A long time Kelowna resident believes docks and fences along the foreshore should be rebuilt in the aftermath of the flooding without illegally blocking public access.
Brenda Bachmann says she’s been trying to bring attention to obstructions along Okanagan Lake ever since her normal run along the beach was blocked by a fence 10 years ago.
“Every year it seems to be getting worse and worse,” she says “people are building their docks that go out into the lake, which are fine, they’re great, except you can’t climb over them, and anytime that the docks go over the foreshore they’re supposed to put little steps up or ramps up so people can still walk the foreshore.
"And then there are more and more fences that are put up right into the water, some people put hedges.”
To make her point, Bachmann hired a drone cameraman to shoot the 5 kilometre stretch of the foreshore from William Bennett Bridge to Mission Creek, before the flooding even began.
The video, which shows numerous obstructions along Okanagan Lake, was posted on YouTube over 2 weeks ago and has been viewed over 7,000 times.
Now that many of those obstructions have been damaged in the flooding and will need to be rebuilt, Bachmann says it’s an opportunity to make the foreshore available for everyone to enjoy.
“Unfortunately it is the worst thing that has ever happened to the people who own adjacent to the lake and to the city when it comes to high water,” she says “but if we can find a silver lining in it and if we can figure out a way to improve the city, and since things have to be rebuilt anyway, why not take the time and take a step and ensure that it’s done properly?”
Bachmann is looking at organizing a walk from Mushroom Beach to Rotary Beach later this summer to bring more light to the issue.
Brenda Bachmann's drone footage.