Early Kokanee spawning moves up local festivals

Celebrations for the return of the Kokanee salmon in Peachland will begin earlier than ever before.

Interpreters at Deep Creek at Hardy Falls Regional Park say this is the earliest known start to the Kokanee  spawning season.

The land-locked salmon have already started moving up Deep Creek in Peachland.

Usually the first Kokanee spawn start showing up in late August.

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To accommodate the early return, the Regional District of Central Okanagan is starting its interpretive programming three weeks ahead of usual.

The Welcome the Kokanee Salmon Festival will happen on Sunday, Aug. 7, between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at Hardy Falls Regional Park along Hardy Street just off Highway 97 at the south end of Peachland.

Each weekend after that, through Sept. 11, an interpreter will be at Hardy Falls Regional Park between noon and 4 p.m..

The interpretive program in Mission Creek Regional Park is not affected by the early run, and will run between noon and 4 p.m. from Aug. 27 to Oct. 2.

School tours are welcome to book weekday sessions starting Sept. 8.  School tours are by donation through the Environmental Education Centre for the Okanagan. (EECO)