coldstream for examples of intergenerational activity already taking place and invite those parties to share and celebrate with us. Our Director musician, Mr. John Cochrane would perform sing-a-longs and we could honour our senior author and her youthful illustrators. One of my former students wrote and recorded a song celebrating seniors and this could also be part of the performance. The possibilities are unlimited.

June l sl is a significant date for this event. It occurs after Mother's Day, in advance of Father's Day, and exactly two weeks before the 5 ,h Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, June 15*. As an annual day, June I will be easy for people to remember and will not interfere with school exams, graduation and early holiday planning.

We are in the process of having this day officially sanctioned by the Federal Government and also the UN. It would be a great honour for our Okanagan-based Society to have the first ever i2i Intergenerational Day celebrated right here where this whole mission was born.

We would appreciate your response to this idea. There are several of our Directors in the area who would be glad to speak to you on the Society's behalf, and they live right in Vernon, Coldstream and Lumby.

Thank you so much.

Sincerely, Sharon MacKenzie Executive Director i2i Intergenerational Society [email protected] 250-308-7892 DISTRICT OF COLDSTREAM

BYLAW NO. 1566,2010

A BYLAW TO ESTABLISH THE TAX RATES UPON REAL PROPERTY FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLDSTREAM AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE PAYMENT OF TAXES FOR THE YEAR 2010

WHEREAS the Council shall, pursuant to Section 197 of the Community Charter, in each year, adopt a bylaw to impose rates on all taxable land and improvements according to their assessed value to provide the money required for purposes specified in the Community Charter,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Council of the District of Coldstream in open meeting assembled ENACTS AS FOLLOWS:

1. This Bylaw may be cited as "DISTRICT OF COLDSTREAM TAX RATES BYLAW NO. 1566,2010".

2. The following rates are hereby imposed and levied for the year:

a. General Municipal

For all lawful general purposes of the municipality on the assessed value of land and improvements taxable for General Municipal purposes as appearing in Column "A" of Schedule "A" attached to and forming part of this bylaw.

b. Debt

For general debt purposes on the assessed value of land and improvements taxable for General Municipal purposes as appearing in Column "B" of Schedule "A" attached to and forming part of this bylaw.

c. Hospital Levy

For Regional Hospital District purposes on the assessed value of land and improvements taxable for Hospital purposes as appearing in Column "C" of Schedule "A" attached to and forming part of this bylaw.

d. North Okanagan Regional District Levy

For purposes of the North Okanagan Regional District on the assessed value of land for Hospital purposes as appearing in Column "D" of Schedule "A" and on the assessed value of improvements for Hospital purposes as appearing in Column "E" of Schedule "A" attached to and forming part of this bylaw; plus additional levies for the Regional Recreation Function for Area 1, Multiuse and Theatre, on the assessed value of improvements, for Hospital purposes as appearing in Columns "F", "G", and "H", respectively of Schedule "A" attached to and forming part of this bylaw.

123 Bylaw No. 1566,2010 Page 2

e. Okanagan Regional Library

For Okanagan Regional Library purposes on the assessed value of land and improvements taxable for General Municipal purposes as appearing in Column "I" of Schedule "A" attached to and forming part of this bylaw.

3. MINIMUM TAX

The minimum amount of taxation upon a taxable parcel of real property shall be One Dollar ($1.00).

4. PENALTY

On the 3 rd day of July, 2010, or as soon thereafter as is practicable, the Director of Financial Administration shall add to the unpaid balance of the current year's taxes, in respect of each parcel of land or land and improvements as shown upon the Collector's Tax Roll of the District for 2010, ten (10) percent of the amount unpaid as of 4:30 pm on the 2 nd day of July, 2010.

5. R.D.N.0 PARCEL TAX

Sterile Insect Release parcel tax for 2010 is $41,522 and Septage Parcel Tax is $68,887.

6. This bylaw has full force and effect from the date of adoption until it is amended, repealed or replaced.

READ A FIRST TIME this 12 th day of April 2010

READ A SECOND TIME this 12 th day of April 2010

READ A THIRD TIME this 12 th day of April 2010

FINALLY PASSED AND ADOPTED this day of 2010

Corporate Officer Mayor

Attachment - Schedule "A"

124 SCHEDULE "A" TO BYLAW NO. 1566, 2010

Tax Rates (dollars of tax per $1000 of taxable value) A B c D E Property Class General Regional Regional Regional Municipal Debt Hospital District District (Land) (Improvements)

1 Residential 1.7284 0.1990 0.2147 0.2131 0.2145 2 Utility 32.4148 4.1294 0.7514 0.7459 0.7508 4 Major Industry 23.9940 2.7622 0.7300 0.7246 0.7294 5 Light Industry 5.0988 0.5871 0.7300 0.7246 0.7294 6 Business/Other 4.1482 0.4776 0.5260 0.5222 0.5256 8 Recreational/Seasonal 1.7284 0.1990 0.2147 0.2131 0.2145 9 Farm 7.7779 0.8955 0.2147 0.2131 0.2145

