Water Stewardship Information Sources
| ID | 272 |
|---|---|
| Citation | Bull, C, Gaboury, M and Newbury, R. 2000. Okanagan River Habitat Restoration Feasibility. Prepared for BC Ministry of Environment. |
| Organization | Ministry of Environment |
| URL | |
| Abstract/Description or Keywords | Prior to channelization, the Okanagan River had a meandering channel. Restoration of the Okanagan River to reestablish a more natural river channel with pools, riffles, floodplains, and riparian areas is envisaged. Four restoration alternatives are investigated. Each of the alternatives contributes to restoring natural ecosystem processes and habitats. In addition to improvements to floodwater levels and wildlife habitats, significant benefits would accrue to the spawning, incubation and/or rearing habitats of sockeye, rainbow trout, kokanee, and mountain whitefish. restoration, aquatic habitat, riparian, salmonids. A study of the Okanagan River basin was undertaken to determine its water supply potential under current water-use development conditions and Okanagan lake operational procredures. A computer model was designed to simulate a monthly operation of the lake during average and drought years and to determine the water supply potential. The model utilizes Okanagan Lake inflows, reservoir releases and local net inflows between Penticton and Oliver to estimate the volume of water available in excess of current demand. The criteria adopted in the study were: inflows corresponding to the 1929-31 historical drought adjusted to reflect current consumptive use, minimum Okanagan Lake elevation of 340.40m, and releases from Okanagan Lake to meet downstream consumptive use and minimum dilution and flow requirements. The results show that were the 1929-31 drought, which was a very rare (400-year) event, to recur, 63,000 dam cubed per year in Okanagan lake would be avilable in excess of current demand and under present day operation. However, if this extra volume was used it would take three years of average net inflows for Okanagan Lake to reach a normal operating level. |
| Information Type | report |
| Regional Watershed | Okanagan |
| Sub-watershed if known | Okanagan River |
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| Comments | |
| Project status | complete |
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