The District of Lake Country is moving forward with work to advance water storage and flow management in the Beaver Lake Chain and Vernon Creek watershed, supported by funding from the Province of British Columbia through the Agriculture Water Infrastructure Program.
The funding will support feasibility studies, environmental assessments, and preliminary design work required to move identified solutions closer to implementation. These include, but are not limited to, increasing storage at Beaver Lake and a partial bypass around Duck Lake. These solutions are intended to improve the resilience of agricultural water supply while maintaining environmental flows in Middle Vernon Creek. “This is an important step toward putting real solutions in place” said Kiel Wilkie, Capital Projects Manager. “By improving how water is stored and managed, we can better support agriculture while protecting flows in Middle Vernon Creek, especially during dry years.”
The Beaver Lake & Vernon Creek watershed is a critical water source for local agriculture and supports a unique wild-stock kokanee population. Middle Vernon Creek remains the primary spawning tributary for a wild-stock kokanee fishery. However, ongoing challenges - including reduced water availability, climate variability, and recurring drought - continue to place increasing pressure on both agricultural water use and environmental flow needs. In recent years, maintaining flows in Middle Vernon Creek has required increased supplemental releases from Beaver Lake to support fish habitat. While effective in the short term, this approach places added strain on the community’s water supply during extended dry periods and highlights the need for improved water management within the system. Building on previous planning, this work will help refine and advance practical, long-term infrastructure solutions by improving how water is stored and managed across the system.
“Protecting both our water supply and the health of our natural ecosystems is a priority for our community,” said Mayor Blair Ireland. “This funding allows us to take important steps toward long-term, sustainable solutions that support agriculture, protect aquatic ecosystems, and strengthen water security in Lake Country.”
“As the risk of drought becomes more common, it’s critical for farmers to have reliable access to water so they can irrigate their fields, protect their crops during dry periods, and grow the food British Columbians depend on,” said Harwinder Sandhu, parliamentary secretary for agriculture, MLA for Vernon-Lumby. “We introduced this important program to strengthen water infrastructure in agricultural communities throughout the province, and this project will improve water security and support the local food supply in the District of Lake Country and beyond.” Funding for this project has been provided by the Government of British Columbia through the Agriculture Water Infrastructure Program, delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC.
For more information contact:
Sarah Graham
Engineering Technician
District of Lake Country
[email protected]
778-738-2734