The Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) has been notified of two successful grant applications relating to projects at sncəcmałqtn Agricultural Park.
The Okanagan Basin Water Board has approved $30,000 in funding from the Water Conservation and Quality Improvement Grant Program to restore a 160-meter creek and wetland locally known as Hog’s Gulch. The project will improve water quality and watershed resilience, helping mitigate impacts from historical agricultural ditching and drainage practices on the creek. The project also aligns with previous studies, including the 2019 Biophysical Inventory by Associated Environmental, and the 2022 BX Ranchlands Development Plan by KPU, which both recommended restoration of this creek.
Funding has also been approved through the BC Hydro Community ReGreening Program in the amount of $7,760, which supports the planting of trees and other vegetation that help enhance ecological networks across the province. The funds will help create an agricultural food forest in the park led by a recently established volunteer group, Friends of sncəcmałqtn Agricultural Park. The main goal of this project is to change how communities interact with food crops, showing how Indigenous food practices and new plant varieties can improve biodiversity and water conservation, and provide an outdoor learning space.
"We are thrilled to have received grant funding for these projects”, stated Bob Fleming, Chair of the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee and Director of Electoral Area B. “The restoration of Hog’s Gulch and the development of the food forest will not only improve the environment but also strengthen community bonds and provide valuable learning experiences for all visitors.”
“Through the development of this park, we are forging a new path for education and collaboration in our communities,” said Amanda Shatzko, Director of Electoral Area C. “This agricultural park is the first of its kind in the North Okanagan, and I am honored to be a part of it.”
In addition to the recently announced community garden set to open on May 1, Phase 1 of the food forest development is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2025, and Phase 1 of the Hog’s Gulch restoration project is scheduled to be completed by March 2026.
For more information on the sncəcmałqtn Agricultural Park, please visit www.rdno.ca/agriculturalpark.
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For media inquiries:
Stacey Raftus, Communications Officer
communications@rdno.ca