Noble Creek Irrigation System users feel heard after marathon council meeting

KAMLOOPS – After nearly six hours of discussion at Tuesday’s city council meeting, the Noble Creek Irrigation System decommission date remains intact. However, many walked away from the meeting feeling hopeful.

The system that irrigates 41 Westsyde properties had been turned off earlier this month due to low water levels. The system is once again pumping water,

“Walking away from the meeting, I felt that we were finally heard,” Adam Woodward of Woodward Cider Company told CFJC News.

The Noble Creek Irrigation Society made its case to city council on Tuesday,

“We took it upon ourselves to get in front of council to state our case that they should be consulting with us prior to making these big decisions,” Woodward explained.

Earlier this month, the Noble Creek Irrigation System was turned off due to the low river level, leaving many on the system high and dry. Residents in the area formed the Noble Creek Irrigation Society to lobby for their needs.

“One of the challenges with the Noble Creek Irrigation System is it services 41 customers and 41 customers only. Nobody else can access that system, so the customers out there are heavily reliant on it,” said Greg Wightman, Utility Services Manager for the City of Kamloops. “Obviously, they feel like they should have a large say in it and they should, but the system is a part of the potable water utility and it’s paid for by potable water customers across the city.”

Despite continued low water levels, the City of Kamloops was able to turn the system back on Thursday by manipulating the conditions surrounding the system.

Though the pump is still slated to be decommissioned in December, council has moved to work with the Noble Creek users.

“We, essentially, are going to have a seat at the table to understand the challenges that the city is facing with the current system and how they are not able to get the erosion protection work completed,” Woodward explained. “We are going to basically join forces and work together to find a solution.”

City staff are now working on a report exploring different options for the system as well as highlighting any liability that may come of leaving the system the way it is. Wightman said plans are to meet with the provincial government and a report should be completed in September.