Lake Recreational & Commercial Use Task Force (LRCU)

Lake Recreational & Commercial Use Task Force (LRCU)

Foreshore and Lake Zoning Bylaw No. 1294

The mandate of the Lake Recreational and Commercial Use (LRCU) Task Force is to provide information for Council and staff to advance a “best practices” water zoning bylaw with the following multi-objectives: 

Promote environmental sustainability of Osoyoos Lake, foreshore, and adjoining upland areas;

• Protect safety of water users;
• Avoid overloading and congestion of our finite resource base;
• Ensure adequate access to Lake by all user groups including residents, second home owners, and visitors;
• Reclaim public lands and water for community benefit;
• Promote the aesthetic appeal of Osoyoos as a resort community; and
• Strengthen the Town’s regulatory and enforcement powers.

The multi-objective nature of a water zoning bylaw requires broad representation of stakeholders on the Task Force, ranging across different sectors of lake users with their own individual interests to persons with a broader community vision.  All stakeholders will participate with the reasonable expectation that their contributions may be considered fully by Council in their decision-making.  The Task Force itself will promote broader community participation by generating a two-way exchange of information between the Town and the public, as well as promote dialogue among different community stakeholders. 

 The Task Force appointed by resolution of Council comprises:

• A Town councillor (and alternate) to chair the Task Force
• Up to four (4) community-wide stakeholders representing broad public interests in lake sustainability and good management practices.      
• Up to four (4) sectoral stakeholders representing lake users such as private moorage owners, RV strata / park water users, resort operators, and commercial business operators;
• One (1) representative each shall be invited from the Osoyoos Indian Band (OIB) and Electoral Area ‘A’ of the RDOS;
• Director of Planning and Development Services; and
• Community Planner