Sockeye salmon may be released in Vernon Creek

Feb 28, 2023 | 2:52 PM

Sockeye salmon can now return to Okanagan Lake and plans are in the works to make a local waterway a viable habitat for the fish.

During the regular meeting Monday, Feb. 27, Vernon City Councillor Brian Guy said the Okanagan Nation Alliance, which operates a hatchery in Penticton, is planning a spring release of 4.9 million sockeye fry that were hatched in the winter into the creeks that feed into Okanagan Lake.

“I know they are considering, they haven’t committed to this, but they are considering Vernon Creek [as a release site],” said Guy during the councillor report segment of the meeting.

“They know Vernon Creek has been impacted in the past and they know that we are planning to restore the creek and add sockeye spawning habitat right at Polson Park. So they are considering either a full release or at least a ceremonial release and we would be involved in that somehow along with OKIB.”

Guy added the “plans are not firm yet” but said if it goes ahead, whether as a full or ceremonial release, it would be a “historic” event.

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Guy learned of the intent to release the fish from a presentation of Okanagan Indian Band’s Keith Louis, who was speaking of his career in fishing at an event Thursday Feb. 23.

Mayor Victor Cumming, who also attended the presentation, told Vernon Matters the release would be significant if it went ahead as sockeye are spawning in area creeks for the first time in roughly 70 years.

“One of the exciting things is we may see salmon all the way from the coast begin to return to Okanagan Lake,” Cumming said.

“We plan to do upgrading of Polson Park, and part of that is going to be creating spawning beds in Polson Park, so this is all part of the same plan that we’ve been aware of for a few years and we’re really excited that in 2023, if all goes well, citizens will begin to see the enhancement of Vernon Creek enabling it to be used for sockeye salmon, as well as kokanee and others, [in] both spawning and rearing.”

Cumming added significant upgrades are needed for the creek before any kind of release could be performed.

The City of Vernon’s draft 2023-2027 Financial Plan lists phase one of the Polson Park Vernon Creek Naturalization among its 2023 project list. That work would cost an estimated $1.95 million and be funded through the casino revenue. Phase two, which would enable the city to receive habitat compensation credits from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans for in-stream work, is planned for 2024.

As of time of publication the Okanagan Nation Alliance had not responded to Vernon Matters’ request for comment on the possibility of a local release.

by Liam Verster

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