Mission Creek (Okanagan Basin Water Board photo)

By Pete McIntyre

Creek project

Flood protection and fish habitat upgrade begins along creek

Jul 12, 2024 | 1:30 PM

A project to add four riffles in part of of Mission Creek in Kelowna will start on Monday (July 15) and continue until the end of August in Mission Creek Regional Park.

Area closures, trail detours and designated crossings will be in place to accommodate the project, which is designed to improve flood protection and the fish habitat.

The work will begin with clearing brush and selective tree falling along the creek. Nearby residents and park visitors should expect to hear construction noise and will experience vibrations while the work is underway.

Heavy vehicles will use the Hall Road service road entrance as the primary access including excavators, pickup trucks and gravel trucks entering and exiting the construction area. The service road will be closed to all pedestrians and cyclists except at three designated trail crossing locations.

Visitors are asked to use alternate entrances for parking and trail access.Visitors accessing the Pine Loop Trail, soopollalie Trail, the Sutherland Hills Trail and the Turtle Pond Trail are asked to observe designated crossings and detours.

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Signs for alternate trail detours will be posted at junction points and at trail entrances. Visitors are asked to adhere to signage, barrier fences and worker direction and to avoid closed areas for worker and personal safety.

In order to complete work on Mission Creek before the return of spawning Kokanee, regular construction hours are Monday to Sunday from 7:00 am to 5:30 p.m. but may be subject to change to include evenings and weekends as required for project completion within this short time frame.

With the extreme fire rating in all parks, construction crews will conduct work for the project according to the approved fire safety plan and provincial regulations to manage fire ignition risk.

The project is funded in partnership with City of Kelowna, Mission Creek Restoration Initiative (MCRI) and the Government of Canada.

Flood protection and fish habitat improvement along Mission Creek (RDCO image)