The safety of Christina Lake’s Riparian area was discussed in a draft in the Christina Lake Watershed annual general meeting (AGM) last month.
Still a work in progress, the Riparian Area Protection Plan aims to establish the development of guidelines for shoreline areas.
“The goal is to enhance water quality, fish habitat, prevent erosion and keep the Lake’s natural character,” presented Mark Andison, Director of Planning and Development for the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB).
“By maintaining the vegetated buffer strips along streams, the river and the lake, property-owners can filter nutrients, chemicals and sediments before those contaminants enter the aquatic environment.”
Riparian zones are considered areas that border streams, lakes and wetlands, linking water to land.
Along with providing habitat for many species including fish, the Riparian vegetation acts as a natural filtration system that helps to maintain water quality.
Andison stated the RDKB proposes that the plan would only apply to future developments.
“We are looking for a natural progression, so this would not affect existing homes,” he said.
RDKB Area C Director Grace McGregor felt that more property-owners at the Lake should have more input before the new guidelines are considered for adoption.
“This is still a discussion,” stated McGregor. “We’ve told the RDKB that we won’t be making any decisions on the Riparian zones until after the summer.”
The process of approving the draft will be linked to the building permitted process for new developments, which incorporates the waterfront of Christina Lake, the Kettle River and the various tributary streams situated near the Christina Lake area.
In his report, Andison noted new developments would be required to submit a landscape plan that demonstrates that at least 75 per cent of the prescribed shoreline buffer area will be maintained in accordance with a landscaping guide to be developed by the RDKB.
Pending on the depth of one’s lot, the width of the riparian area buffer will vary. For smaller lots, proposed guidelines may be as narrow as 7.5 metres, where as larger lots may be as wide as 15 metres.
No decisions will be made on Riparian zones until after the summer of 2012.