Director slams sediment pond

Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star Published: July 11, 2009 12:00 PM

Taking away part of a park to put in a pond to collect sediment isn’t sitting well with a politician. Mike Macnabb, BX-Silver Star director, is vocally opposed to a report that recommends constructing a sediment pond at BX Ranch Park to help alleviate sedimentation problems with BX Creek. “We’re going to take away four per cent of BX Ranch Park, and it’s not going to be palatable for most people, myself included,” said Macnabb, following a presentation by the City of Vernon to the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee Thursday. “I think there are other alternatives that haven’t been fully explored. I can’t see this going forward as being prudent at all. I think we’re jumping into this thing because it’s expedient and convenient. I can’t support that.”

The watershed improvement plan is a venture started by city in 2006, and involving the ministries of transportation and environment. The plan calls for removal of debris and sediment from BX Creek to protect against flooding by enhancing the creek bed structure, and the adjacent riparian areas along the creek. “Many parts of the creek have become heavily aggraded to the point where the creek has left its natural boundaries, and poses an increased flood threat to residents and properties of Greater Vernon,” said Rob Dickinson, the city’s manager of engineering. The blueprint for the pond is one hectare with a volume of about 1,700 cubic metres, likely to hold water year-round to a depth of two metres.A wood post and wire fence will be installed to prevent access to the pond.

Yearly maintenance of the pond will occur at a time approved by the Department of Fisheries. An easement to the pond is proposed along the west side of the site through the existing parking lot. The report said putting the pond at the park will have minimal impact on park users and the functionality of the park, pointing out the park is located on 27 hectares, while the pond would measure approximately one hectare. “The proposal is for the regional district to provide land for the sediment pond, and in return, the City of Vernon will provide $32,000 worth of trail construction or cash,” said Dickinson. In 2008, GVAC was advised of a proposed sedimentation pond to be located at BX Ranch Park, which is a highly popular dog walking park.

It was also a spot used by the city to dump snow after it had been cleared from city streets. Director Gyula Kiss expressed concerns about salt from the road finding its way into the creek. But director Buffy Baumbrough pointed out that the sedimentation occurring in the creek is impacting the value of BX Creek as a fish habitat. “That deserves consideration,” she said. Macnabb remained unmoved, saying the city’s final draft report doesn’t clearly list BX Ranch Park as the desired place for the pond. “We’re going to take four per cent of the park to put in an industrial application. Parks are important. This doesn’t enhance the park.”

In the end, GVAC directors recommended to the North Okanagan Regional District that it enter into an agreement with Vernon to use one hectare of BX Ranch Park for a sedimentation pond. Macnabb and Kiss were opposed.