Concept design for the naturalization of Vernon Creek in Polson Park (image credit: City of Vernon)

By Liam Verster

$2.5 million

Polson Park creek project secures provincial grant

Mar 21, 2024 | 11:35 AM

Some financial support from the B.C. government will help a project planned for Polson Park.

The City of Vernon, in collaboration with the Okanagan Indian Band, will be undertaking a naturalization project of Vernon Creek in the park that will make it more resilient to flooding, protect park infrastructure and restore riparian and fish habitat.

The province announced Thursday, Mar. 21, that $2.52 million will be provided for the park project.

The City of Vernon opened the bidding process for the Polson Park Naturalization Project in early-March.

Phase 1 features work on a 270-metre section of the creek, upstream of the Highway 97 culvert.

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The initial phase will include removing the existing concrete banks and elongating the channel by meandering it along its current course, and adding natural features such as boulders and riffle pools to improve the fish/spawning habitat.

Phase 2 would see the fish habitat restored in the next 370 metres of the creek. This part of the project is considered “optional work” and would be completed in 2025, pending approval.

The provincial grant will come from the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund, which is providing a total of $39 million to support 50 disaster-risk reduction and climate-adaption projects throughout B.C.

“The climate crisis is here and we need communities to adapt and strengthen their defences against flooding and other extreme-weather events,” Bowinn Ma, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, said.

“We are working with local governments and First Nations to reduce disaster risk and better prepare people and communities for the impacts of climate change.”

Through the provincial investment, the Village of Chase will also receive $300,000 for a flood-mitigation plan and a floodplain bylaw, while the Columbia Shuswap Regional District will get $150,000 to update its regional geohazard-risk prioritization process.