A federal government investment of $563,118 has been announced for work on Trout Creek in Summerland.

The money is coming through the Natural Infrastructure Fund and is for efforts to restore the creek to its natural form and function.

Trout Creek is the primary water source for the municipality of Summerland and is the second- largest community watershed in the Okanagan.

At one time, the creek used to meander across a 2.5-kilometre wide fan between the canyon and the lake. Due to channelization in the 1940s and 1970s and degradation since, it is now significantly narrower, the forests of cottonwood are minimal and the salmon runs in this creek are almost extinct.

鈥淭o tackle climate change, to shield Canadians from its impacts, and to ensure that wildlife is protected we need to preserve and protect natural ecosystems,鈥� said Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities.

鈥淭rout Lake plays an incredibly important role and we are proud to partner with the Penticton Indian Band on it. We will keep working with communities across the country to support similar ecosystems.鈥�

The work on the creek will use a collaborative approach guided by Traditional Ecological Knowledge from the Penticton Indian Band. The project will widen and restore important functions of the creek to bring diverse plants and animals, especially various salmon species, back to the region.

鈥淭he Okanagan Nation Alliance has been working hard to bring back the salmon to the Okanagan, and this funding is another step in the continuation of this work,鈥� said Penticton Indian Band Chief Greg Gabriel.

鈥淲e need to give back space to the creeks, we need to allow the water to once again talk to land. This project is part of broader efforts of the Syilx Nation to conserve and restore natural habitats and ecosystems in the region, benefiting both the environment and local communities.鈥�

Trout Creek, the second-largest watershed feeding into Okanagan Lake, plays a crucial role in sustaining the ecological health and balance of the lake and its surrounding ecosystems.

The Natural Infrastructure Fund, which provided the funding, supports projects that use natural or hybrid approaches to increase resilience to climate change, mitigate carbon emissions, protect and preserve biodiversity and wildlife habitats, and promote Canadians鈥� access to nature.

A minimum of 10 per cent of the overall program envelope will be allocated to Indigenous-led projects.