This Soil Management Handbook provides information on the types of crops suited to the soils and climate of the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys of British Columbia. Soil and Water Management information is provided for each crop type with details for irrigation, water conservation and drainage, on both uplands and lowlands.
The Okanagan Valley is situated in the south central region of British Columbia, a region that is well known for orchards, vineyards and a climate that is often considered a semi desert in the southern portion of the valley. The South East Kelowna Irrigation District (SEKID) is located in the center of the valley and was faced with water management problems in the early 1990’s. The district decided to implement a demand management strategy in 1995 to help improve their capability to manage their water resource during times of drought. The strategy included the installation of meters for all agricultural and new domestic users, the implementation of an irrigation scheduling demonstration program and the development of a data management and water use reporting program.
