An Agricultural Land Capability Review and Cropping Options Study (H.A. Luttmerding / John Vielvoye, July 1997) prepared for the City of Kelowna, outlines general background, agricultural land capability, and suitability for various crops, as noted below.
The Agricultural Land Reserve was established in the Kelowna area in the early 1970's based on map information from the Canada Land Inventory's Soil Capability for Agriculture program. Map 11 – Soil Capability for Agriculture is a digitized version of the CLI mapping. This program classified all of Canada's current and potential agricultural land into seven classes based on the range of crops possible. Class 1 has essentially no limitations for the production of regionally suited crops while Class 7 land has little or no value for agriculture. This relatively broad-scale mapping (1: 125 000 scale in the case of the Central Okanagan) provides a moderately detailed agricultural capability overview of the City's ALR lands. Class 1 to 4 lands are generally included in the ALR. Included in the ALR at that time were some areas considered as, 'environmentally sensitive', e.g. steep slopes, and as green space even though their agricultural capability was low. These initial ratings have, in some cases, been periodically revised by detailed, parcel-sized assessments resulting in the modification of the City's ALR boundary to reflect this more detailed information.
In the mid-1980's, subsequent to the Canada Land Inventory and designation of the ALR, a more definitive agricultural land capability classification for British Columbia was developed and applied to the lands of the Okanagan. This 'new' classification system, entitled 'Land Capability Classification for Agriculture in British Columbia', B.C. Land Inventory; MOE Manual 1, 1983, considers the relative intensity of soil conservation and management practices required, in addition to the range of crops concept. Additionally, the classification system contains a 'tree fruit modification' which reflects that tree fruit (and grape) crops generally are less limited by stoniness and topographic conditions than most other agricultural crops. This newer classification system is more definitive and specific and therefore not directly comparable to the earlier CLI classification although both have seven classes.
Comparison of the land capability ratings generated by the CLI methodology and the more detailed methodology of the BC Land Inventory (BCLI) indicates that they are similar for the City lands in the ALR (i.e. the CLI rating may sometimes be Class 2 while the BCLI rating is Class 3, or vice versa). These relatively minor discrepancies are due to the more detailed scale of the BCLI maps and the differences in the methodologies of the two systems. There are no locations, however, where one rating system indicates high agricultural capability while the other suggests low capability.
A field and office review of the City's ALR and the associated soil capabilities for agriculture confirms that the boundaries of the ALR lands, in most cases, rather precisely define lands with high to moderate agricultural capability. The soil capabilities for agriculture for City lands in the ALR are essentially all those with ratings of Classes 1 to 4 under improved conditions (i.e. mainly soil drainage or irrigation). These are generally considered as lands with high to moderate value for agriculture. Included are some areas with steep slopes that have little agricultural production value, but
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provide environmental protection to adjacent agricultural areas. Similarly, several golf courses and a nature preserve are also included in the ALR.
The soil capability for agriculture ratings (both those from the CLI and later more detailed BCLI maps) assume that irrigation is available as required for all lands and that lands with restricted natural drainage are artificially drained to achieve cropping potential. These assumptions are reflected in the published improved capability ratings.
The summer-dry Okanagan climate including the Kelowna area means that adequate supplemental irrigation is critical for commercial agricultural production in the City of Kelowna. Without irrigation, commercial agriculture would not be possible.
Poor land drainage inhibits some areas of the City from achieving their agricultural potential. The main areas are the Mission-Benvoulin Flats and the area north of Reid's Corner in the vicinity of Mill Creek. Smaller, scattered areas occur elsewhere as well, for example along Valley Road and around Roberts Lake. The organic soil area near Swamp Road is another area of particular drainage conditions.
Agricultural Capability Sub-Area Details 1) Quail Ridge - Dry Valley Area:
This ALR area lying generally west of the Kelowna Airport includes substantial land that is currently agriculturally undeveloped. The soils, which are mostly sandy with moderate slopes, are similar to those in other parts of the ALR in Kelowna.
They have agricultural capabilities of mostly Class 3 and Class 2. Ongoing slight to moderate limitations result from topographic conditions and/or expertise required for irrigation management. The mostly undeveloped nature of the area should not be mistaken for poor agricultural capability. Increased availability of water would enhance the production capability of lands to the north of Lochrem Road.
2) The Glenmore Valley:
The portion of the valley in the ALR consists mainly of well to moderately drained clayey soils with gentle to moderate slopes. Some sandy and gravelly areas occur as well, mainly along the valley margins. Land capability for agriculture is dominantly Class 3 limited mainly by the dense, clayey nature of the subsoils and the irrigation expertise needed for adequate management. The lower slopes of the valley are considered by some to be limited for tree fruits and grapes due to potential for frost during blossoming, early fall frost and low winter temperatures.
A wide variety of other crops, both annual and perennial, are suited however.
A small triangular portion of the ALR in the vicinity of Dilworth Drive - Rifle Road has soils and agricultural capabilities similar to other parts of the Glenmore area.
The small parcel sizes and the proximity of urban development on both the east and west may hinder on-going agricultural development and use. As well, a portion requires improved soil drainage.
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Robert Lake has no natural discharge channel and the margins of the lake flood depending on the amount of water inflow from snow melt and rainfall. Although flooding would be controlled by development of an adequate outlet, the agricultural capability of the affected lands would still be severely curtailed by the strongly saline soil conditions that exist.
