The Greater Vernon Advisory Committee and senior staff from the ministries of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship and Agriculture and Food discussed emergency measures they said could help increase water availability for Greater Vernon residents and agricultural users.
Staff met July 16 with Greater Vernon Advisory Committee representatives to discuss two potential short-term emergency options.
The first option involved accessing Swan Lake as a temporary emergency water source, with water transferred to the Goose Lake reservoir system. Officials said Greater Vernon Water holds a water licence for BX Creek that could potentially be transferred to support water withdrawals from Swan Lake, subject to approval.
The second option involved transferring water from non-reservoir lakes within the Aberdeen Plateau watershed into the existing reservoir lake system on a short-term emergency basis.
The Regional District of North Okanagan said ministry staff were receptive to the proposals and would review the options, with a response to follow as soon as possible.
Discussions will continue with the province while Greater Vernon Water implements all available measures to manage water supplies and support domestic and agricultural users.