Tax Rates (dollars of tax per $1000 of taxable value) F G H I Property Class Parks and Multi use Theatre Regional Recreation Library (Improvements) (Improvements) (Improvements)

1 Residential 1.2227 0.3218 0.1942 0.1663 2 Utility 4,2795 1.1261 0.6798 3.4558 4 Major Industry 4.1573 1.0940 0.6604 2.3116 5 Light Industry 4.1573 1.0940 0.6604 0.4906 6 Business/Other 2.9957 0.7883 0.4759 0.3991 8 Recreational/Seasonal 1.2227 0.3218 0.1942 0.1663 9 Farm 1.2227 0.3218 0.1942 0.7484

125 126 district of DISTRICT OF COLDSTREAM MEMORANDUM

TO Mayor and Council FILE NO. 3900 Working Bylaw 1568, 2010

FROM Keri-Ann Austin DATE April 15, 2010 Corporate Officer

SUBJECT District of Coldstream Fire Services and Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 1520, 2008, Amendment Bylaw No. 1568, 2010, Amendment No. 3

1. Purpose

To amend Part 7, Section 2.a. and Section 2.a.(3) of the District of Coldstream Fire Services and Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 1520, 2008.

2. Origin

Staff.

3. Background/Discussion

Part 7, Section 2.a. of the District of Coldstream Fire Services and Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 1520, 2008 refers throughout to the "Director of Corporate Administration" with respect to issuing open-air burning permits. The District has not employed a Director of Corporate Administration for some time and the issuance of open-air burning permits is carried out by the District's Bylaw Enforcement Officer.

Part 7, Section 2.a.(3) of the District of Coldstream Fire Services and Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 1520, 2008 specified the site size in which open burning would be permitted. (See Attachment A)

Bylaw 1565, 2010 amended Part 7, Section 2.a.(3) to change the dates in which open burning was permitted and, in an oversight, the wording indicating site size was erroneously omitted. (See Attachment B)

4. Conclusion

In Part 2 - Definitions, the "Director of Corporate Administration" should be removed. In Part 7, Section 2.a., all references to the "Director of Corporate Administration" should be replaced with "Bylaw Enforcement Officer".

127 Mayor and Council Page 2 Fire Services and Fire Prevention Bylaw Amendment No. 1568 April 15, 2010

In order to correct the omission of the site size in Bylaw No. 1520, 2008, staff recommend an amendment to add the wording regarding site size back into Part 7, Section 2.a.(3) of the District of Coldstream Fire Services and Prevention Bylaw No. 1520, 2008. A draft bylaw amendment is attached to this report as Attachment C.

5. Recommendation

THAT the report from the Corporate Officer, dated April 15, 2010, regarding District of Coldstream Fire Services and Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 1520, 2008, Amendment Bylaw No. 1568, 2010, Amendment 3, be received;

AND THAT "District of Coldstream Fire Services and Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 1520, 2008, Amendment Bylaw No. 1568, 2010, Amendment No. 3, be read a first, second and third time, by title only.

4 f e .

Fire Services and Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 1520, 2008 Page 1

h. Where the safety of forest, woodland, timber or other property is, in the opinion of the Fire Chief or designate, endangered by debris caused by lumbering, land clearing or industrial operation, the owner or occupier of the land on which the debris exists shall dispose of the debris and shall remove all dead standing trees and all stumps within the areas affected in accordance with the Fire Chiefs or designated order.

i. If an owner or occupier fails to comply within a reasonable time with the Fire Chiefs or designated order issued under Section l.h. of this Part, the Fire Chief or designate may enter on the property and cause the necessaiy work to be carried out by employees, agents or contractors of the District, and the owner shall be liable for the costs of such work in accordance with the applicable rates and fees prescribed in Schedule "B" of this bylaw.

2. Open-Air Burning

a. Burning Permit

(1) Unless permitted under Section 2.a.(2) of this Part or under authority of a burning permit issued under Section 2.a.(3) of this Part, no person shall light, ignite or start or allow or cause to be lighted, ignited or start a fire of any kind in the open air.

(2) Open-air burning consisting of small confined fires within grills and barbecues for the purpose of cooking food may be earned out without a burning permit provided that all open-air burning regulations prescribed in this bylaw are complied with.

-fc (3) The Director of Coiporate Administration or designate may issue a burning permit, in the form attached to this bylaw as Schedule "A" for the burning of Primings and non-compostable garden refuse between April I s and April 30 th inclusive on sites of two (2) hectares (4.94 acres) or more.

(4) Eveiy application for a burning permit shall be made to the Director of Corporate Administration or designate on the form attached to this bylaw as . Schedule "A".

(5) The Director of Corporate Administration or designate may refuse to issue a burning permit referred to in Section 2.a.(4) of this Part, or require the deposit of security as described in Section 2.a.(6) of this Part if an applicant has previously carried out open-air burning without first obtaining a valid burning permit or has contravened any of the open-air burning regulations of this bylaw or the terms and conditions of a previous burning permit.

