The Canoe Bay Pump Station Project is on schedule, with pipe installation, instream works, and cultural heritage monitoring underway.
This project is a key infrastructure initiative supporting sustainable agriculture in the Greater Vernon Service Area. Construction involves the installation of a water transmission main from Okanagan Lake to Okanagan Hills Boulevard to feed into a closed concrete reservoir to pressurize the system. The project also includes a 2.5 km extension of the Grey Canal Trail, through the Frind Winery property, offering users stunning views of Okanagan Lake.
Instream Work and Safety Measures
Instream work at the Okanagan Lake intake site will begin tomorrow, July 23, and continue through October. Initial environmental work includes an inventory and mussel salvage for the Rocky Mountain Ridge Mussel, a native species to Okanagan Lake. This will be completed by divers working along the shoreline and in construction area waters up to 3 metres deep. Instream construction is expected to begin next week. This work is timed to align with environmental windows and water temperatures to minimize ecological disruption.
To ensure public safety and environmental protection during this phase, residents are advised that a 150-metre buffer zone will be established around the work area as a no-go zone for boaters. A no-wake zone will also be implemented, with signage to alert oncoming boaters to slow down. Beach signage will advise pedestrians not to swim past the buoys around the work area, and each pile installed in the lake will be equipped with a light at the top to alert nighttime boaters. A notice at the Paddlewheel boat launch will be posted to advise boaters of the ongoing construction.
Industra, the prime contractor on site, has confirmed that no private docks are expected to be impacted by the silt curtain or buffer zone.
Cultural Heritage Monitoring
In partnership with the Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB), cultural heritage monitoring is being conducted throughout the project. The OKIB Cultural Heritage Monitor plays a vital role in upholding the inherent responsibilities of the Syilx people to protect and care for the land (tmxʷulaxʷ), water (siwɬkʷ), and all that it sustains. Guided by Syilx laws, values, and teachings, the Monitor is responsible for safeguarding Indigenous cultural sites, ancestral remains, artifacts, traditional knowledge, and the natural environment throughout land development, archaeological assessments, and resource extraction activities. Their on-site duties include identifying and documenting culturally and ecologically significant places, ensuring compliance with applicable heritage and environmental protection laws, and advocating for the rights, interests, and responsibilities of the OKIB on behalf of the Okanagan Nation.
As construction progresses, residents and visitors are reminded that traffic disruptions are anticipated along Tronson Road, Bella Vista Road, and Okanagan Hills Boulevard. Every effort will be made to minimize traffic impacts. For everyone’s safety, please obey all traffic control signage and reduce speeds in the construction area. The project partners appreciate the public’s patience and cooperation throughout the project.
For more information and ongoing updates, please visit www.rdno.ca/canoebaypumpstation or contact us at utilities@rdno.ca.
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For media inquiries:
Stacey Raftus, Communications Officer
communications@rdno.ca
