This earthcache builds upon another earthcache already in place in the park, “Mill Creek Water Fall” by cherrigerber (GC5DTJK), with her permission. If you haven’t already found that one, go up to the waterfall! You don’t want to miss out! There are several traditional caches in the park, as well, which you should find! If you’ve been to the park for those caches, welcome back. It’s a great place, and I’m glad you’re here.
People in wheelchairs and/or using strollers could access this cache, if the route is planned carefully. The trail can be muddy, so please keep that in mind. If the wheeled transportation units can't navigate the twists of the boardwalk, you could skip the boardwalk part and simply respond from the other side of the creek. Just let me know if you've done so, so I can read your answers accordingly! Please note that you have to park outside of the park gates to access any part of the park.
Here’s some background on the park, as shared in the original earthcache.
Mill Creek Regional Park is a quiet little park located at the transition between Mill Creek as a mild urban waterway and the steeper, wilder canyon it has formed over the millennia. The park provides a stark contrast between the sunny, dry grasslands typical of the Okanagan Valley bottom and the cooler, moister cedar groves in the riparian canyon.
Mill Creek is one of the many small tributaries to Okanagan Lake. It contributes about 5% of the water which enters the lake each year. In comparison, Mission Creek, the largest tributary, contributes approximately 25-30% of the water which flows into Okanagan Lake each year. Mill Creek originates at Postill Lake, and flows approximately 31kms before it reaches Okanagan Lake just south of the bridge. The creek has cut a beautiful rugged valley through the bedrock as it descends from the highlands, and then formed an alluvial fan as it reached the flatter valley floor. Much of Ellison is built on this alluvial fan deposited by Mill Creek, which was a much larger creek 8,000 to 10,000 years ago.
Post 2017 Changes to the Park
In May of 2017, extensive flooding occurred at Mill Creek Regional Park, as well as along the creek all the way to Okanagan Lake. These changes led to significant damage throughout the community, and to the park itself. The water level in the park rose approximately 4m at the road, in part due to the high volume of water coming down the mountain and largely due to the debris washing through and blocking the culverts. One bridge in the park was destroyed, one bridge was damaged, and the boardwalk was covered by floodwaters and debris. The park was completely closed for 14 months, due to the instability of the trails, the damage to the infrastructure, and the potential for harm caused by downed and damaged trees. It reopened for pedestrians in July of 2018, but remains closed to all vehicle traffic until final repairs are completed at some unknown date. For further information about the flooding and response, there are many photographic timelines and lots of information available through the Regional District of the Central Okanagan website and local online news sources.
To log this earthcache, please send responses for the following questions:
1- At the first posted coordinates, what is the height difference between the surface of the water and the top of the solid part of the fence? Considering that the flood water covered the fence, what was the height of the water before the storm and floods on May 4-6, 2017? Use the info on the cache page to help. :)
2- At Stage 2, please respond to the following: During the flood, the creek rerouted. What temporary changes do you think led to what you see here? How has this impacted living things and their habitats within the park? Think back to primary school and all of those “needs of living things” lessons!
3- What are some flood mitigation strategies you observe through the park? Think about the road, the bridges, and the debris throughout.
4-OPTIONAL: In your log, if you were in charge of park maintenance and recovery, tell whether you would choose to remove the flood debris from the park or leave it in place. Why?
References:
Rae, Rowena. 2005. The State of Fish and Fish Habitat in the Okanagan and Similkameen Basins. Prepared for the Canadian Okanagan Basin Technical Working Group, Westbank, BC.
Roed, M.A., and Greenough, J.D., eds. 2004. Okanagan Geology British Columbia, Kelowna Geology Committtee.
Swain, L.G. 1990. Water Quality Assessment and Objectives: Okanagan Area Tributaries to Okanagan Lake Near Kelowna. Ministry of Environment, Province of British Columbia.
https://www.regionaldistrict.com/your-services/parks-services/parks-and-trails/19-mill-creek-regional-park.aspx
https://www.regionaldistrict.com/your-services/parks-services/parks-flood-recovery.aspx#MC