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February 27, 2025 - 7:00 PM
A coalition of First Nations and other levels of government have come together to restore fish access to Okanagan Lake after a century of restriction and habitat loss.
In order to restore the fish habitat the snpink’tn Indian Band, Okanagan Nation Alliance, provincial government and the City of Penticton are working together to build a fishway that allows access to the lake, according to a press release from snpink’tn Indian Band issued today, Feb. 27.
Several dams along the Columbia River along with habitat loss and development have nearly wiped out salmon in the Okanagan. Years of fighting by the sylix people through advocacy, public education, and hard work have led to this moment.
“Our collective success has been a series of processes all coming together, like keeping the water flowing in the river, restoring the habitat that we had available and then adding more habitat over time” Snpink’tn Indian Band’s Chief Greg Gabriel said in the release. “Everyone in our Nation has been supportive of this important work and many have worked directly with the Okanagan Nation Alliance Fisheries department to get the work done.”
The project is going to open up 350 square kilometres of salmon habitat. The goal is to develop a naturalized fishway that bypasses the Okanagan Lake dam allowing fish to swim up into the lake without obstacles.
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The fishway would allow the dam to remain operational while an adjustable invasive species barrier keeps the lake safe. The band said the fishway wouldn’t increase flood risk for infrastructure or public safety.
“Together we have brought the salmon back, our hard work, our prayers and our ceremonies,” elder (caylx) Richard Armstrong said in the release. “I will be happy to see my relative salmon swimming around the dam and up into the waters and lands that their great ancestors had access to, a proud moment for us all.”
To get the project done local governments have teamed up with the Habitat Conservation Plan, TD Friends of the Environment and the Habitat Subcommittee of the Priest Rapids Coordinating Committee.
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