Pent
icton Creek is the third-largest tributary, and was historically, an extremely productive waterway for Okanagan Lake Kokanee and Rainbow Trout. Flood protection measures in the 1950s created a smooth concrete-lined channel, damaging fish and riparian habitat. The City of Penticton has been working alongside the Okanagan Nation Alliance, senior governments and non-government organizations, including SOSCP, to develop and implement a long-term restoration plan for Penticton Creek. With funding support from the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF), the City has developed a plan to rehabilitate a section of Penticton Creek starting this July as a restoration showcase.
The section of the creek was chosen to address severe maintenance problems and show the community the transformation in a visible area while improving fish habitat. Bryn White, SOSCP Manager and Chair of the Penticton Creek Restoration Committee says that despite the challenges with balancing the needs for restoring fish habitat with ongoing flood protection measures on an urban creek, the project has advanced in excellent time due to an incredibly supportive environment with decision makers and funders. “We owe this early success to the support and vision of Penticton City Council, residents along the showcase section as well as funders such as HCTF, TD Friends of the Environment and the Recreational Fishery Conservation Partnership Program. Projects like this can take up to ten years before ground is broken for restoration. City staff, the Penticton Creek Restoration Committee and expert consultants have been working hard over the last two years to get the science, safety and habitat requirements in place. This truly is going to be a showcase that Penticton can be proud of.”
Penticton Creek
Penticton Creek Restoration Committee:
SOSCP
Okanagan Nation Alliance
Penticton Fly Fishers
Freshwater Fisheries Society
Penticton Downtown Business Association
Penticton Indian Band
Ministry of Forests, Lands & Natural Resource Operations
Public member at large
City staff and City Councillor.
Learn more about the project here.