Board announces contest winners

The Okanagan Basin Water Board’s annual water-conservation campaign was rewarding for three Okanagan residents.

Kelsey Powell of Vernon, Pam Kirstiuk of Lake Country and Summerland’s Holly Dunlop each won prizes in the annual Make Water Work campaign.

The campaign asks local residents to pledge to conserve water.

Powell won $500 in WaterWise irrigation material from ProSource Irrigation Supply. Kirstiuk won $500 in drought-tolerant turf material from Eco Turf Farms. Dunlop won $500 in plant material from the Make Water Work Plant Collection courtesy of Grasslands Nursery.

“We put in a raised bed for veggies this year but we really wanted to expand our garden,” said Powell in a news release. “Putting in the right irrigation will make sure water is getting to only what needs it.”

Kirstiuk said she planted a number of drought-tolerant plants and has in-ground irrigation and drip irrigation in her garden beds. Redoing a small part of her yard with drought-tolerant turf “is the last part of the yard that needs doing.”

Dunlop, who lives in an apartment and helps with the gardening there, donated her prize to friend Melissa Johnson, also from Summerland, who has been xeriscaping her yard.

A total of 603 people entered the contest, a 33 per cent increase over last year.

Armstrong won the community award for most pledges per capita.