the salmon river watershed - Learning Centre

First Nations also administer several Indian reserves within the watershed, including the Upper
Nicola Band adjacent to Salmon Lake, the Okanagan Band and Spallumcheen Band east of
Glenemma and the Neskonlith Band at the delta of the Salmon River. Only the Spallumcheen
Band has filed a statement of intent to negotiate a comprehensive land claim treaty.
The District of Salmon Arm is the only major urban settlement in the watershed. Salmon Arm’s
economy relies upon a variety of activities, including forestry, agriculture/ranching, government
services, retail/tourist commercial and service industries. Semi-urban settlements in the
watershed include Westwold, Falkland, Glenemma and Silver Creek. These smaller settlement
areas are more dependent upon resource industries, primarily forestry, mining, or agriculture.
Salmon Arm has an abundance of prime residential land, much of it situated with magnificent
vistas of lake, mountains and farmland. Housing construction in the District of Salmon Arm is
increasing at a more rapid rate than population growth. In recent years, the majority of housing
construction has been single family detached, with some townhousing in strata developments.
Salmon Arm’s extensive waterfront provides residents and visitors with opportunities for a
variety of water-related leisure activities, wildlife observation, nature enjoyment and vistas of
lake and mountain. Approximately 90% of the District’s foreshore within the watershed is
located on lands owned by the Adams Lake and Neskonlith Bands, including lands with
environmental and wildlife habitat value and lands with high recreational value. The foreshore
is designated as an Environmentally Sensitive and Passive Area within the Official Community
Plan (OCP). The Agricultural Land Reserve covers the floodplain of the Salmon River and
beyond. Up to thirty metre setbacks are required for all development occurring near
watercourses.
Salmon Arm's commercial infrastructure plays a significant role in the watershed and the
region. Most of the District's commercial areas are in the central core and to the west on the
Trans Canada Highway. There are three industrial areas in Salmon Arm’s portion of the
watershed. Most of these lands are serviced with water but not sewer. All three have highway
access and the one in the central area is the only one with rail access. The urban development
area of Salmon Arm has been basically serviced with water and sanitary sewer mains. The
District's sewage treatment plant is within the watershed and provides tertiary treatment of
sanitary sewage.
The communities of Westwold and Falkland are located on the Highway 97 transportation
corridor between Kamloops and Vernon, and the CNR railway which extends from Kamloops
to Armstrong. Glenemma is about 3 km off Highway 97 on the Salmon Valley Road. The valley
bottom in these communities is largely owned and operated by larger farm operations, with
smaller agricultural and rural holdings operated on a part-time farming basis.
Development patterns in Silver Creek differ from the other rural settlements in that there is a
large number of parcels in the 1 to 4 hectare range. The proximity to Salmon Arm and the
favourable climate have made the area a desirable environment for rural residential
development.
Falkland townsite includes single, two family and multi-family zones in addition to rural
residential zones.
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