Penticton MLA Dan Ashton talks with a Summerland municipal worker at the Isintok Dam opening Tuesday, July 19, 2022.
Image Credit: Mark Brett, Local Journalism Initiative
July 21, 2022 - 11:34 AM
After a simple twist of a valve, clean mountain water has once again begun flowing from the Isintok Lake reservoir to people in Summerland and Trout Creek.
There was an official reopening of the 96-year-old structure this week, which in 2013 was found to need a new outlet pipe at a cost of $2 million.
Senior levels of government picked up the lion’s share of the bill, with the District of Summerland kicking in some too and overseeing the project.
“This (re-opening) is hugely important,” said Summerland Mayor Toni Boot, who was among the elected officials who attended the site for a look Tuesday, July 19.
“As you can imagine, if there is a dam break the downstream damage would be catastrophic. It’s not inexpensive but certainly the safety of humans and everything else that shares this ecosystem is paramount.”
Summerland Mayor Toni Boot gives the thumbs up at the re-opening of Isintok Dam, Tuesday, July 19, 2022.
Image Credit: Mark Brett, Local Journalism Initiative
According to the mayor, there was consultation with First Nations and careful planning to ensure environmental outcomes were met.
That included slowly drawing down the reservoir, which holds over 1.3 million cubic metres of water, during June to avoid stranding fish.
Requiring technical engineering, work did not actually start until August 2021 and was completed by January in time for this year’s runoff.
“The top of mind, given our weather this spring, is the ability for structures like this to support flood resilience by allowing us to hold back water when we need to,” said Boot.
Another person happy with the work is Trout Creek resident and Penticton MLA Dan Ashton, who was also at the opening.
“Thank you for your amazing foresight,” Ashton said about the district’s efforts to get the dam repaired and finding the problem in the first place.
The new outlet pipe provides flood resistance and brings the structure up to dam safety standards.
Located at an elevation of 1,649 metres, water from the reservoir travels 24 kilometres before reaching the intake at the Summerland water treatment plant on Prairie Valley Road.
— This story was originally published by the Penticton Herald.
News from © iNFOnews, 2022