Looking to launch a boat in Wood, Okanagan or Kalamalka Lake in Lake Country?
Boating impacts on Kalamalka Lake and Wood Lake
One of the defining features of the Okanagan is our access to beautiful lakes. The lakes are a wonderful natural asset to swimmers, paddlers and boaters, and they also are the source of water for tens of thousands and the home to sensitive species.To protect our drinking water, fish and wildlife habitat, the shoreline, and swimmers and paddlers, Power boaters on Kalamalka and Wood Lakes are encouraged to Head to the Playzone - Keep Wakes Low and Boats Slow in Shallow Water.
The concept is simple - after you launch your boat, head to water that's deeper than 8 metres or approximately 25 feet before making large wakes and reaching high speeds.
It's a win-win for us all. Not only will you help keep drinking water clean, protect habitat and avoid unnecessary erosion of the rail trail, deeper is better for making great waves for sports like wakeboarding or wake surfing.
Here's the recommended active boating zone. You'll see that the majority of the lake is great for making large wakes!
The four main impacts of creating large wakes while boating in shallow water are:
Find out more about boat launches located in other areas of the Central Okanagan (Kelowna, West Kelowna and Peachland).