Duteau Creek water quality could be destroyed by a wildfire

The Duteau Creek watershed is a main source of drinking water for the Greater Vernon area, and there are ongoing concerns about the potentially catastrophic impact a major wildfire could have on the supply.

As witnessed following major wildfires in watersheds in Colorado, water supplies were adversely impacted for years afterward. During active burning, ash and contaminants associated with ash settle on streams, lakes and reservoirs. Vegetation that holds soil in place and retains water is burned away, causing turbidity and other water quality issues.

The Greater Vernon Advisory Committee had an audience Wednesday with Ray Crampton, district manager with the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, on efforts to accelerate the Duteau Watershed Wildfire Protection Plan and be updated on other local projects.

“We have $5 million in projects in the Okanagan to protect lives, homes and infrastructure” Crampton said in his opening remarks. “We don’t get anything done without our Indigenous and municipal partners.”

He noted five wildfire hand treatment (limbing and small brush removal) projects were funded on 40 hectares of land along Eastside Road. Three larger mechanical (logging) projects also got the green light on 350 hectares near, and inside, Ellison Provincial Park to reduce forest fuels.

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At Silver Star Mountain Resort, efforts to protect the $400 million in infrastructure include a significant fire break on the south west flank of the resort. In conjunction with the Okanagan Indian Band, another 10 hectares has been hand treated and residents have been involved in the Fire Smart program to assist with making their properties safer.

“Duteau Creek fire breaks should be a high, high priority, or we could see some very, very significant issues,” Vernon Mayor Victor Cumming said. “The pace doesn’t meet the need. If we have to contribute signficant dollars over the next five years, that’s cheap insurance.”

“We are replanting some of these areas at a rate greater than the natural forest. Overplanting defeats the purpose,” Amanda Shatzko, Electoral Area C Director, said.

“Yes urgency is key,” Crampton replied. “I don’t fear reducing stocking standards (the number of trees replanted per hectare) when it comes to public safety versus timber production.”

“Can we over the next five or six months start to create timelines and determine what components need to be involved?,” Cumming said. “If we had a fire it could wipe out our Greater Vernon Water budgets for years to come trying to cope with the impact.”

“I’m interested in giddy up and go, but there are also a litany of other values that must be considered,” Crampton said.

The next update on progress of the protection plan is expected by spring 2021.