File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Silvia Senna

NOBLE CREEK

‘The city is out of the picture’: Westsyde residents prepare to take on Noble Creek Irrigation System challenge

Sep 6, 2023 | 4:34 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops council has decided on the decommissioning of a part of the Noble Creek Irrigation System and the city will now look at a temporary pump option for next year. Residents, on the other hand, just want this to be over.

Justin Fellenz owns a property close to the water intake along the North Thompson River. He is also the spokesperson for the newly formed Noble Creek Irrigation Society and says the decision is as good as it is going to get at the moment.

“The nice thing is, the city is out of the picture,” said Fellenz Wednesday (Sept. 6). “Now it’s really on us and I hope we’ll be able to move a little bit more efficiently as we are not tied down by governmental process. We can sit down face to face,” he explained.

Councillor Dale Bass told CFJC Today the decision is an attempt to help residents and give them more time to find a solution.

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“We are trying to set policy around Mother Nature, and that’s just not going to work,” she said. “It’s like shooting in the dark here. We don’t know if we’re going to hit something or miss, but at least we are going to try.”

The 41 property owners will be financially compensated by the city in the form of decommissioning payments. Fellenz believes that will be a good start to move forward.

“It’s unfortunate that that’s where we are, but that’s the reality,” he said. “Given what we had to work with, I’m pleased that individual people can start making individual decisions with some money in their pocket.”

Councillor Bass explained this will be last resource to try and fix the problem.

“If we put a pump in the river next year and the river still goes down, what else are we going to do? We can’t predict decisions based on the vagaries of Mother Nature and climate change,” she explained.

That leaves the society with no other option than a permanent solution.

“That’s where we go from here, we just figure out how to get water,” said Fellenz.