The provincial government is being accused of possibly harming the environment if a new route is developed just north of Vernon.
The North Okanagan Naturalists Club has fired off a letter to the Ministry of Transportation opposing plans to extend the Stickle Road frontage road to 20th Street.
“Pushing 20th Street through would essentially eliminate the wetland and its ecosystem,” said Harold Sellers, club president.
“The loss of the wetland and the trail that was built there would be the loss of an area very popular with citizens who go there for recreation, exercise and relaxation.”
The ministry has been considering extending 20th Street into Vernon as a way of eliminating traffic from Stickle Road using Highway 97, while many residents and businesses are demanding a traffic light at the highway and Stickle Road.
The BX Creek wetlands enhancement and interpretation project states that the black cottonwood/red osier dogwood riparian ecosystem is threatened.
“It provides habitat for many species, some of which are at risk,” states the project report.
“Only 33 percent of the black cottonwood/red osier ecosystem remains in the Vernon area and the black cottonwood ecosystems of the Interior are all considered at risk with only fragments remaining.”
The club insists that extending 20th Street is misguided.
“What would this say about the priorities of the government of B.C.? That cars are more important than the environment and the connectivity between people and nature?” said Sellers.
Eric Foster, Vernon-Monashee MLA, says the environment is not being ignored during planning for Stickle Road.
“We have certainly looked at that before we move forward. We don’t want to impact species,” he said.
The Ministry of Transportation and the City of Vernon are currently in the engineering stage for traffic options for the area.
Foster says a proposal from the ministry will be unveiled at a public meeting.
“Hopefully there will be something coming forward fairly soon,” he said.