Penticton salmon hatchery nearing completion

PENTICTON – A salmon hatchery has been in the works for nearly a decade, and now, it’s just months away from completion.

The Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA), which is made up of eight local First Nations communities, spearheaded this project.

It’s being constructed on the Penticton Indian Band reserve near the banks of Single Creek.

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But surprisingly, it’s not Canadian money that’s building this $10-million facility.

The Grant and Chelan utility districts in Central Washington, whose hydro dams have reduced salmon populations, have partnered with the ONA.

“The reason why they are doing this project here is because it’s been so successful already,” said site supervisor Wally James. “This is already the largest sockeye salmon return in the Columbia Basin.”

The hatchery will help replenish the sockeye population, but also help scientists study the salmon’s spawning patterns.

“It provides us an opportunity to learn from the fish so that when they’re released, they’re like a canary in the mine so they can tell us what’s in the environment,” said Richard Bussanich, a fisheries biologist with the ONA.

The grand opening of the hatchery is scheduled for September 20, 2014.