‘Rogue island’ in Quamichan Lake is removed

A “rogue island” of breakaway shoreline that floated around Quamichan Lake for several weeks has been tethered, broken up and removed.

The floating mass of sod, reeds and shrubbery measured about 20 metres long and six metres wide and made its way all over the 315-hectare Quamichan Lake, three kilometres northeast of Duncan, from late February until last week.

“It got around and drew a lot of attention,” said Barb Floden, manager of communications and engagement for the District of North Cowichan.

“Not something you could build a house on … not something you see every day, but interesting.”

Officials don’t know what caused the land mass to break away from the shoreline of the lake and set sail, pushed around by wind.

Floden said the floating mat of vegetation was becoming a hazard. Quamichan Lake is a training site for Canada’s national rowing team and the island started to interfere with training lane markers as well as North Cowichan’s environmental monitoring equipment.

It also presented a danger to boaters and float planes as Quamichan Lake is used as an aerodrome. Flodan said Transport Canada was notified of the hazard.

Rowing Canada was able to secure the rogue island to one its docks, said Floden, and the breakup and removal began. The district closed Art Mann Park for a day and brought in Pontious Contracting with an excavator to start breaking up the island.

The result was 28 dump trucks of debris, with each load weighing eight to 10 tons, said Floden. The debris was deposited in an old quarry for composting.

“It was spotted in quite a few places and was on a lot of social media posts,” said Floden. “It was my first experience with a rogue floating island.”