Federal government invests in natural stormwater collection in Kamloops

City of Kamloops, British Columbia, July 23, 2024 — A new stormwater collection system on Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Chief Louis Centre lands to build community resilience and protect habitats for local wildlife after an investment of $1 million from the federal government.

The project involves the construction of a natural detention pond, which will help manage urban runoff from Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Chief Louis Centre lands during periods of heavy rainfall. By allowing large flows of water to enter and temporarily store in the detention pond, the flow of runoff entering the South Thompson River will be slowed down. Reducing peak flow rates into the river will help prevent flooding, address existing bank erosion, and mitigate potential future erosion.

In addition to its stormwater management capabilities, the project has placed public use and community social interactions at the core of its design. New features will include trails, interpretive signage and benches around the perimeter to allow the general public to interact with this new waterfront feature.