Construction of the Canoe Bay pump house (Image Credit: Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)

By Liam Verster

Agricultural Water Service

Pump station project at Canoe Bay moving along

Mar 31, 2026 | 12:38 PM

The new pump house that will feed water from Okanagan Lake to agricultural properties in the Bella Vista area is moving along.

The Regional District of North Okanagan said the Canoe Bay Pump Station project was moving along as planned and was expected to be substantially completed by June.

“Construction activities are nearing the final stages, and the project remains on track to meet its timeline while maintaining a strong focus on environmental and cultural heritage protection and regulatory compliance,” the RDNO said in a release.

Construction of the pump house, funded by Frind Winery Ltd. began in April of 2025. It aims to provide agricultural water service to the winery operations and be ready to accommodate additional pumps for future needs.

The silt curtain in Okanagan Lake around the new water intake pipe for the pump station remained in place as of time of publication to prevent sediment from spreading beyond the work area. That will remain in place until a final survey of the in-stream works has been completed and approved.

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Along with completing the pump house , the RDNO said the current phase of the project includes the development of a long-term plan for Rocky Mountain Ridged Mussels research, and habitat restoration at the mouth of the Vernon Creek for juvenile salmon.