Mystery weed identified

UPDATE SEPT 29 8 P.M.

It took a marine biologist to solve the question of just what type of weeds are growing in Sutherland Bay around the Fintry Queen.

Laura Hooker, an Associate Professor of Biology at UBC Okanagan, confirms that, for the most part, the plant is quite beneficial.

"It is something called Fennel-leaf Pondweed (Stuckenia Pctinata)," says Hooker.

"Right now, as it's actively growing, it's actually a good fish habitat. It would be nicer if it wasn't so dense."

As it starts to die and starts to decompose it can consume oxygen and become problematic, if there is not a lot of moving water in the bay to replenish that oxygen says Hooker.

"My suspicion is that it is a fairly wide open bay so it should be okay, but you never know."

Hooker says the plant provides a good habitat for fish and is a good food source for insects and other creatures that feed on it.

"It's when it grows very dense that it becomes an unpleasantly weed, a nuisance weed to have. It also dies and washes up on shore and is kind of unattractive."

There is no word from the city whether it will try to cut back plant.

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UPDATE SEPT 29, 4 P.M.

The owner of the Fintry Queen says the foliage round his vessel in Sutherland Bay is not milfoil.

Andy Schwab says the plant growing around the boat is actually a good form of vegetation and not the invasive Eurasian Milfoil.

Schwab says he doesn't know what the plant is but says samples have been taken for testing.

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The city of Kelowna is going to investigate what appears to be a large outbreak of milfoil around the Fintry Queen.

The substance was first reported to Castanet by a reader who happened to notice it while hiking in Knox Mountain Park Sunday afternoon.

The pictures show some sort of growth around the vessel.

Aerial shots taken by Castanet Monday seem to show a large outbreak of the lake weed around the vessel, with heavy concentrations on the starboard side near the stern.

John Saufferer with the city has seen the pictures and says they will investigate.

He says it's the first time he has seen something like this around the vessel.

The City has also been in touch with the boat's owner, Andy Schwab.

The Fintry Queen has been moored in Sutherland Bay since October of 2012.

Schwab has been looking for a permanent home for the vessel since then. To date, pitches to Kelowna, West Kelowna and Penticton have netted no results.