High water decimates nature trail at B.C. Wildlife Park | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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High water decimates nature trail at B.C. Wildlife Park

High water in Campbell Creek has caused the closure of the Dipper Falls nature trail at the B.C. Wildlife Park.

KAMLOOPS – Aggressive, high, creek water has completely eroded and closed a nature trail at the B.C. Wildlife Park.

The Dipper Falls nature trail, located in the southwest corner of the park is closed to the public until crews can repair the damage.

Executive director Glenn Grant says no animals are currently in danger. Preventative measures are the name of the game and staff are busy sandbagging and digging a trench.

The problem waterway is Campbell Creek, which is currently wreaking havoc in Barnhartvale.

Grant says over the last 12 hours a section of the bank has been eroded about five or six feet.

“There’s no way to stop this water at this point,” Grant says.

If the erosion continues, staff will have to rebuild a fence and the deteriorated nature trail.

Glenn Grant says over the past 12 hours, the creek has eroded at least five feet of trail.
Glenn Grant says over the past 12 hours, the creek has eroded at least five feet of trail.

“The water has completely taken out the pathway and about 200 feet of the nature trail that we will have to rebuild,” Grant says.

The mountain goat enclosure was too close to the high water and they have been relocated. The goats are now sharing a space — quite happily according to Grant — with the bighorn sheep.

Further downstream, on the west side of the camel habitat, the creek has breached the bank and is running down the staff service road. This is more of an inconvenience to workers, Grant says.

The park is the last stop for Campbell Creek. It runs past the B.C. Wildlife Park and into the Thompson River, according to Grant.

Workers installed a dyke 20 years ago, when spring flooding was causing problems, much like this year. 

“We’ll go back and do it again. We will just keep working on it,” Grant says.

The Dipper Falls nature trail will be closed to the public until crews can repair damage.
The Dipper Falls nature trail will be closed to the public until crews can repair damage.

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