The Okanagan Basin Water Board wants to become part of the process in determining where gravel pits can be located.

During an address to Kelowna Council Monday, OBWB Executive Director, Anna Warwick Sears was asked what role the board plays in the granting of gravel pit applications, especially around water sources, such as Mission Creek.

"There is a lot of concern that as Okanagan community members, we are not able to have a voice in the matter of where the gravel pits are located until they are already starting to be built," says Warwick Sears.

"And then there have to be large protests and how do you respond to that."

Warwick Sears says there is a process in place which has been initiated as a way to have some input on issues such as gravel pits.

She says a memorandum of understanding has been established between health authorities and all the different resource ministries, including the Ministry of Mines and Ministry of Environment.

"The memorandum of understanding establishes regional drinking water teams where representatives from these agencies sit down with the local health authority. Any local government that wishes to participate is invited to do so."

Warwick Sears says the OBWB has requested a seat on the regional drinking team.

"We don't actually represent a specific jurisdiction so we would go there representing other Okanagan jurisdictions."

She says the OBWB is awaiting a decision on their application.

Warwick Sears also spoke to council on the controversial issue of sinking pontoons from the Okanagan Lake Floating Bridge to the bottom of Okanagan Lake.

She told council the main question is receiving a good scientific assessment.

"We want a well done environmental impact study that everyone can agree with that hits all of the important points. My understanding is the previous one looked at leeching from the pontoons and that the current concern is what will happen if the sediment at the bottom of the lake is re-mobilized into the water column if the pontoons fall with a heavy impact."

Warwick Sears says she doesn't have the answers to the questions, but did say the OBWB has asked to be updated on the scientific assessments.

"One of the things I would be concerned with is the timing of the sinking of the pontoons and how it was done."

She says Okanagan Lake turns over twice a year and outside those times, there is not much movement between the deeper portions of the lake and the higher portions of the lake.

"During the turnover period, there is a lot of mixing within the water column, so I would be concerned that the pontoons should be moved during the period when there wasn't the mixing going on."

A final decision on whether to sink the pontoons has not yet been made.