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Restoration of Okanagan River

Restoration of Okanagan River. C. Bull – Glenfir Resources M. GABOURY – LGL R. Newbury – Newbury Hydraulics. Acknowledgements (alphabetical). BC Water Land & Air Protection Canadian Wildlife Service Ducks Unlimited Fisheries & Oceans LGL Limited Newbury Hydraulics

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Restoration of Okanagan River

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  1. Restoration of Okanagan River C. Bull – Glenfir Resources M. GABOURY – LGL R. Newbury – Newbury Hydraulics

  2. Acknowledgements (alphabetical) • BC Water Land & Air Protection • Canadian Wildlife Service • Ducks Unlimited • Fisheries & Oceans • LGL Limited • Newbury Hydraulics • Ok. Nation Alliance • Ok. Region Wildlife Heritage Fund Society • South Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Program • The Land Conservancy

  3. Contents • Why Okanagan River needs restoration • Ways to restore the river (contingent on approvals) • How to take an ecosystem based approach

  4. 1938 1996

  5. Historic River

  6. Channellized River

  7. Lossesdue to channelization • ½ channel length • 88% of wetland area • 87% of water birch / dogwood plant community • Habitat diversity • Biodiversity

  8. Species at Risk (COSEWIC) • Primary habitat for 3 COSEWIC species • Secondary habitat for 9 COSEWIC species • Spawning ground for 1 of 2 remaining Columbia River sockeye populations • Home of Rocky Mtn Ridged Mussel • Water birch / cottonwood plant community

  9. Contents • Why Okanagan River needs restoration • Ways to restore the river • How to take an ecosystem based approach

  10. Restoration Methods • Restoring the channel • Replacing Vertical Drop Structures with riffles • Re-meandering portions of the river • Habitat complexing • Restoring floodplains and riparian areas • Dyke breaching or removal • Setting back dykes • Recharging some of the original oxbows

  11. Replacing Drop Structures with rock riffles • Improved Fish • Passage & • Spawning • Reduced maintenance & liability

  12. Remeandering channel 1938

  13. Breach dyke

  14. Recharge Oxbow

  15. Setting back the dykes

  16. Benefits • Habitat diversity – pools, riffles, hydraulics, cover, shade • Migration corridors (fish & wildlife) • Bedload & sediment capture • Filtration/ purification of runoff • Flood retention & groundwater recharge • Streambank stabilization (rootwads) • Improved spawning habitat • Increased food sources

  17. Contents • Why Okanagan River needs restoration • Ways to restore the river • How to take an ecosystem based approach

  18. Okanagan River – Long Profile

  19. Opportunistic Species specific Site specific Isolated (Ad Hoc) Term oriented Hard wired Operational Eco-based Holistic Watershed based (landscape) Connective Sustainable Soft technology Conceptual (guided by long term plan) Ecosystem Based Restoration

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