Dredge and restore the Oyama canal

The Oyama Canal is approximately 180m long through the Oyama Isthmus, connecting Wood Lake to Kalamalka Lake, and was first constructed (dredged) in 1908. The canal facilitates navigation between the two lakes by pleasure craft operators and mitigates flooding risks. It also allows emergency response (via boat) to access Kalamalka Lake by launching from Wood Lake.

The Oyama Canal was last dredged in 1994 and sediment build-up since that time has made the canal hazardous to use and completely unpassable at times when the water level becomes low. Not only is it hazardous for the pleasure craft operators navigating the canal, but the emergency response time (via boat) to a situation on the South end of Kalamalka Lake is significantly impacted when they are unable to access the quickest access to Kalamalka Lake via the Oyama Canal and the Wood Lake boat launch.

Oyama Canal FAR Management Society was formed to make the necessary applications, raise funds, and undertake the work of dredging the canal to restore its function as a navigable waterway. It will also be responsible for ongoing monitoring and maintenance. The funds raised will be used to pay for professional services (environmental assessment, dredging plan, sediment sampling, etc), signage and buoys, and to undertake the dredging work.