Noble Creek growers band together to get water – and answers

It has been less and a week since users of the Noble Creek Irrigation system say they were left high and dry.

“We entered one of the hottest weekends of the summer so far without any water and continue to not have water, this being Tuesday now,” Dieter Dudy, owner of Thistle Farm, said. “While my stuff is still living, a lot of it is starting to be impacted in a very negative way and it won’t be much longer, so I’m looking for alternatives to at least salvage my season.”

The City of Kamloops turned off the system on Thursday after the river dropped below the operating level.

As of now, the city has no solution to aid the users cut off from their water supply, and many in the community are frustrated with the lack of communication they have received on the issue.

“There’s certainly an appetite and a will and money to figure out other options to keep that valley green, but we are just being stimied and I don’t really understand why,” Fellenz said.

While the initial plan was to run the irrigation system until 2028, earlier this spring council announced it would be turned off at the end of the season due to erosion.

The city said it would explore other options for farmers in the area to at least help them through to fall, which may no longer be an option.

“Right now, we don’t have any direction from council to explore temporary water conditions,” Greg Wightman, City of Kamloops Utility Services Manager, explained.

However, users of the system are taking matters into their own hands and formed the Noble Creek Irrigation Society.

The Noble Creek Irrigation Society has started a petition to restart the irrigation system for the rest of the season and plans to present it to council at the next city council meeting on Aug. 15.

by Sydney Chisholm

Noble Creek growers band together to get water – and answers

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