Okanagan Fisheries Foundation

Hardy Falls Regional Park to temporarily close for salmon habitat restoration project Hardy Falls Regional Park will be temporarily closed from August 4 to 14, 2026, while crews undertake an important habitat restoration project in Peachland Creek, improving conditions for kokanee salmon spawning and supporting the long-term health of the watershed. 

Watershed worries this summer continue to deepen…

💧 This morning, the Okanagan Similkameen Collaborative Leadership Table adopted a resolution recognizing the region's unprecedented water scarcity and committing to collaborative action to protect the watersheds that sustain our communities, ecosystems, and future generations.

The resolution also acknowledges the Syilx Okanagan Nation's Watershed Emergency Declaration issued in May, in response to record-low snowpack, worsening drought conditions, and growing risks to our environment, communities, and local economy.

To read the full media release and resolution visit our website: https://syilx.org/the-collaborative-leadership-table-unites-around-watershed-emergency-and-shared-action-on-water-scarcity/

Kettle River Watershed Advisory Council | The Kettle River Watershed Advisory Council (KRWAC) was initiated in 2012 (previously known as the Kettle River Watershed Authority) to support the creation and review of the Kettle River Watershed Management Plan (KRWMP). In 2014/2015 saw the publication of the KRWMP, shifting the KRWAC’s new rol...

Imagine an Okanagan summer where kids can’t run barefoot in the sand. 🌊
If invasive zebra, quagga, or golden mussels make their way into our lakes, their razor-sharp shells will carpet our shorelines, ruining our beautiful beach days.

Let's protect the places where we make our best summer memories.

Whether you're using a watercraft, or just playing with beach toys, always remember to Clean. Drain. Dry. every single time and follow the Responsible Recreation Checklist.

💧Learn how at DontMoveAMussel.ca/Prevention

Last week, IndigiNews published an article exploring the Okanagan-Similkameen Collaborative Leadership Table (CLT) and the many dimensions of this Syilx-led initiative to protect and restore watershed health across the region.

If you've been wanting to learn more about the CLT—how it works, who is involved, and the opportunities and challenges ahead—this article is well worth a read.

Read the full article: https://syilx.org/dodging-their-responsibilities-syilx-led-watershed-protection-effort-lacking-key-cities-support/

Always happy to see shoreline improvement on Okanagan Lake!!

Last week, the City Park pathway between the Cold Sands washroom and the Bernard Avenue entrance was officially reopened following the completion of pathway and waterfront improvements.

The project improves safety, accessibility and the overall park experience by separating pedestrian and recreational transportation routes in one of the city’s busiest parks. Improvements include a new park entry sign, enhanced water access near Cenotaph Plaza, foreshore upgrades, and the relocation of the dog beach to better protect the shoreline and support park use. Additional upgrades include new benches, improved lighting, landscaping, trees, along with erosion mitigation, aquatic and native plantings, and lake edge stabilization to protect and enhance the waterfront.

City Park is one of Kelowna’s most popular parks, welcoming residents and visitors year-round. The improvements reflect the City’s commitment to creating vibrant and sustainable public spaces that support safety and inclusivity, active transportation, connection to nature and the waterfront, and opportunities for leisure, recreation and social connection.

This important story from IndigiNews highlights the growing impacts of drought in Syilx Okanagan Territory as we enter the fourth consecutive year of drought in the Okanagan.

Syilx leaders, water experts, and knowledge keepers are calling for collaboration, long-term planning, and collective responsibility to defend siwɬkʷ — water.

The work ahead requires all of us, together.

To read the full article click here: https://syilx.org/syilx-leader-calls-drought-forecast-worrisome-for-the-months-to-come/

What if invasive mussels could be detected in minutes — right at inspection stations? 🧬

Thanks to new local funding from the City of Kelowna, and grassroots Rotarian support, this made‑in‑the‑Okanagan research is gaining momentum.

💧🔬 A major funding milestone has been reached, and there’s still time to be part of the solution.

Learn how you can help protect our lakes. 👇

https://conta.cc/4vRazJ4

UBC Okanagan