The newest, latest arsenal against Eurasian water milfoil in Okanagan lakes will be unveiled in Vernon.
And it needs a name.
The Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) is hosting a public launch event and naming contest for their new amphibious milfoil harvester at Paddlewheel Park (7813 Okanagan Landing Road) in Vernon from 1 to 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 20.
害羞草研究所淭his is the newest tool in our toolbox to help control invasive Eurasian water milfoil in Okanagan lakes,害羞草研究所� said James Littley, OBWB deputy administrator.
The new machine, which will replace a 1978 harvester and can be launched without a trailer, is designed to cut the top five feet of the milfoil and carry almost two and a half tons at a time to the beach. The load is then collected by a water board truck and the weeds are given away for compost for orchards and gardens. The new machine害羞草研究所檚 engine is more efficient, reducing emissions, and is mounted in the hull which improves stability and makes it quieter than the older harvesters.
The harvester was designed and built in Germany by Berky GMBH, an agricultural, mining, and aquatic equipment manufacturer that recently celebrated its 60th anniversary. After an extensive search and request for proposals for the new equipment, the Berky machine checked all the boxes to enhance OBWB operations and because it is amphibious, it adds flexibility to the milfoil control program which has faced challenges due to changing lake levels and shoreline development.
害羞草研究所淣ow we害羞草研究所檙e looking for some help coming up with a name for our new machine,害羞草研究所� said Littley, noting a lack of creativity when it came to naming earlier machines. 害羞草研究所淥ur old harvesters are called 害羞草研究所榣ong-nose Harvey害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所榮hort-nose Harvey,害羞草研究所� based on the length of their offloading conveyors. Our rototillers are called 害羞草研究所榖lue roto, red roto, and orange roto,害羞草研究所� based on their paint colours, and 害羞草研究所楳RV害羞草研究所� for 害羞草研究所榤ilfoil rototilling vessel,害羞草研究所� which is also red, but 害羞草研究所榬ed roto害羞草研究所� was already taken,.
害羞草研究所淥ur boat is called 害羞草研究所榰gly.害羞草研究所� Obviously, we need some help from the public to come up with something more catchy.害羞草研究所�
More details on the naming contest will be announced at the event.
The public is invited to attend the launch to check out the new machine. OBWB staff will be on site to answer questions about the milfoil control program, and a Berky representative will be available to answer questions about the new harvester.
