Fisheries society still opposing housing plan in Summerland

SUMMERLAND — Council received an updated report Monday on the discussions between the Lark Group, proponents of the proposed Banks Crescent development, and the Freshwater Fisheries Society of B.C., which continues to resist the project.

The FFSBC operates the Summerland Trout Hatchery, which sources its water from Shaughnessy Springs adjacent to the proposed development site (a 380 unit seniors housing complex). The society has requested that discussions with Lark be through municipal staff and has stated that its support of the projects rests on identiÀcation of a suitable contingency water supply among other conditions.

In early June, the Lark Group committed to working with the district in creating a deep water lake intake and submitted samples collected by their consultant, Larratt Aquatic.

In his June 23 letter to director of development services Dean Strachan, hatchery manager Kyle Girgan wrote “there are several relevant water quality parameters not included in the laboratory report.”

Of note was lack of water temperature proÀles at the two sample depths and lack of consideration of microbial pathogens which could have a devastating impact on hatchery Àsh.

Girgan also wrote that the FFSBC would like to see details of the necessary infrastructure needed for delivery of lake water to the hatchery beyond the general concept presented by Lark.

In his June 26 letter to staff, development project manager Malek Tawashy wrote that water temperature proÀles are available for samples taken as well as multiple years adjacent to the same site, that virtually all bacteria can be deactivated with an ultra violet systems and that detailed engineering on the proposed deep water lake intake amenity would begin upon completion of the rezoning application.

On July 3, Girgan wrote to Strachan basically saying that the water temperature information provided by Lark was inadequate.

Regarding the infrastructure, he wrote, “Our opposition to this project, as proposed, will continue until we are provided with relevant details of the infrastructure that Lark Group proposes to deliver Okanagan Lake water to the Hatchery at the quantity and quality currently available from our existing underground source.”

Girgan queried whether Lark or the district can verify that consultations with the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations have commenced and if so, what is the status of those consultations.

The Lark Group has proposed using one of the district’s two unused water licences for acquisition of lake water.

Surface water licences are authorized by FLNRO.

On July 5, Tawashy provided water temperature data and wrote that the Lark Group does not have further information on the status of approval from the authority FLNRO governing this water license.

“The District of Summerland will advise on the ongoing consultations, approval process and what may be required from the Lark Group in support of gaining the necessary approval,” he wrote.

Tawashy’s letter and data have been forward to the FFSBC for comment.

Summerland chief administrative ofÀcer Linda Tynan explained that if the Lark Group and the FFSBC can agree on the deep water lake intake and if Lark requests use of the district’s water licence, council would need to decide whether or not to contact the ministry.

In particular, FLRNO would be asked “if we have the right to assign the license for that purpose,” Tynan said.