Flood mitigation work in the Greater Vernon area is taking a major step forward this summer, as construction begins on the long-awaited BX Sediment Pond. The pond will be located in the BX Dog Park, along Upper BX Creek.
Site preparations have begun and residents are reminded that the dog park will be closed while construction is taking place, for the safety of workers, the public, and pets.
Originally, construction was scheduled to take place Monday to Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. However, in order to meet strict permitting deadlines and environmental regulation requirements that are related to this type of project, the contractor has confirmed that construction will have to take place on some Sundays. The park will be closed when workers are on site and will be re-opened for use during non-construction hours.
While this project is underway, and if the park is closed for work, residents and visitors are encouraged to visit and explore one of the many other dog-friendly parks, trails, or beaches within the Greater Vernon area. A list of available locations can be found on Tourism Vernon’s website. The website includes details about which sites allow dogs off-leash. Dog-friendly locations include, but are not limited to:
- Mutrie Road Park (east end of 43rd Ave and right turn onto Mutrie Rd)
- Mission Hill Park (3900 15th Ave)
- Becker Park (behind the Vernon Recreation Centre, near 39th Avenue)
- Polson Park (2600 Hwy 6)
- The Grey Canal Tail
- Middleton Mountain Park and Trails
- Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park pet beach
- Ellison Provincial Park sandy (pet) beach
Recent freshet flood events in 2017, 2018 and 2020 mobilized substantial amounts of sediment, causing overbank flooding and infilling culverts along BX Creek. Sediment transport within the BX Creek channel is a natural process and is expected to continuously impact the flood risk for Vernon. Earlier this year, the City of Vernon received a $747,000 grant through the UBCM Community Emergency Preparedness Fund from the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. The sediment pond project in Upper BX Creek is intended to manage the sediment deposition along BX Creek, significantly reducing pressure on key crossings and reducing the risk of flooding downstream.
More information about this project and the City’s current infrastructure projects is available at www.vernon.ca/capitalworks. The City thanks everyone for their patience and understanding while this major infrastructure project is being completed.
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