Weak-Kneed RDNO Solution

Officials at the Regional District of North Okanagan actually believe that "the display of (licence) plates ...mandatory from June 1st" will solve the threat to Duteau Creek water system dams/reservoirs by mud-boggers. 

And today's Morning Star heading "Off-road activity hampers water supply" is laughable.

Hampers?
For heaven's sake, folks, they don't hamper our water system.

They threaten it.

You know...a threat, as in the destruction caused by terrorists.
Because that's what it could be.
The result anyway.

"Greater Vernon Water is continually having a problem with off-road vehicles roaring up and down the Grizzly, Aberdeen, Haddo and King Edward dams on the Aberdeen Plateau," states the newspaper today.
Water Quality Manager Renee Clark says "our biggest concern is dam failure if there's a lot of activity on the dams."  Apparently some dams are being used for hill climbs while mud-bogging has taken place in the reservoirs.

In the reservoirs?

Jeez, folks, you really think a law that off-road vehicles be licenced is going to eliminate that?
Off the cuff, I'm reminded of Canada's failed Gun Registry.
Seems the criminals--the bad guys--didn't get the memo.

And for RDNO officials to believe that "working with Natural Resource officers, Recreation and Trails BC and the RCMP" is going to fix that on a mountain mesa hidden from the valley bottom is sheer idiocy.

Where are the former rangers?
Where are forest patrols?
Likely provincial government cutbacks.
No commissionaires patrol the dams, the failure of which could impact downstream areas like Lumby as well as destroying the area's water supply.

Folks, this threat to the dams and downstream communities is no less than a terrorist threat, despite the only difference between mud-boggers and terrorists would be that the boggers didn't intend to drown a community or ruin a water system.  

Okanagan Basin Water Board photo

How is an "inadvertent" threat event to a downstream community and a water system any different than thwarting a terrorist attack?

"The Regional District has to grow some courage," suggests Kia, adding "they used airplanes to check whether people were filling pools during severe water restrictions one year."


Oh yeah, we're supposed to call the Natural Resource violation hotline at 1-844-676-8477 if we witness destruction up there.

Memorize the phone number, folks.