Cools Pond in Vernon nearly dries up amid historic drought

Cools Pond in Vernon has nearly dried up due to a persistent and historic drought affecting the North Okanagan region. As of August 20, only a small amount of water remains in the center of the pond located on Rimer Road.

The Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) is collaborating with the North Okanagan Naturalist Club (NONC) to assess the situation. The NONC, which serves as the longtime steward of Cools Pond Park, is discussing the retention of experts to study the pond's hydrology and explore potential future options for the site.

While the current drought has accelerated the drying, NONC president Eric Kowalski noted that the pond has been progressively shrinking for several decades, which may reflect a natural ecological progression for local wetlands.