Syilx Territory, Kelowna, B.C. – Rooted in collective responsibility for water, now and into the future, the Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) is investing $380,000 this year through its Water Conservation and Quality Improvement (WCQI) Grant program to advance 19 high‑priority projects across the valley. The funding will empower regional districts, local governments, First Nations, and non-profit organizations to take decisive action on pressing water conservation and quality challenges.
Together, the submitted projects represent more than $5.25 million in total value, significantly multiplying the reach and impact of WCQI funding to protect and enhance the region’s water stewardship.
Now in its 20th year, the WCQI program received applications totaling $882,293, with the OBWB fully allocating the annual $350,000 available, as well as an additional $30,000 made available through a previous year’s project that was unable to proceed. The Board approved projects through a competitive process focused on those with the greatest potential to deliver measurable benefits for water conservation and quality throughout the basin.
“The overall calibre of applications was exceptional this year. It was our most competitive year to date,” says Carolina Restrepo Tamayo, OBWB’s Office and Grants Manager. “It was especially encouraging to see so many strong proposals aligned with this year’s theme of Innovation in Water Supply, Quality, and Quantity. As the WCQI program reaches its 20th anniversary, we’re excited to see the outcomes these projects will deliver for the region.”
A spotlight on several of the funded projects:
- City of Penticton’s Investigating PFAS (Forever Chemicals) Across the Okanagan Region: The City of Penticton is leading a region‑wide study to assess the presence and sources of PFAS in surface water and wastewater across the Okanagan. Using consistent sampling and EPA‑approved testing methods, the project will identify PFAS sources, measure concentrations throughout the watershed, and evaluate how population growth may affect future levels. Results will support informed source‑control decisions by local governments and utilities, along with targeted public education to help reduce PFAS inputs.
- Okanagan Nation Alliance’s Post-wildfire changes in snowpack dynamics and their impacts on summer low flows in the McDougall Creek Watershed: The Okanagan Nation Alliance is leading a study to better understand how recent wildfires have altered snowpack behaviour and summer low flows in the McDougall Creek Watershed. By installing a new high‑elevation weather station with snow monitoring and continuing hydrometric and isotope sampling, the project will assess how changes in snow accumulation and melt affect streamflows following wildfire disturbance. Results will be compiled into a technical report to support local water‑supply planning, watershed restoration, and improved coordination of hydrometeorological monitoring across the Okanagan.
- City of Kelowna’s Okanagan Algae Monitoring Network – Phycocyanin Probe for Scada: The City of Kelowna is piloting real‑time monitoring for harmful algal blooms by installing a SCADA‑integrated phycocyanin and chlorophyll‑a sensor at its Poplar Point drinking‑water intake. The system will continuously track cyanobacterial conditions, with data validated against weekly laboratory analyses to refine alert thresholds and ensure reliability. By providing early warning at a critical intake, the project strengthens operational decision‑making and risk management and serves as a proof of concept for a scalable, basin‑wide algae monitoring network for Okanagan water suppliers.
- Westbank First Nation’s WFN Sensitive Habitat Inventory Mapping Update: Westbank First Nation is updating its Sensitive Habitat Inventory Mapping (SHIM) to provide current, reliable information to guide land‑use planning and water‑management decisions across its lands and waters. The project includes field verification of riparian and foreshore areas, incorporation of Syilx knowledge, and development of RISC‑compliant GIS layers supported by a technical report. By standardizing and sharing the updated data with regional partners, the project strengthens development review, source‑water protection, and coordinated watershed planning across the Okanagan.
- Regional District of North Okanagan’s Sncematqtn Agricultural Park Hog’s Gulch – Infill and mortality replacement planting: The RDNO project completes the second phase of restoration at Sncematqtn Agricultural Park’s Hog’s Gulch by replacing plants lost to mortality and filling gaps along a roughly 160‑metre restored reach. Native riparian plants will be installed to strengthen vegetation cover, improve bank stability, and support long‑term habitat health. OBWB funding will primarily cover plant purchases, while volunteers will carry out planting and follow‑up monitoring. Signage and educational elements will explain the restoration work and encourage ongoing community stewardship. The project is fully funded and builds on an earlier OBWB‑supported phase.
These examples highlight just some of the impactful work supported through this year’s WCQI program. By investing in projects that tackle critical water challenges, the OBWB is helping to protect and strengthen the long-term health and resilience of the Okanagan Valley. For more information on the WCQI Grant Program, please visit www.obwb.ca.
