Pier Construction Underway at Bertram Creek Regional Park

Bertram Creek Regional Park visitors will notice some shoreline and in water construction until the end of September.  For their safety, park users are asked to stay out of areas where equipment is working.

A new Fishing/Viewing Pier will be installed at the east end of the main park beach on Okanagan Lake providing passive recreational fishing and viewing opportunities for park visitors.  The existing pier located at the west end of the swim area will be removed by the Regional District’s contractor by September 30^th.  The foreshore in the area of existing pier will be restored to a natural condition during the summer of 2011.  View Map

The construction of the new pier coincides with the Ministry of Environment’s window for in-water projects before the annual shoreline Kokanee spawning season.  It also meets the objectives of the Ministry’s Okanagan Region Large Lakes Foreshore Protocol.

This project will also see the improved safety of swimmers using the marked swim area, replacement of an aging dock structure and the protection of environmentally sensitive Kokanee habitat.

Bertram Creek Regional Park, located along the south end of Lakeshore Road, has seen a dramatic increase in both land and water visitors which has increased the number of potential conflicts between swimmers and boaters.  This project will separate the two recreational groups into two distinct areas of the park.  Swimmer’s will continue to use the marked area to the east of the park’s rocky outcropping into Okanagan Lake while its envisioned that boaters will have access to the west of the lake outcropping, in the area that’s known as boater’s beach.  The 2011 Regional District budget is expected to include the following proposed boating amenities in the boater’s beach area: an increase in short-term moorage buoys, access to the shore for boats to drop off passengers, and a new swim area to assist boaters wishing to access the shore safely once moored.

Get to know the Kokanee!

This is a great time of the year to get to know the Kokanee.  Regional Parks Services is providing several opportunities for you and your family to make the Kokanee connection!

Like the land-locked salmon returning for fall spawning, the very popular exhibit ‘Something’s Fishy – Get to know the Kokanee’ is back at the Environmental Education Centre for the Okanagan (EECO) for its annual appearance.  The exhibit runs through October and the EECO is open daily.  The exhibit coincides with a number of special events all focused on this signal that fall is on its way and that Central Okanagan creeks will soon turn a shimmering red tinge with salmon returning to lay their eggs.

Regional District Communications Coordinator Bruce Smith says, “Our fall fish programs begin Saturday, August 28^th at Hardy Falls Regional Park just off Highway 97 at the south end of Peachland and in Mission Creek Regional Park at Springfield and Durnin Roads in Kelowna.  Parks Services interpreters will be on hand each weekend from noon to 4:00 pm through Sunday, October 10^th to provide information about this example of nature at work.”

Each weekday from September 13^th to October 1^st, interpretive programs will be offered for schools from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.  Teachers may book programs by contacting the EECO directly at 250-469-6140.  The school programs are provided by donation, and are an extremely popular field trip with students.

Smith says, “On Saturday, September 4^th, the annual Kokanee Walk/Run will be held.  We’re working with the Running Room to host the annual event to raise funds for the Friends of Mission Creek.  There is an eight-kilometre fun run and walk and a 16-kilometre run with the course along phase two of the Mission Creek Greenway.  Contact the Running Room in Orchard Plaza or the EECO for entry details and registration.”

He adds, “The highlight of spawning season though is the Kokanee Salmon Festival. It goes Sunday, September 19^th from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm in Mission Creek Regional Park.  Interpreters will be available to explain the kokanee spawning cycle, you can take part in various fishy activities and there will be entertainers and musicians performing throughout the day.”  Smith says, “We and the Peachland Sportsmen Association will also have a mini-festival set up at Hardy Falls Regional Park in Peachland with Salmon interpreters, crafts, activities and refreshments for the entire family.”

Park visitors should be aware of wildlife that depends on fish for food. Keep pets on leash along designated trails and out of any streams or creeks.  During the spawning season, bears have frequently been sighted in both Mission Creek and Hardy Falls Regional Parks.  Please be Bear Aware:  travel in a group and make noise to reduce the chance of encountering a bear on the trails.

Be Bear Aware in Regional Parks

They’re coming back!  Regional District Parks Services staff in Mission Creek Regional Park has received several reports of bear sightings in the park, along the Mission Creek Greenway and in Woodhaven Nature Conservancy Regional Park.  Evidence of bear activity has also been spotted in Bertram Creek, Glen Canyon, Kalamoir and Rose Valley Regional Parks.

