| Abstract/Description or Keywords |
The Trout Creek Watershed, tributary to Okanagan Lake, covers approximately 700 square kilometers. Water flows in an easterly direction from a maximum elevation of 2024 meters down to Okanagan Lake situated at 342 meters, There are approximately 255 km of fish bearing reaches in the watershed based on stream gradients of 12% or less (Anon, 1996), The lower reaches of the mainstem have historically supported a spawning population of Kokanee, although loss of habitat and reduced water flow has resulted in fewer fish, In some years, the lower reaches have experienced nearly zero flow, A Watershed Restoration Project is currently underway to address the problem of specific habitat loss in this area. Approximately 15,387 acre-feet (AF) of water has been licenced within the Trout Creek Watershed by the province of British Columbia, Most of the licenced water (98%) has been authorized to the District of Summerland (15,074 AF) for the purposes of irrigation, domestic and commercial use. Given the above proportion of licenced water, infonnation given below focuses on water use/demand by the District of Summerland. aquatic habitat, environmental flow needs, water supply, fisheries |
