Water Board receives presentation on Trout Creek restoration: Natasha Lukey, with the Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) Fisheries Department, provided an update on the nluxʷluxʷɬcwix (Lower Trout Creek) Restoration Project in Summerland. The creek is the 2nd largest in the Okanagan and provides District of Summerland with 90% of its water. Channelization and diking in 1949 and 1973, resulted in straightening and narrowing the waterway. The result has been faster flows, greater turbidity, harm to native birds, fish, plants, and has created problems for people in the area. The ONA is using local Indigenous knowledge and western science to restore the lower 2 km, creating more space for water to slow, spread and prevent flooding, planting native species, and creating more suitable habitat for salmon. Healthy riparian areas have also been shown to improve wildfire defence, Lukey noted, adding that once salmon have suitable habitat and return to live in the creek, so will other local species.
Okanagan residents to be surveyed on valley water issues: The board was briefed on a hybrid mail-in/online survey that is going out to a random sampling of 2,000 Okanagan residents to gauge their interest in and understanding of local water issues. The purpose is to help inform OBWB activities to address water issues, and potential outreach and engagement. The survey is open until Dec. 22, 2023. For those who did not receive a mail-out but want to participate, they can use the link: https://telus.questionpro.com/OBWB.
OBWB to conduct gap analysis on water planning and more: Directors were updated on a project starting in the new year to review water-related plans and policies within Okanagan local governments and improvement districts, including the state of drought and source protection planning, residential and agricultural metering, and water rates.
Board to send letter to feds, push for invasive mussel prevention support: OBWB’s board of directors voted to send a letter to the federal government and call for additional financial support to prevent invasive mussels from coming into B.C. Of concern is insufficient and even a decrease in federal funding in recent years to the Government of B.C. and the impact this has had on ensuring an effective invasive mussel inspection station program. The Water Board sent updated calls to action to the province in October, including a temporary moratorium on boats coming into B.C., after Idaho declared invasive quagga mussels were found in its Snake River on Sept. 18 – an 11-hour drive from the Okanagan. This is the closest an infestation has ever been to the Okanagan.
Directors updated on Mission Creek workshop: Directors were briefed on a workshop held Dec. 1 with residents and groups, living and working in and around Mission Creek. The intention was to build relationships and understanding regarding water needs and concerns, and to contribute to future planning processes by City of Kelowna, Black Mountain Irrigation District, ONA, Mission Creek Restoration Initiative, and others. District, Okanagan Nation Alliance, Mission Creek Restoration Initiative, and others.
For more information, please visit: www.OBWB.ca