Communications Coordinator Bruce Smith says, “As the higher elevation food sources start to decline and fruit crops ripen in the valley below, this is the time of year that we start to receive more reports of bears in some of our Regional Parks.  When we start getting sightings and staff sees evidence of bears in our parks and along trails, we post signs advising all park users of recent bear activity.”

“To reduce your chance of meeting a bear while hiking, it’s recommended that you travel in a group, make noise or carry something that makes noise, such as a bell.”  Smith says, “We’ve already noticed some Kokanee starting to return to Mission Creek.  As we get closer to the fall fish spawning season, it’s not unusual for park visitors to encounter bears along local creeks and rivers, as the fish are a plentiful source of food.  Be aware that bears fishing for food may not hear you over the noise of the creek water. If you see a bear, give it plenty of space and stay well away from it.”

People should respect all bears and anticipate and avoid encounters with them whenever possible.  Bears can be aggressive, especially when defending their food or their cubs.  Bears also have excellent senses of smell and hearing, and better sight than you might believe.  For their safety, dog owners are reminded when in Regional Parks that their pets must be leashed and kept on trails at all times.  Provincial Conservation Officers are advised of the bear sightings and along with Regional Parks staff, monitor the situation in local parks.

As well, residents are reminded to keep any garbage securely stored on their property and please don’t put out your garbage cart until the morning of your regular curbside collection.  That way you’re not tempting bears or other wildlife.

Bear Information Links

Ministry of Environment Bear Smart program www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/bearsmart/bearsmintro.html

Forest Fuel Reduction Projects Partnership

Reducing the possible threat of wildfire is the goal of a partnership project underway in the Trepanier Creek area of the Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO).

The fuel management work is a cooperative effort between the Regional District and Westbank First Nation (WFN) on just over 23-hectares within the Westbank First Nation Community Forest that includes an area adjacent to the District of Peachland, through the Central Okanagan West Electoral Area and District of West Kelowna to approximately Traders Cove.  View Map of Treatment Area

A six-person crew contracted by the WFN’s forest management department Heartland Economics began falling, spacing and pruning trees in this high priority section just south of Trepanier Creek during the week of July 19^th.  It’s expected their work will wrap up by late September, but may be extended if the fire hazard and danger rating affects the crew’s ability to safely work in the forest.

All fuel materials will be chipped and removed from the site.  No burning will take place.  Signs have been posted and neighbours and recreation groups have been advised to be aware of periodic, short closures of unsanctioned trails through the 23.75-hectare forest as trees are cut, spaced, pruned and cleaned up.

The Regional District and Westbank First Nation recognize the importance of this work in reducing the future potential for fire in this area by removing dead and dying trees, thinning the forest understory and pruning ladder fuels, all of which can contribute to the spread and severity of any fire.

Regional District Chair Robert Hobson says, “This partnership with the Westbank First Nation is an excellent example of our governments working together to improve the safety and security of all our residents.  We look forward to completing this and other joint forest fuel mitigation projects and encourage everyone to do what they can to make their properties Fire Smart.”   Westbank First Nation Forestry Manager, Grant Thompson RPF adds “This fuel management project is a demonstration of WFN’s commitment to manage the Westbank First Nation Community Forest for multiple values over a very long time..  These values include timber, water, wildlife, recreation, traditional uses, visuals and protection from wildfire.  Projects such as these will ensure that all Okanagan residents will be able to enjoy and benefit from of our forests for many years to come.”

The Canada Economic Action Plan is providing more than $166,000 in Community Adjustment Funds to the Regional District of Central Okanagan for completion of this work.

This is the second cooperative joint RDCO-Westbank First Nation forest fuel reduction project this year.  In March, similar fuel management treatments were done on approximately 12-hectares in the WFN Community Forest, adjacent to the Trepanier Forest Service Road, north-west of the Okanagan Connector overpass.  Almost $40,000 in Federal Community Adjustment Funds was provided to the Regional District for this work.

Art in the Park in August

Something special is happening Sunday afternoons during August in Woodhaven Nature Conservancy Regional Park.

Check out some of the eco art that’s being displayed as part of the Woodhaven Eco-Art Project.  Each Sunday from 1:30 – 4:00 PM, eco art assistant Shed Simas will be available by the park entrance to talk about the project, hand out maps of the art in the park, and lend out loaner mp3 players loaded with the audio guides and video created for the project.   As well each Sunday afternoon, collect the Woodhaven Trading Cards that are available along the park trails.  The Regional Park is located at 4711 Raymer Road (off Gordon Drive past DeHart) in the south Mission area of Kelowna.

