A new water intake and pump station is being built to support agricultural water users in Vernon, and its being developed by a company that's been working to build up Vernon's wine industry.

On Friday the Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) and the City of Vernon announced the approval of a developer-led project that will install a new raw water intake and pump station for Greater Vernon Water.

Located at Canoe Bay along Okanagan Lake, the Canoe Bay Pump Station is being developed by Frind Wineries, a company owned by , the founder of the internet dating site Plenty of Fish. Frind Wineries has vineyards throughout the Okanagan Valley and has planted 89 acres of vineyards along Bella Vista Road near the Vernon Airport. 

The pump station project will serve current agricultural customers with untreated water from Okanagan Lake with the goal of ensuring a sustainable water supply for future generations. 

The station is designed to meet current water demands and accommodates additional pumps for future agricultural water needs. 

Construction will involve developing a water transmission main from Okanagan Lake to Okanagan Hills Boulevard, and a closed concrete reservoir to pressurize the system. The project will also include a 2.5 km extension to the current Grey Canal Trail, through the Frind Winery property.

The project is five years in the making and the result of collaboration among a number of partners. 

鈥淲e are looking forward to working with project partners to strengthen and grow the farming, agriculture, and winemaking industry in the area," said Wayne Ford, director of construction and development at Frind Wineries. 

The new facility will allow the Greater Vernon Water utility to access existing water licenses on Okanagan Lake and provide more untreated water for agricultural uses on the west side of Vernon, the RDNO said, adding it will also allow the filling of Goose Lake with untreated Okanagan Lake water rather than treated water from the Duteau Treatment Plant. 

The RDNO said the project has undergone a "stringent" environmental review and permitting process with the provincial regulator and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Environmental offsetting measures will include habitat restoration at the mouth of Vernon Creek, protection of the foreshore area around the new park, and research into the Rocky Mountain Ridged Mussel, a species native to Okanagan Lake.

"The project will also uphold the cultural heritage values identified by the Okanagan Indian Band, with research completed alongside the project to incorporate western science and syilx traditional ecological knowledge through a partnership with the Okanagan Indian Band and RDNO," the regional district said. 

Construction methods are designed to minimize impacts to the Rocky Mountain Ridged Mussel as well as enhance habitat in Vernon Creek for sockeye and Chinook salmon, which are returning to the Okanagan system thanks to years of effort from the Okanagan Nation Alliance. The project includes 10 years of monitoring to ensure the success of these restoration efforts. 

鈥淭his new facility will support sustainable agricultural practices by ensuring a steady water supply for Greater Vernon,鈥� said Bob Fleming, chair of the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee. 鈥淲e are excited to see this move forward and are committed to working with our partners to ensure the success of this project.鈥�

Vernon Mayor Victor Cumming added: 鈥淚t鈥檚 great to see this water intake and delivery project moving forward thanks to collaborative efforts. Increasing capacity to provide raw water to the western Vernon area is vital to the success and growth of agriculture in Greater Vernon.鈥�

Contractors will be moving materials and equipment onto the site starting next week with construction scheduled to begin in mid-April along Okanagan Hills Boulevard. Initial work will include bedrock blasting, and construction on the pump station is expected to begin in June. Installation of the intake into Okanagan Lake depends on environmental work windows and water temperatures, with preparation work scheduled to start in late July and construction extending through to October. The project is expected to take about one year over several phases. 

Residents can expect traffic disruptions along Tronson Road, Bella Vista Road and Okanagan Hills Boulevard throughout the project timeline.

More information can be found at , or by emailing utilities@rdno.ca.