Today is your day Boomer! As an avid kayaker, I guess I have mixed feelings over the new so-called "paddle trails" popping up in the Okanagan Valley. Look at this map of beautiful Kalamalka Lake in the North Okanagan and realize that this water path is being planned for one of the most pristine, clear lakes in the world! Why? Because it gets alot of boat traffic, especially in the summer and shoulder seasons. Boats everywhere, including canoes and kayaks. So....on the one hand, I appreciate the situating of buoys every 500 metres and controlled kayaking zones. But....I don't really like all this plastic in the lake and loss of the unparrelled, "natural look" of the lake. A local municipal report states: "The purpose of the proposed paddle trails was to provide additional recreational amenities to the public, to reduce conflicts between motorized and non-motorized water vessels, and to help encourage motorized boat use away from the shoreline and reduce wake/erosion." OK, I get it. This is a result of the increasing population and tourist traffic in the Valley. But, what is next? Yup, more plans for more lakes with "trails" of buoys including the central focus....big Okanagan Lake. Kayaking Boomers, is this an attraction or not? Cheers.

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