Stay safe outdoors during spring runoff
Spring brings spring runoff and, as a result of an incredible snowpack, saturated ground and heavy rain, a lengthy section of the Mission Creek Greenway in Kelowna was closed until further notice last week.
Crews were working along the stretch from KLO Road to Gordon Drive to raise the height of the dike. With the potential of record creek levels, raising the dike was a proactive step to try to mitigate potential damage.
Signs and fencing are in place at each entrance of the closed trail. For their safety, residents were asked to stay out as heavy equipment was working on these portions of the popular recreational trail.
Two underpasses along the Greenway at Casorso Road and the Gordon Drive bridge remain closed as well because of high water levels in the creek.
The lower Gellatly Road parking area and trail off Brown Road in Glen Canyon Regional Park are also still closed due to flooding along Powers Creek in West Kelowna.
In addition, flooding has forced the closures of Hardy Falls Regional Park in Peachland and Mill Creek Regional Park in Kelowna. Killiney Beach Community Park is also closed to all visitors with limited vehicle access through the park for waterfront properties.
Parks staff with the Regional District of the Central Okanagan continue to monitor creek levels in these areas and when safe will be assessing the condition of bridges, trails and other amenities in these parks.
The public is reminded that water levels in area creeks can rise unexpectedly, and adults, children and pets should stay safely back from creek banks which may be slippery or subject to erosion from the spring runoff.
Boaters and those using Okanagan Lake boat launches are advised to watch for floating debris that may enter the lake as a result of runoff.
*** On a brighter note, the arrival of spring brings a renewed fundraising campaign to build the 49-kilometre Okanagan Rail Trail between Kelowna and Vernon.
An Okanagan Rail Trail Food Truck and Beverage Garden will be located at 1170-1186 High Rd. in Kelowna at noon on June 3 (sponsored by Paul Leinemann Construction) to conclude Bike to Work and School Week in Kelowna.
You can enjoy locally brewed beer from Tree Brewing Co., partake in wine, food truck delights “and find many ways to contribute to the Okanagan Rail Trail.”
Some of Tree Brewing Co.’s finest brews include their Okanagan Rail Trail Common Ale — a returning seasonal beer brewed especially in support of The Okanagan Rail Trail. You can enjoy Conviction by Calona Wines, CrAsian, Surfside California, Real Pizza, Chick Chick Boom, Canoe Coffee and Karet Chocolate. A portion of proceeds from food and wine sales will go to the rail trail.
Trail ambassadors will provide information on the proposed trail, accept donations and sell T-shirts and Rancho Vignola nuts (all proceeds to the rail trail).
Kelowna Cycle will provide a commuter bike as a draw prize; raffle tickets can be purchased at Kelowna Cycle, The Hub, Tree Brewing, Winn Rentals and from trail ambassadors leading up to and at the event. The draw for the bike will be made on June 3 and all proceeds will go to the rail trail.
Spinners Sound Centre has an Okanagan Rail Trail Backyard Fundraiser Bash at 2 p.m. on June 4 at 4603 Briggs Rd. in Vernon featuring musicians Lion Bear Fox (on their No Turning Back Tour 2017) and the Chipco Junes Trio.
Tickets are $30 and available at Spinners Sound Centre, 3107 - 30th Ave., Vernon or by email to info@spinnerssoundcentre.ca. Bring a lawn chair to this family-friendly event.
All proceeds from the Rotary Ride in Vernon on July 23 will support the rail trail development. Bike courses of 66, 98 and 126 kilometres start at 7 a.m. from Kin Beach. The registration website is now open at http://rotaryridebc.ca
Sol-ful Yoga Lake Country is organizing Lake Country’s largest outdoor group yoga class 10-11:30 a.m. on June 25 in Beasley Park, 3450 Woodsdale Rd. Admission is a $2 donation with 12 and under free. There are other sessions at noon and 1 p.m. with the advisory that space is limited. No preregistration is needed; you can sign up on event day. There will also mindful meditation, a drumming circle, acro yoga and SUP yoga sessions.
Teo’s Mexican Cafe in Winfield held a Cinco de Mayo Rail Trail Fundraiser on May 5 called Burritos for Trail Building in which 100 per cent of the proceeds from burrito sales were donated.
Triumph Coffee in Vernon held a Rail Trail fundraiser on Tuesday in which 15 per cent of all sales were donated, plus donations are being matched during the George Galbraith matching campaign. Hashtags #okrailtrail #letsfinishthetrail #donationmatching
***
The board of the Regional District of Central Okanagan has not supported an application made by Black Dragon Action Sports to FrontCounter BC for a Crown land tenure lease.
The applicant proposed to host seasonal paintball and airsoft activities on a 17-hectare parcel of Crown land near Three Forks Road in Joe Rich.
The board is asking that if the provincial agency considers granting tenure approval, that the applicant meet a number of conditions including best management practices for protecting sources of drinking water and consultation with the Black Mountain Irrigation District, which gets its water from Mission Creek downstream.
*** There’s still time to register for the free spring Tracks Walking Club. The beginner-graduated walking program offers your choice of location on either side of Okanagan Lake:
* Monday and Wednesday mornings at 9 a.m. until June 21, participants are walking along the Mission Creek Greenway and in Mission Creek Regional Park in Kelowna (no walk on Victoria Day, May 22).
* Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 9 a.m. until June 22 at Gellatly Nut Farm Regional Park, off Whitworth Road in West Kelowna.
There’s no cost to sign up, and members receive a walking journal, walking tips, seminars and motivational tips intended to keep them moving. People at a beginner fitness level are encouraged to take part, gradually increasing their health, stamina and walking duration to 60 minutes.
Tracks is offered in partnership with the Canadian Diabetes Association Walk and Talk program.
To register, drop in to the Environmental Education Centre for the Okanagan (EECO) in Mission Creek Regional Park at Springfield and Durnin roads, email eeco@cord.bc.ca or phone 250-469-6139.
*** Little ones love Story Time at the EECO. This free weekly one-hour drop-in program for children aged three to five and their caregivers features nature-themed stories and songs followed by an art or craft project. The program is an excellent way for younger children to interact with others while learning more about the natural world. Story Time runs each Tuesday morning from 10 to 11 a.m. until June 27.
For more information, go online to regionaldistrict.com/parks, drop-in or call the EECO at 250-469-6140.
J.P. Squire, aka the Hiking, Biking, Kayaking and Horseback Riding Sheriff, is an Okanagan Sunday reporter and an avid outdoors enthusiast. His column appears every weekend. Contact him with your outdoor news at jp.squire@telus.net.