129 Fire Services and Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 1520, 2008 Page 12

(6) Where the Director of Corporate Administration or designate requires the deposit of security under Section 2.a.(5) of this Part, the applicant shall deposit with the District cash or a letter of credit in the amount of five hundred ($500.00) dollars to secure compliance with this bylaw and the conditions of a burning permit. If the applicant contravenes any of the open-air burning regulations of this bylaw or the terms and conditions of the burning permit, the security shall be absolutely forfeited to the District and the burning permit cancelled.

(7) The Director of Corporate Administration or designate may impose on a burning permit, and every burning permit issued pursuant to this bylaw shall be subject to, such additional conditions or restrictions as the Director of Corporate Administration or designate may consider necessary in the circumstances.

(8) Every holder of a burning permit shall ensure that any open-air burning carried out pursuant to a burning permit is conducted strictly in accordance with the terms and conditions of the permit, the requirements of this bylaw and in a method that does not create a nuisance.

(9) Any holder of a burning permit who fails to comply with the open-air burning regulations of this bylaw or the terms and conditions of a burning permit issued under this bylaw shall, when directed to do so by a Member of the Fire Department or a Bylaw Enforcement Officer, immediately extinguish any and all fires and the burning permit shall thereupon be cancelled. If the holder of the burning permit fails to extinguish the fire(s) when directed to do so, a Member of the Fire Department or a Bylaw Enforcement Officer may cause the fire(s) to be extinguished and the holder of the burning permit shall be liable for the costs of extinguishment in accordance with the applicable rates and fees prescribed in Schedule "B" of this bylaw.

(10) Despite any other provision of this bylaw, where the Fire Chief or designate considers that hazardous fire conditions exist, the Fire Chief or designate may order a suspension or total ban on open-air burning, at any time and for any duration, and where such an order is issued, a holder of a burning permit shall immediately extinguish any and all fires in accordance with the Fire Chiefs or designated order. Any such order by the Fire Chief or designate shall be preceded by an order issued by the provincial ministry having jurisdiction to suspend or ban open-air burning. If the holder of a burning permit fails to extinguish the fire(s) in accordance with the Fire Chiefs or designated order, the Fire Chief or designate may cause the fire(s) to be extinguished and the holder of the burning permit shall be liable for the costs of extinguishment in accordance with the applicable rates and fees prescribed in Schedule "B" of this bylaw.

130 ATTACHMENT B

DISTRICT OF COLDSTREAM

BYLAW NO. 1565,2010

A BYLAW TO AMEND BYLAW NO. 1520,2008

WHEREAS it has been deemed desirable to amend the provisions of Bylaw No. 1520, 2008, cited as the District of Coldstream Fire Services and Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 1520, 2008;

NOW THEREFORE the Council of the District of Coldstream, in open meeting assembled, ENACTS AS FOLLOWS:

1. This Bylaw may be cited as "DISTRICT OF COLDSTREAM FIRE SERVICES AND FIRE PREVENTION BYLAW NO. 1520, 2008, AMENDMENT BYLAW NO. 1565, 2010, AMENDMENT NO. 2".

2. THAT Part 7, Section 2.a.(3), be deleted and replaced with the following text:

"The Director of Corporate Administration or designate may issue one burning permit per property annually, in the form attached to this bylaw as Schedule "A", for the burning of Prunings and non-compostable garden refuse in either the fifteen (15) day period in the spring or the fifteen (15) day period in the fall, the commencement dates of which shall be set by resolution of Council".

3. This bylaw shall come into force and take effect upon the final reading and adoption thereof.

READ a first time this 8* day of March 2010

READ a second time this 8th day of March 2010

READ a third time this 8th day of March 2010

FINALLY PASSED AND ADOPTED this 22 nd day of March 2010

Corporate Officer 132 ATTACHMENT C

DISTRICT OF COLDSTREAM

BYLAW NO. 1568, 2010

A BYLAW TO AMEND BYLAW NO. 1520, 2008

WHEREAS it has been deemed desirable to amend the provisions of Bylaw No. 1520, 2008, cited as the District of Coldstream Fire Services and Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 1520, 2008;

NOW THEREFORE the Council of the District of Coldstream, in open meeting assembled, ENACTS AS FOLLOWS:

1. This Bylaw may be cited as "DISTRICT OF COLDSTREAM FIRE SERVICES AND FIRE PREVENTION BYLAW NO. 1520, 2008, AMENDMENT BYLAW NO. 1568, 2010, AMENDMENT NO. 3".

2. TFIAT Part 2 - Definitions, be amended by deleting the definition "Director of Corporate Administration";

3. THAT Part 7, Section 2.a., be amended by deleting all references to "Director of Corporate Administration" and replacing them with "Bylaw Enforcement Officer";

4. THAT Part 7, Section 2.a.(3), be amended by adding changing the period in the last sentence to a comma and adding the following text:

", inclusive on sites of two (2) hectares (4.94 acres) or more."

5. This bylaw shall come into force and take effect upon the final reading and adoption thereof.

READ a first time this day of 2010

READ a second time this day of 2010

READ a third time this day of 2010

FINALLY PASSED AND ADOPTED this day of 2010

Corporate Officer Mayor

133 134