Syilx Territory, Kelowna, B.C. – Ahead of the public launch of the new transforming milfoil harvester in late spring, the OBWB is inviting the public to help name the machine — because after Boaty McBoatface, we know crowdsourcing names can get memorable.

We’re asking those young and old, up and down the valley, to get those thinking caps on! Let’s ensure our newest tool in milfoil management doesn’t end up with a

name like Harvesty McHarvestface (unless that’s what the people want).

Name submissions will be accepted until May 21, 2026 at communications@obwb.ca. A prize will be awarded to the winning entry which includes a ride on the new harvester and a chance to cut some milfoil.

Now comes the hard part: the name.

“Past names have not always been that creative,” James Littley, OBWB Chief Operating Officer admits with a laugh. “We have rototillers and harvesters, and their names are ‘Red Roto,’ ‘Orange Roto’ and ‘MRV’ for ‘Milfoil Rototilling Vessel.’ We’ve run one other naming contest for our amphibious harvester, and the winner was ‘Hippo,’ representing that weed-munching, water-loving animal.”

Replacing an Aquarius harvester that has been in service since 1978, the new custom‑built 2025 Aquarius HM620 will mark a major upgrade for the milfoil control program. With a 19.4‑cubic‑metre capacity, it is designed to greatly improve the efficiency of removing invasive Eurasian watermilfoil from Okanagan lakes — helping protect lake ecosystems, recreation, and the regional economy. A custom‑built adjustable operator platform will also allow the harvester to pass freely between basins of Osoyoos Lake beneath the low‑clearance highway bridge.

“It’s a pretty cool and versatile new machine,” says Littley. “Not only does the operator platform go up and down making it taller or shorter so it can go under the bridge in Osoyoos, the paddlewheels are mounted on arms that sit on the deck during transport and then deploy themselves into position on the sides of the machine in the water. With the old machines we had to unbolt them every time we moved the machine.”

Since adopting its first Asset Management Plan in 2015, the OBWB has replaced roughly two‑thirds of its milfoil control fleet without significant tax increases, ensuring the program remains safe, effective, and reliable.

The harvester was purchased following a full Request for Proposals (RFP) process launched in September 2024. While Canadian suppliers were directly notified, none were able to deliver a design meeting OBWB’s program needs, and interprovincial wide‑load transport restrictions posed added challenges. Aquarius Systems of Wisconsin, OBWB’s longest‑standing supplier, provided a custom solution that met operational requirements, addressed transport constraints, and offered the most competitive price — continuing a partnership that has supported milfoil control in the Okanagan for decades.

The public and media are encouraged to stay tuned for launch details later this spring to see the new harvester up close and learn more about the OBWB’s milfoil control program. 



Reminder: The naming contest is open until May 21, 2026.



Please send your contact information and best name idea (and maybe your sense of humour) to communications@obwb.ca.