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About 70 attend Lake Windermere Management Plan Implementation open house
Approximately 70 people attended an Open House Tuesday night (Sept. 20) regarding the implementation of the Lake Windermere Management Plan.
The open house was hosted by the District of Invermere and Regional District of East Kootenay and organizers were pleased the turnout.
“Having participation from the public is critical, so I was very happy with the turnout last night. We want to engage as many people as we can, and I’m hoping to see the level of interest and involvement continue to grow,” said District of Invermere (DOI) Mayor Gerry Taft.
This was the second open house held on the Lake Management Plan’s implementation. The first was held in August in Windermere and over 100 people took part.
The open houses are the beginning of the public consultation.
“Over the next several months we will be meeting with community groups and associations, CP Rail, marina operators and other stakeholders to open the lines of communication and gain a greater understanding of their needs and concerns,” said Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) Electoral Area F director Wendy Booth.
During the open house, information was provided and feedback gathered on the creation of new regulatory measures to zone the surface of the lake and protect portions of the shoreline. The Lake Management Plan strives to balance lake access, use and conservation.
“The intent of the Plan and any regulatory measures is not to take away any current uses, but rather to have a framework and a plan to deal with future applications for changes to the foreshore and structures placed in the water,” stressed Taft. “I can’t emphasize enough the importance of being engaged and informed. Now is the time to start getting involved.”
The Lake Management Committee will be another source for information. “In addition to the community consultation the RDEK and DOI are undertaking over the next few months, the Lake Management Committee will be assisting with increasing awareness about the Plan and steps in the implementation,” Booth said.
Copies of the informational displays from the open house are posted on the District of Invermere and RDEK websites. For more information, contact RDEK Planner Karen MacLeod at 1-888-478-7335 or email [email protected].
