en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Government of British Columbia, in partnership with local communities, has completed a series of flood prevention projects in Vernon, Penticton, and Lumby to enhance community resilience against flooding.

Kelly Greene, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, recently inspected the completed works at the intersection of Vernon Creek and 43rd Street. Located upstream of a wastewater treatment plant, the project increased creek capacity by widening the channel, while also reinforcing banks and protecting fish habitat, shielding the plant from repeated flooding.

The project was funded through the Green Infrastructure stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP), with contributions of over $1.1 million from the provincial government, over $1.3 million from the federal government, and nearly $885,000 from the City of Vernon.

In Penticton, the Ellis No. 4 Dam, built in 1930 for agricultural irrigation, has been upgraded to meet provincial dam safety regulations, reducing the risk of failure due to natural disasters and extreme weather. The dam controls the flow of water into Ellis Creek during peak runoff periods while ensuring sufficient water for aquatic life and irrigation during dry summers.

This dam upgrade project was also funded through the Green Infrastructure stream of the ICIP, with the provincial government, federal government, and City of Penticton providing over $3.2 million, nearly $3.9 million, and $11.9 million, respectively.

This summer, Lumby will begin construction on a 430-metre setback dike along Duteau Creek and a 500-metre setback dike along Bessette Creek, providing nearly one kilometre of protection for flood-prone areas. The project is funded through the ICIP Green Infrastructure stream, with contributions of nearly $2.9 million from the provincial government, over $2.3 million from the federal government, and nearly $580,000 from the Village of Lumby.

Another project in Lumby will add bank protection along Bessette Creek and conduct preliminary design work for a dike along Shields Avenue, with the provincial government contributing over $1.7 million from the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund.

Since 2017, the provincial government has provided over $580 million for approximately 2,940 preparedness and mitigation projects managed by the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. Of this, about $350 million has been provided through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund to Indigenous communities and local governments, supporting over 2,700 projects. Additionally, the province’s Disaster Resilience and Innovation Funding program has committed approximately $45 million to 67 active projects across the province.

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