North of drop structure 13 in Oliver more work will be done – this summer to divert river water through culverts into oxbows to allow for more river rehab work for salmon enhancement.

Crews working with large trucks will be accessing the east dyke of the Okanagan River between Buchanan Rd on the north and McKinney Rd on the south – as those large vehicles cannot turn around on a tight space. The work is expected to start in August and could delay the start of the new paved hike and bike path also planned.

Work is also expected on VDS 13 – cutting out some concrete for better fish passage.

The Town of Oliver will consult with its contractor on the hike and bike paving about the appropriate time to begin the work – now or after the river work is complete in the fall.

A spokesman for the ORRI projects states that 2800 tonnes of gravel material will be needed along with many concrete culvert boxes ( a culvert will cross the east dyke at both entrance and exit to a series of oxbows )

Camille Rivard-Sirois is the project lead and says the goal is to regain some of the habitat quality and quantity that has been lost by the channelization of the fifties and is done by re-establishing the meandering nature of a river, putting down riffles, creating side channels, and replanting riparian vegetation. The life of