Ellis Creek Sediment Basin Floodplain

Okanagan Nation Alliance

Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) formed in 1981 as the inaugural First Nations government in the Okanagan and among other functions, works to provide technical fisheries assistance for the Nation and its eight member communities, including acting as a liaison between federal and provincial fisheries agencies and other non-government organizations. ONA is actively involved in the conservation, protection, restoration, and enhancement of fish stocks, in particular for Okanagan River sockeye salmon, only one of two populations of sockeye salmon left in the international Columbia River Basin.

This improvement to the Ellis Creek Basin project will support spring spawning habitat and is important for conserving salmonids and floodplain species in the area. This project will overall benefit the South Okanagan Region because this area has the only remaining continuous piece of floodplain restorable in Penticton without major infrastructure changes, and is the only section of the channel where a refuge pool of significant size and connected to sufficient riparian buffer and Is the only remaining area of land in Penticton which offers unimpeded connection between the river and riparian area, grassland, and upper montane habitat, and subsequently the ability to restore land/water river nutrient cycling. This site Is also under indigenous stewardship in perpetuity, and part of an eco-cultural education program for all residents of the Okanagan.

This project is a one-year request. Approved by Regional District Okanagan Similkameen Board and $21,349 was allocated from the South Okanagan Conservation Fund in 2022. The project is expected to complete by January 31, 2023.