Restore Penticton Creek

Updated Aug. 30, 2022: Creek flow is now being restored in the new channel and the removal of the current diversion pipe and dam is underway in readiness for the Kokanee and Rainbow Trout to spawn.

Improvements to the walkway are also coming along, as the existing creek side walkway will be widened to match the walkway to the north (downstream) and include new low level LED lighting designed to illuminate the walkway for pedestrian safety without light spillover to adjacent areas. 

Read the latest update

The following documents have been mailed out to Penticton residents within the immediate area. Click to download the files.

Penticton Creek Q&A

Penticton Creek Letter to Residents (June 24, 2022)

Penticton Creek Letter to Residents (May 30, 2022)

• Sept. 20, 2022: Where to view the salmon run in Penticton
• Aug. 30, 2022: In-creek work to restore Penticton Creek wraps up for this season
• July 27, 2022: Pedestrian footbridge reopens as Penticton Creek work progresses
• June 27, 2022: Penticton Creek work to begin this week
• June 11, 2022: BC Transit announces change to area bus routes
• May 30, 2022: Penticton Creek Q&A
• May 30, 2022: Penticton Creek letter to residents
• March 7, 2022: Work on Penticton Creek set to start soon
• Jan. 6, 2021: City seeks input ahead of bridge removal

This webpage answers frequently asked questions and provides updates involving construction schedules and road closures. Check back regularly for updates. If you have any questions, please feel free to email engineering@penticton.ca.

The creek restoration project has proceeded in several phases since 2015. This next stage will involve removing the crumbling concrete liner, reshaping the creek bed and adding boulders to mimic a more natural environment.

Once this 2022 section is done, the overall Penticton Creek restoration project will be approximately 19% complete. The City worked in consultation with the Penticton Creek Advisory Committee to develop the Penticton Creek Master Plan.

It’s unfortunate that some trees will need to be removed from the site in order for machinery to excavate the creek. This work was conducted before the birds nested and new trees will be planted throughout the area once work is completed.

One of the main goals of the Penticton Creek Master Plan is to restore the natural fish habitat of the creek to promote the return of the Kokanee and Rainbow Trout. The basic approach is to remove the concrete lining and reshape the channel to incorporate a series of riffles and pools lined with rip rap and river rock to allow the fish to migrate upstream from the lake to spawning areas. The City is required to have a permit from the provincial government prior to working in the creek. In accordance with this permit, the fish will need to be relocated prior to construction proceeding and the and all work in the creek must be completed during the fish window to avoid disturbing eggs, juveniles or spawning adults. 

In order to excavate the creek, the water needs to be temporarily dammed and redirected. The water will flow through a pipe bypassing the work area and then be reintroduced to the Penticton Creek channel downstream. This must be done during a specific timeframe when fish are not in the creek.

Nanaimo Avenue Bridge is located near the intersection of Nanaimo Avenue East and Van Horne Street.

Nanaimo Avenue Bridge poses a flood risk during periods of heavy water flow due to constricted clearance over the creek channel. The City needs to excavate the creek bed to restore the natural flow of water. This will help with flood control and supports the City’s plan of returning Penticton Creek to a more natural state, improving habitat for fish and other wildlife.

In 2017, the City completed a study to determine creek channel capacity constraints that could cause flooding on Penticton Creek that threatened nearby homes, businesses and City infrastructure. The City learned there is insufficient clearance beneath the bridge at Nanaimo Avenue East to meet mandated requirements for passing debris during a storm flow event that would arise once every 200 years. In consultation with the Penticton Creek Advisory Committee, the City adopted its Penticton Creek Master Plan in December 2018, which recommended that Nanaimo Bridge, which is nearing the end of its lifespan, be removed.

In consultation with the Penticton Creek Advisory Committee, the City adopted its Penticton Creek Master Plan in December 2018, which recommended that Nanaimo Bridge, which is nearing the end of its lifespan, be removed.

The community engagement process began in January 2021 and a decision was made to move forward with the bridge removal.

Work was originally planned to begin in July 2021 but priorities had to be switched to deal with more urgent flood mitigation work upstream. Excavation work of the creek bed must be done within a limited time window in summer so as not to disturb spawning fish. Work in the creek is scheduled to continue through this July and August with restoration outside the creek in September and August.

The removal of the bridge will disperse vehicles to the other four routes in and out of the area, namely Pickering Street to Haven Hill Road/Eckhardt Avenue, Van Horne Street to Vancouver Avenue, Abbott Street to Vancouver Avenue, and Westminster Avenue to Ellis Street.

While the study concluded that no changes were necessary, the City is evaluating changes to address the concerns that have been raised by residents in the area including updated traffic counts form the recent May long weekend and further consideration of improvements to the intersection of Westminster Avenue East and Ellis Sreet.

It is anticipated that the area will see a potential increase in fire response times by approximately 32 to 35 seconds with the removal of the Nanaimo Avenue bridge. Penticton’s Fire Department has confirmed that this change is not expected to create adverse impacts to the emergency response.

The City will monitor the need for future transportation infrastructure in this corridor as part of its regular infrastructure planning and capital budgeting process.  

The removal of the bridge will cause pedestrians and cyclists to cross the creek via the existing road bridge on Ellis Street via Abbot Street and Westminster Avenue East or the existing pedestrian bridge at the corner of Norton Street and Wade Avenue East via Nanaimo Avenue East and Norton Street.

The existing multi-use path on the south side of the creek will remain and consideration will be given to the installation of a new pedestrian/cyclist bridge at Nanaimo Avenue in the future, in the context of other infrastructure needs throughout the city.

BC Transit has announced a change in its routes for #3 and #16. The post reads:

The bridge over Ellis Creek on Nanaimo Ave is being removed... This will mean that route #3 and route #16 will change as of Monday June 13th as they will no longer be able to travel along Abbott St and turn right onto Nanaimo Ave. The buses will travel south on Abbott St, turn right onto Westminster Ave, left onto Ellis St and then right onto Nanaimo Ave and continue the route. The bus stop on Nanaimo Ave just west of Abbott St will be removed as well. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

The bridge approach will be landscaped after the bridge is removed. There are also plans to improve the walkway and landscape by adding new trees, and improve safety with greater visibility, a wider path and better lighting. 

All construction work requires Ministry of Environment permits and must be completed within fish windows so as not to disturb Kokanee salmon or trout. This work involves diverting the creek into pipes and the City is taking care to minimize impact to local wildlife and surrounding neighbours. Also, projects are dependent on grant opportunities for financial support.

• Penticton Creek Master Plan
• Penticton Creek Master Plan Story

Plan for Penticton Creek

Penticton Creek Riffle Pools

Penticton Creek: Typical Riffle Section

The community engagement process began in January 2021 and a decision was made to move forward with the bridge removal.

Read the engagement study summary results

In late 2019, the City commissioned an independent engineer to  review the Nanaimo Bridge area from a transportation planning/operations perspective to see what potential impacts may occur if the bridge is removed.

Read the transportation review report