Vernon NewsNorth Okanagan has history of droughts and water restrictionsA history of droughtsPhoto: Vernon Museum Aerial view of Kal Beach in the early 1950s, taken by Doug Kermode. As it remains today, Kal Beach was a popular destination for residents seeking relief from the summer heat during the drought of 1951. Recent improvements to the town's water system had increased water pressure, making sprinklers more efficient and allowing available water to go further. The hot weather also brought families to Kal Beach, where enrolment in swimming lessons surged to 140 children by mid-July. Cooler temperatures and much-needed moisture gradually eased the drought, bringing welcome relief to a parched landscape — and to the people enduring a hot Okanagan summer.