From: Gordon & Kathie Kirby  

250 Road 9
Oliver B.C.
V0H 1T1

To: Karla Kozakevich
Chair , Regional District of Okanagan Smimilkameen
Penticton B.C.

Re: Spring flooding of 2017

We have lived at this address for 50 years since 1967, no flooding can compare to this year.
The notes here are our thoughts on flooding and  silting of creeks below Rail Road Right of Way at road 9 starting about May 10, 2017. We refer to the causes and situations leading to our area flooding from these water sources:

1-Okanagan River brought to highest level in many years raising the initial ground water table level and hindering the ability of the large culvert north of bridge on road 9 to evacuate our area flood waters.

2-Reed Creek: This creek and other creeks mentioned are now all totally affected by the fire of 2015. Loss of tree top canopy, shrubs, grasses etc. prevent a slow melt of snow, which now turn creeks into runways of rampant water. On most years in the past this creek would go underground on its flow downward.

3- Togo Creek: also burned off, this creek was never an issue. It now contributes a large amount of water and runs across Fairview Golf Course, where it enters Reed Creek.

4- Tin Horn Creek: also burned off, this creek had a major flood on June 2, 1983 due to a build  up of logs and debris over many years which also filled up the irrigation channel. It did this again this spring 2017, up until now this creek has not been a problem. The end result for us is a creek now  going  down road 9 and pouring into Reed creek.

With the fire all of this could be a yearly event, with horrible results of flooding and a raised water table. It must be noted that all 3 creeks try to find their way  to the river meanwhile flooding and creating a large lake in the road 6,9 &10 area, all of which are productive farm lands as well as home sites. These creeks tried to flow to the river which was already swollen.  There are two ways this happened.

1- Flow north along a creek and run into Kirby drain ( a major creek down road 6).

2 – The other route is same creek, only it flows south and through culverts that run under private driveways to 3 properties/houses Kirby, Quaedvlieg, Enixon and through an ill conceived culvert of over 100 feet that was implanted in the creek to enable the previous owner of the lot to build a house – it is totally plugged, water runs over it to the river.  On June 9, 2017 RDOS showed up at this driveway with 2 pumps (650 gal minute each) pumping for hours each day until June 15th, moving a lot of water to below Road 9 bridge, by the last day pumping our water table had dropped at least 12 inches at the house and continued to drop on all affected properties as well!

Hopefully we get answers to this flooding situation before next year. Such as:
1- starting pumping much sooner.
2- rerouting this creek to below road 9 bridge as suggested in the past, thus preventing any back up and the free flow of water into river.
3- Possible diverting of Reed Creek down road 6 to Sawmill Road Junction to flow into Kirby Drain, thus in turn reducing the flow considerably in the creek at road 9.

In summary, clearly this will not be a 100 year event – not any more folks, Fire has changed everything!