Two conservation officers will be stationed at new office in Salmon Arm

Photo: Facebook

The BC Conservation Officer Service will open a field office in Salmon Arm this year.

The office will have two officers and will be within the North Okanagan Zone’s area of responsibility, which includes the Vernon and Salmon Arm areas.

Kelowna has been moved into a separate Central Okanagan Zone, however, all zones are within the Okanagan Region area of responsibility.

In 2022, four new officers joined the Okanagan Region team, and two more are to join shortly.

As the conservation service continues to increase its presence on area waterways, COs will require further training on the safe use of personal watercraft.

The North Okanagan Zone is the only area in the province where officers use personal watercraft, and the training course has become very desirable, the agency says in a year-end report.

The report says the impact of a greater presence on the water is that officers have noticed more boat operators are coming into compliance with safety requirements.

“We are seeing very few unlicensed boat operators, missing PFDs or numerous safety items deficien,” the report stated.

“Many boaters are now expecting to be checked on the water as they have been checked in the past.”