Improvements coming to portions of Bellevue Creek dike in Kelowna

UPGRADE WILL ALLOW DIKE TO HANDLE BIGGER FLOOD EVENTS

CENTRAL OKANAGAN – A dike along a portion of of Bellevue Creek will soon be reinforced to withstand a major flood.

The Central Okanagan Regional District plans to bolster a 185-metre section of dike along the creek where it runs through the recently-expanded Woodhaven Nature Conservancy in the Mission.

According to regional district communications officer Bruce Smith, the dike was built in 1982. Prior to that, the area was subject to annual flooding.

“It’s anticipated with the dike improvements this section of Bellevue Creek will be able to withstand a one-in-200 year flood event,”  Smith says.

As well, plans are to improve a water intake and headwall that allows water from Bellevue Creek to flow into the park.

Design and engineering work will be complete this fall, with construction slated to begin in 2017, Smith says.

The regional district is providing $100,000 toward the $300,000 project while the provincial government is providing $200,000 from a $55-million emergency preparedness and prevention initiatives fund.

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