The lands in the vicinity of Valley Road and Cross/Longhill Roads consist of a relatively small area of poorly drained soils, with the water table partially controlled by municipal ditches. Even with adequate drainage, soil capability is still substantially curtailed (i.e. Class 4) by saline soil conditions.
3) Valley Bottom from the Vicinity of Old Vernon Road North to Duck Lake:
This area of the ALR consists of well to moderately drained, sandy to clayey soils with gentle slopes, except for a poorly drained portion between Scotty Creek and Edwards Road. The area is generally considered to be poorly suited for tree fruits and grapes due to the likelihood of frost during blossom time in the spring, early fall frost and low winter temperatures. A wide variety of other crops, both annual and perennial, are capable of production in this area. Improved land capabilities for agriculture are dominantly Class 3 or Class 2. Ongoing slight to moderate limitations vary through the area ranging from dense, clayey subsoils, to ongoing minor water table impediments.
The poorly drained area occurs at least in part, due to flooding from Mill Creek.
Alleviation of the drainage problem may require deepening and widening of the creek or provision of dyking, a potentially contentious issue due to the modification of a natural drainage way. Downstream flooding may also occur due to periodic high flows.
4) The East Rutland Benches:
This ALR area lies east of the urbanized portions of Rutland and basically consists of two portions. The western part (i.e. that part which is currently agriculturally developed and serviced by irrigation) has soils that consist of mainly sandy and loamy, undulating and rolling, or moderately sloping soils. Agricultural capabilities are high, mostly Class 2 or 1 with lesser amounts of Class 3.
The eastern portion extending to the eastern City boundary and including the valley between Black Knight and Iron Mountains is currently undeveloped and used mostly for native grazing due to irrigation not being available. Soil characteristics and agricultural capabilities of these lands are generally similar to the developed portions to the west (i.e. sandy to loamy, undulating to moderately sloping soils with agricultural capabilities mostly ranging from Class 3 to Class 1, if irrigated). Portions of the land adjacent to the eastern City boundary have lower capabilities due to increasingly steep topography and shallowness to bedrock.
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5) Belgo, Garner, Lynrick, Gallagher Road Areas:
This ALR area south of Highway 33 consists of mainly sandy and loamy, undulating and rolling, or moderately sloping soils. Agricultural capabilities are high, mostly Class 2 or 1 with lesser amounts of Class 3. Minor ongoing limitations relating to irrigation expertise are present; as well, in some locations adverse topography is a limiting factor.
6) Benvoulin - Mission Flats Area:
This lowland occupies a large portion of the City's ALR. The soils consist mainly of moderately poorly to very poorly drained sandy and silty fluvial deposits. A very poorly drained organic area also occurs in the vicinity of Swamp Road. High water tables and poor drainage are the main agricultural capability limitations.
When adequately drained, however, land capabilities of Class 2 or Class 3 are possible. Grapes and some tree fruits are limited by potential spring frosts during blossoming and early fall frosts, however, a wide variety of other annual and perennial crops are possible.
This area is the largest in the City with soil drainage impediments. Poor soil drainage is most limiting during the spring and early summer periods due to snow melt and high levels in Okanagan Lake and Mission Creek. Seepage from the bench lands also contributes to poor drainage on the adjacent lowlands.
The main areas of very poorly drained soils are located near Mission Creek and south of the creek, including an area of organic soils adjacent to, and west of Swamp Road. During parts of the summer irrigation is required on the affected lands as well.
The detailed (BCLI) land capability for agriculture maps identify the area north of Mission Creek as mostly Class 4W with some Class 5W, when unimproved (i.e.
un-drained). The capability, when adequately drained increases to mostly Class 2W with some 3W.
The unimproved capability of the mineral soils on the Flats south of Mission Creek is mainly Class 5W with some 4W; this increases to mainly Class 3W and some 2W when adequate drainage is present. The capability of the organic area increases from 04W or 05W, un-drained, to mostly 02W with adequate drainage.
7) Southeast Kelowna Area:
The ALR lands in this rather large area of the City consist mostly of rolling to terraced, sandy and gravelly, well and rapidly drained soils. An area of clayey and silty soils also occurs. The dominant improved land capability for agriculture, based on the BCLI methodology, is Class 3, interspersed with lesser amounts of Class 2 and some Class 1.
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The ongoing limitations reflect the extra expertise required to manage irrigation on these coarse textured soils, as well as topographic limitations and stoniness in some locations. Slopes to about 15% are generally considered to be suitable for the production of most crops (i.e. those requiring at least one cultivation during the year). Slopes up to between 25 and 30% are generally acceptable for tree fruits and grapes since these crops do not usually require annual cultivation. The clayey soil areas have ongoing limitations relating mainly to rooting depth and management expertise required for these dense soils.
Some land scattered through Southeast Kelowna is currently undeveloped for agriculture (e.g. that located near the intersection of Dehart and Crawford Roads).
These lands are generally undeveloped not because of low agricultural capability but for other reasons such as lack of irrigation water.
8) Southwest Mission Area:
The rather limited ALR land in this portion of the City is similar in soil characteristics and agricultural capability as the Southeast Kelowna area (i.e.
mostly Class 3 with inclusions of Class 2 and 1). Comments previously provided for the Southeast Kelowna Area apply here as well.