The Mayor of Kamloops is appealing to provincial authorities to save the Noble Creek Irrigation System.
Reid Hamer-Jackson says he’s been in contact with Emergency Management Minister, Bowinn Ma, about extending the use of the existing rock walls – or rip rap – to keep the system operating.
“I just asked her to see how long that rip-rap can be left in there, just to give the users some time to see if we can deal with this in a little better way than what we are doing right now,” Hamer-Jackson said.
Speaking on NL Mornings, Hamer Jackson also says he’s been told the planned decommissioning of Noble Creek next month is likely going to cost three times the original estimate.
“It’s supposed to cost $450,000 to decommission the intake in the pump and all that stuff and now I’m learning it is going to be like $1.7-million,” he said. “I believe it is an asset and I just don’t believe giving up an asset and giving up that kind of money is a good idea.”
Hamer-Jackson says he has learned a lot more about the irrigation system – which has been owned and managed by the City since 1973 – since the decision to decommission it was made in a closed meeting on May 30.
“I just think there are a lot more solutions,” Hamer-Jackson said. “I’ve talked to a lot of the users and they have brought some professionals on that brought ideas about putting in a secondary pump for instance – like a pump to the intake if gets a little bit low.”
The Ministry has confirmed to Radio NL the discussions are ongoing, including with the City of Kamloops, which has operational jurisdiction over the Irrigation System.
“The possibility of extending the use of rip rap around the Noble Creek Irrigation System is being reviewed by the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, the Ministry of Forests and the City of Kamloops,” Emergency Management ministry spokesperson, Aimee Harper, told Radio NL in an email Thursday.
Low water levels on the North Thompson saw the system shut down last week, forcing the farmers to use it to find other sources of water for the rest of this growing season.
Ma also said Thursday the drought situation in B.C. has reached the point where the government has plans to transport water to communities in need, if required.
“We are largely building the ship as we are sailing it,” she said.
