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Neighbours frustrated with abandoned boat on shores of Kal Lake

Who owns the boat?

It’s been six months since neighbours around Kalamalka Lake first noticed a boat hanging around the Kalavista boat launch.

Brad says it was late summer when he observed the boat was attracting some interesting company.

“I’m pretty sure some girls were living there and doing drugs,” he said, adding a neighbour reporting seeing “drug paraphernalia onboard.”

People who walked by the boat regularly also suspected prostitution as many witnessed “gentlemen going onto the boat” and going below deck, Brad said, who adds police were notified.

He was told "months ago" by a man claiming to be the boat's owner that it would be removed in two weeks.

Because he's not sure exactly who owns the boat and the criminal activity involved, Brad asked that his last name not be published.

What puzzles Brad and neighbours is why no one seems to be taking responsibility for removal of the vessel.

“Police, Coldstream bylaw and fisheries have all pointed the fingers at other jurisdictions,” he said.

The District of Coldstream's chief administrative officer told Castanet he was made aware of the boat by RCMP, "who says there is an owner to the boat and they’ve been contacted.”

North Okanagan RCMP spokesman Const. Chris Terleski says the boat was reported to them, they investigated and determined it "to not be a police matter."

Terleski adds there is a process if anyone finds an abandoned boat, starting with the federal government.

Michelle Imbeau, spokesperson with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, says although they do receive a large number of calls every year about abandoned vessels, they have not received one about an abandoned boat on Kalamalka Lake.

While all jurisdictions are now aware of the abandoned vessel, Brad and his neighbours wonder how long it will sit “in the lake we get our drinking water from?”

He also notes the boat isn’t moored to anything, but the motor is down and “just sort of stuck near shore,” adding, “it’s definitely not going anywhere on its own."



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