Mill Creek restoration reaches major milestone in Kelowna

Construction and planting are complete along a 650-metre stretch of Mill Creek through Parkinson Recreation Park.

The news marks a major milestone in Kelowna’s flood protection and environmental restoration efforts.

Nearly 780 native trees and 6,400 shrubs and grasses have been planted along the restored corridor. Once established, the vegetation will help stabilize creek banks, improve water quality, provide shade and create habitat for wildlife.

The project has transformed a channelized section of the creek into a more natural waterway, featuring spawning gravels, deeper pools, wetlands and improved connections to the surrounding floodplain.

The restoration was developed in collaboration with the Okanagan Nation Alliance and Westbank First Nation, whose staff provided input on fish habitat, environmental flows, native plant species and a dedicated cultural gathering area.

Early signs of recovery are already emerging, with salmon returning to spawn in the restored section within weeks of water flowing through the new channel this fall.

The broader Mill Creek Flood Protection Project includes a $22-million contribution from the federal government’s Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund.

The restored area will remain closed until 2027 to allow vegetation to become established. Monitoring, maintenance and environmental stewardship will continue in the meantime.