Vernon Matters file photo of Coldstream Creek

By Liam Verster

Coldstream Creek Assessment

Grant sought for local water quality assessment project

Jan 23, 2025 | 11:10 AM

An application will be submitted for a grant to review the quality of a North Okanagan water source.

At the regular meeting Wednesday, Jan 22, The Regional District of North Okanagan Board of Directors endorsed an application to the Okanagan Basin Water Board’s (OBWB) 2025 Water Conservation and improvement Grant.

The request will ask for $30,000 to be used for a land use and water quality impact assessment of the Coldstream Creek Watershed at the point of Noble Canyon Road to Kalamalka Lake.

“The need for an assessment comes from dramatic changes in agricultural practices, land use, and an increase in high-density housing in rural areas not serviced by municipal sewer,” the RDNO stated in a release.

“There is a need to identify potential impacts and develop policies and potentially update bylaws to reduce impacts to Coldstream Creek and Kalamalka Lake.”

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The OBWB’s program has a total of $350,000 in available funding, and will distribute grants of between $3,000 and $30,000.

A report to the RDNO Board of Directors said the assessment of the watershed could cost up to an estimated $60,000, and while noting the final costs would be determined after the Request for Proposals process ended, the grant could help offset those costs.

The report said, if the grant is approved, then the remaining costs for the project would be funded by the 2025 Greater Vernon Water operations budget, as well as $5,000 of RDNO staff in-kind contributions.

The Board of Directors voted in favour of endorsing the application.

The staff report noted that if the grant application was denied, then it would consider a phased approach for the work.