Stump Lake residents look at historic creek as possible solution to flooding

KAMLOOPS – Water is flowing through an old creek bed at the south end of Stump Lake for the first time in a century.

In what appears to be a desperate attempt to lower the level of the lake, someone has cut a notch into a man-made structure that had blocked the natural flow of water.

“This earth-fill structure was constructed approximately 100 years ago as reported at a meeting on May 27th by the government officials,” said Randy Bourne, a resident of Stump Lake and retired geotechnical engineer. “Who did it, why it was done, we don’t know. The main thing is it is blocking the creek, which is the… major cause of our problems at the moment.”

The provincial Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development and the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans are currently investigating the action taken to drain water from the lake.

“I think the question was asked also, are they investigating who blocked the creek in the first place? I don’t think they have responded to the best of my knowledge,” Bourne said. “Whether that’s being investigated or not, I don’t know.”

In an email to CFJC Today, the ministry said it could not comment on the active investigation. It also said any draining of the lake would have serious consequences downstream.

For residents who are working day and night to save their properties, it seems a natural solution to put in a controlled release along the creek.

“Let the water go when it’s dry, starting in July, August, September, October, even into November you could release more water,” Bourne said. “Keep some more water going down and get the lake down so it doesn’t cause people downstream problems, as well as the people at Stump Lake.”

The issue has caught the attention of local MLA Jackie Tegart.

“I have approached Minister Farnworth for a meeting in Victoria next week and he has granted a meeting on Tuesday, and we’ll be talking about a short-term solution,” Tegart said.

She says they will also be discussing a long-term solution.

Tegart adds the Thompson-Nicola Regional District is looking at conducting a study to determine the impacts of letting some of the water out of the lake.

“Certainly in discussion with some of the downstream people, there is a willingness to look at the impact of perhaps letting some of the water out of the lake at a time when the freshet is not happening,” she said. “I’d like to talk to the minister about that.”

For residents like Randy Bourne, a quick solution may be the only one to save their homes.

“Something has to be done by this fall, otherwise, for sure there will be several people here who will be out of a house and for sure there’s going to be downstream flooding for other people, the Guichon Ranch, Nicola and Merritt. I’m sure of it.”