January 6 2023:
Divers prepare for another day under frozen Okanagan Lake.
The operation to recover over 30 dead cattle from Okanagan Lake continued today.
The cattle perished after falling through an Ice covered North Okanagan Lake just days before Christmas.
Initial witness reports put the number of cattle at approximately 50 head, with the majority making it back to shore.
A person close to the family said the loss of so many cattle has been very difficult for their owner.
The loss of the cattle alone is estimated to be in the six-figure range.
Who picks up the cost of the recovery dive team and transportation of the carcasses by truck to an Alberta reduction facility is unknown at this time. It's also not known if the rancher has insurance that will cover this tragic loss.
A dive team could be seen at the scene today preparing for the risky dive below the ice.
A channel has been cut through the ice to make dragging the recovered carcasses to shore easier.
The Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB) and the Ministry of the Environment are in agreement that the cattle must be removed from the frozen lake as soon as possible to avoid water quality issues.
The community is helping as best they can.