The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) held an Electoral Area F meeting at the Windermere Community Hall on February 10.

The meeting’s topics included several initiatives ongoing in Area F, and updated Windermere residents on the proposed Lake Windermere Management Plan and Windermere Water System Proposed Upgrade vote.

A public meeting was held in January to discuss the latest draft of the Management Plan. Over 500 comments from the public were submitted for review and revision.

The comments pertained to the public’s concern of fishing habitats, clean drinking water, year-round recreation on the lake, economic endeavours (regarding tourism in the summer), a sense of community, and spiritual importance for First Nations in the area.

There was also concern regarding the draft plan changes and suggestions about motorized and non-motorized vehicle areas and usage, habitat loss, lack of public access, and the clarity and enforcement of new lake rules.

The Lake Windermere Management Plan’s new principles for revision are to develop guidelines and enforce existing boating regulations, provide more control over the development of waterfront land and shore, shift recreation focus to non-motorized boats, reduce the amount of motorboats at peak times, and strive to have fewer motorboats stored on the lake.

The Windermere Water System Proposed Upgrade vote is scheduled for June 25 of this year.

To help voters make an educated decision, information packages will be mailed out starting May 3, with another public meeting on the vote scheduled for May 17.

There will be advance voting opportunities on June15 and 23. For more information about the proposed water system upgrade, visit www.rdek.bc.ca.