Image Credit: Thompson-Nicola Regional District

By Victor Kaisar

Fadear Dam Update

State of local emergency lifted as TNRD completes initial work at ‘unauthorized’ Fadear Lake dam

Oct 16, 2025 | 2:54 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) has lifted a State of Local Emergency in Electoral Area “O” (Lower North Thompson) that was put in place because an unauthorized man-made dam north of Kamloops was at risk of flooding.

The TNRD says the state of local emergency is no longer needed as all emergency works at the Fadear Lake dam have been completed.

“[Wednesday], all sandbags and liner were removed from the site,” TNRD spokesperson Colton Davies said Thursday (Oct. 16). “As a local government, the TNRD’s involvement at this unauthorized dam is limited to emergency works only.”

In an earlier statement on Tuesday, the TNRD said work was done over the Thanksgiving long weekend to reduce the water level on Fadear Lake and to take pressure off of the dam at the outlet of the lake.

“As a result, water levels at this dam have decreased significantly in recent days,” the TNRD’s Tuesday statement said.

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“Special thanks to BC Wildfire Service crews from Kamloops, Lytton and Lillooet for their work on the ground, to Simpcw Resources Group for environmental monitoring, and to the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness for supporting this work.”

Last week, the TNRD said water was flowing freely after debris was cleared away from blocked culverts within the dam structure. An evacuation alert for 14 properties along Fadear Creek downstream of Fadear Lake was also lifted last Friday.

“A longer-term plan to fully remove the dam structure is the responsibility of the province, and my understanding is that they’re now planning next steps,” Davies added.

The TNRD is asking people who may have information about the dam’s origins to contact the Natural Resource Officer Service by calling the 24/7 Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) Line at 1-877-952-7277.

In a brief statement to CFJC Today, the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship said it is “actively working” with the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness and the TNRD to address the dam structure on Fadear Creek.

“The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship continues to monitor the site,” the statement said.

The statement did not say if there is a plan to remove the dam structure.

Editor’s note: This story was updated on Oct. 17 to include a statement from the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship.

Image Credit: Thompson-Nicola Regional District

Image Credit: Thompson-Nicola Regional District

Image Credit: Thompson-Nicola Regional District