In the park, there are also installations by artists Lori Mairs, Byron Johnston, and Brenda Fiest, as well as other text-based works.   There’s no cost to view these art works.

The Woodhaven Eco-Art Project is a University of British Columbia Hampton-funded series of artistic events unfolding in Woodhaven Nature Conservancy Regional Park throughout 2010 with the support of the Regional District of the Central Okanagan.  The works of art have minimal impact on the natural environment.

For more information about the project, see the website www.woodhaven.ok.ubc.ca/ or Facebook “Woodhaven Project”.   Keep up to date on all Woodhaven news with Lori Mairs’ blog: http://blogs.ubc.ca/woodhaven/

Greenway Users Reminded of Trail Use Etiquette

It’s a great place to take a stroll or a more strenuous run in the shade alongside Mission Creek.  It’s an important corridor used by Central Okanagan cyclists.  It’s also a trail frequented by some local equestrians.

Mission Creek Greenway Regional Park is an extremely popular recreational trail that can find multiple user groups on it at any one time of the day.  In fact, it’s estimated well over a thousand people use the 16.5-kilometer trail each day.  They range from pedestrians walking and care givers out with infants in strollers to joggers getting some exercise; cyclists out for a ride and horse riders from adjacent stables exercising their steeds.

Communications Coordinator Bruce Smith says, “The Greenway is a year round mecca for lovers of the outdoors.  But during the spring, summer and fall months, we see a lot more traffic along the linear trail and just as it is on our roadways with so many multiple users comes the potential for periodic conflicts.  Our goal is to ensure that everyone using the corridor shares the Greenway.”

Parks Services Bylaw Enforcement Officer Blaise Laveay adds, “Everyone using the Greenway and any of the other trails in our Regional Park system should be aware of proper trail etiquette.  Under the Regional Parks Bylaw all dogs must be kept on leash and must stay on designated trails.  Cyclists shouldn’t go faster than ten kilometers an hour along the trail and should keep to the right side of the trail, unless they are passing someone on foot.  They should also give an indication that they are approaching from behind by ringing a bell, honking a horn or simply vocally acknowledging their passing to the left.  So that everyone can share the Greenway, cyclists and pedestrians should yield to horse riders while cyclists should yield to pedestrians.”

Animal owners are reminded to pick up waste deposited along the trail.  All residents should remember that unauthorized motorized vehicles are not allowed along the Greenway.

Gibson House Tours

Delve into a bit of local history at the Gibson Heritage House in Kopje Regional Park on Carrs Landing Road in Lake Country.

It’s open for tours from noon to 4:00 pm each Saturday and Sunday during July and August.  Regional Parks staff and volunteers will guide you through the 1912 heritage house which has been restored and refurnished by community donations.

For more information on this and other Regional Parks programs please check out 'Your Guide to Regional Parks 2010’. or contact the Environmental Education Centre for the Okanagan at 250-469-6140.

Safe Harbour Boat Launch Temporarily Open

The Okanagan Centre Safe Harbour Regional Park main boat launch is temporarily open again.

Communications Coordinator Bruce Smith says, “Higher lake water levels and more detailed investigation of the existing main launch have identified a temporary repair that will be made shortly, allowing the Regional District of Central Okanagan to make the main launch available for use by recreational boaters.  This is a temporary fix so that we can get the popular launch back in service for the recreational boating community. Our staff will monitor the lake level and the condition of the boat launch daily.”

Smith adds, “We are still planning to replace the complete launch structure later this summer as new, engineered pads must be installed. This will likely result in another temporary closure while work takes place on site, the concrete is poured, cured and the new pads are installed.  We recently received the environmental approvals we were seeking to conduct work in the water while protecting the fish spawning habitat.”

The main launch has been closed since January because the farthest pads were damaged and separating, which combined with low lake water levels could result in potential damage to vehicles, trailers and boats.

Smith says, “We appreciate the patience of neighbours, recreational boaters and other users of the Okanagan Centre Safe Harbour Regional Park and have endeavoured to keep them informed of the status of the boat launch.  We’ll continue to keep everyone informed of any future closure plans at the facility.  Throughout though, the Safe Harbour has been and remains available to boaters for shelter and refuge during storms, poor weather or any other emergency needs.”

Between May 1^st and September 30^th, the gate to the Regional Park, boat launch, small beach and parking area along Okanagan Centre Road in Lake Country is locked daily from 10:00 pm to 5:00 am.