JUNE 2020

PREFACE / EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

By researching the BC Lands & Forests Report of 1973 “Twin Lake Preliminary Lake Levels” by J. Botham and 55 years of LNID water records, the history and the “Challenges of Sustainable Water in the Twin Lake Basin” becomes evident. Is there a mitigation strategy for the repeated flood & drought cycles? Ground water levels to the Twin Lake Area follow what happens in Twin Lake (a canary in the coal mine). The surface water (lakes, rivers and streams) is hydraulically connected to the ground and alluvial aquifer water levels. This document lists the water history from 1939 to 2019, water licenses and works.

A pattern of neglect of the Twin Lake Waterway persists with the misconception as stated by our area Dam Supervisor, Michael Noseworthy, that Twin Lake is a dead end “Endorheic” lake not a waterway. This statement was made and sent to the Ministry without considering the history of the early ranchers by Mr. Noseworthy. There is a possible solution but, I conclude, that the Province not the Regional District or the LNID must take the leadership role to bring all stakeholders who benefit from sustainable water in the Twin Lake Basin together.

The March 2020 BC Partnership for Water Sustainability stated, “Restoring Nature Builds Resilience” and there are benefits when “Transforming Eco Liability into Eco Assets”.

Good water stewards understand their own water source, water use, the watershed and the role it plays in local agriculture, and community dynamics.

Respectfully Submitted by,

LOWER NIPIT (Twin Lake Land) IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT

Coral Brown, Past Chair coralbrown2@gmail.com

1.0.0 PURPOSE 3

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 FIG.1WATERWAY/DISTRICT LOTS OF TWIN LAKE AREA FROM GOOGLEMAP —- 2

1.1.0 HYPOTHESIS—————————————————————————– 3-4

OUTLINE OF TWIN LAKE’S HISTORY————————————————————- 4-6
1. TWIN LAKE RANCHERS & WATER CONCERNS—————————– 4-5
1. RANCH WATER MANAGEMENT TO 1986. DRY YEARS TO 1996—— 5
1. DEVELOPMENT NO WATERSHED MANAGEMENT SINCE 1986—— 5-6
1. SOME BENEFICIAL INITIATIVES 1996 -2016————————— 6
1. DROUGHT/ FLOODS AND INADEQUATE “WORKS”——————- 6-7

2.0.0 WATERWAY FACTS 7-8

3.0.0 EARLY WATER LICENCES —————————————————————————– 8-9 4.0.0 TWIN LAKE’S WATER BY J. BOTHAM, FEBRUARY 1973————————————————————— 9-10

5.0.0. DISCUSSION 10

6.0.0 CONCLUSION 10-11

7.0.0 REFERENCES & STUDIES 11

8.0.0 LIST OF FIGURES 13-16 FIG. 2 PRE-1930 MAP WITH EPHEMERAL LOWER HORN CREEKMARKED — 13

FIG. 3 TWIN LAKE WATER LEVEL GRAPH OVER TIME 1941 – 2019—————— 14

FIG. 4 TWIN LAKE’S SAND & GRAVEL (ALLUVIAL) AQUIFER #261—————— 15

Fig. 5 1975 Surface Watercourse of Twin Lake————————————— 16

9.0.0 LIST OF APPENDICES —————————————————————————– 17- 9.1.0 WATER LEVELS FROM LNID RECORDS 1970-2019—————————————————————- 17-26

9.1.1 ANNUAL TWIN LAKE LEVEL REPORTS——————————————

1.0.0 PURPOSE

It is economically prudent to understand, protect and restore the Twin Lake Waterway to ensure sustainable water. There can be no development without ensuring sustainable water. This semi arid, ground water limited area is a sensitive eco system. Environment Canada states, “Sustainable development is about meeting the needs of today without compromising the needs of future generations”. The Precautionary Principle, “taking preventative action in the face of uncertainty” must be applied. The South Okanagan Twin Lake Basin is located at the height of land between Keremeos & Kaleden. It is rich with species at risk. There is open land but limited water.

1.1.0 HYPOTHESIS

The only possible solution for sustainable water in the Twin Lake Basin and aquifer is by restoring the Twin Lake north & south wetlands along with the gravity-feed, gate controlled pipe which was dug into Lower Horn Creek in 1951 to help control irrigation to DL 280 & 281. The pipe was removed when water was low and power to the area allowed a pump in the lake. Thus the overflow outlet to Lower Horn Creek was filled. With restored wetlands, spring run-off water could then be slowed, sunk and stored

over aquifer #261 in DL 280. There is some additional water storage available around Upper Twin Lake which belongs to the Nature Trust of BC. There are no residences around Upper Twin Lake and only one Lower Twin Lake lakefront residence in the 320 acre “Parc” wetland on DL 280. This one residence is adjacent to the Lower Horn Creek bed.

If we, the LNID, the Province and the affected stakeholders are concerned about sustainable water, we must work together. Leadership is needed. Since the Province owns the water, the Province must lead to protect their water. All stakeholders must understand the importance of a solution for sustainable water and be willing to co-operate and participate. Water is important, not just for man’s existence but also for this sensitive ecosystem and the many species at risk.

OUTLINE OF TWIN LAKE’S HISTORY

TWIN LAKE RANCHERS & WATER CONCERNS

In 1904, water concerns became apparent when the first water licence was issued to Charles des Blois Green, an English surveyor, who purchased the Upper Twin Lake (UTL) Ranch. Mr. Green and his family were initially summer residents but became permanent after WWI and owned this land until about 1970.

By the late 1930s, the Lower Twin Lake (LTL) had two ranches (the Lower and Middle Ranch), both owned by Mr. D.L. Sutherland and his two sons. The Green’s Upper Twin Lake Ranch surrounded UTL.

In 1939, Mr. Sutherland purchased the Learne’s hayfield along the east side of Highway 3A which is now Twin Lake Golf Course (TLGC).

From 1945 to 1974, the North LTL Ranch became a well known dude ranch called Twin Lake Guest Ranch. In 1960, the sons of D.L. Sutherland, owners of the Lower (Dude) and Middle Twin Lake Ranch (both on LTL), subdivided their lakefront property along the south bay of LTL to create recreational lots. The Sutherlands sold their Middle Ranch and the hayfield along Highway 3A to Mr. R. Wassman.

The three 1960 Twin Lake ranchers were Sutherlands of Lower Twin Lake Dude Ranch, Green of the Upper Twin Lake Ranch around the UTL, and Wassman of the Middle Ranch which included a critical piece of LTL lakeshore- the overflow outlet called Lower Horn Creek and the low land called “The Parc” in DL 280. The three ranchers struggled with their water supply, which was complicated by droughts and floods, water diversions, water storage, an earthen dam (1948), water licences and gravity- feed irrigation. In 1962 the new rancher, Mr. R. Wassman of the Middle Twin Lake (TL), observed a low water level and proceeded to plug the gravity feed pipe and fill Lower Horn Creek with 21 ft. of fill.

After only 4 years the 18 lakefront property owners approached the province about low water levels. In 1965, drought and flood concerns prompted the Province to form a Land Improvement District (LNID) for the LTL lakefront property owners. The Province recognized a growing problem.

In 1970, Wassman began constructing the nine-hole TLGC, but he passed away in 1971. The 9 hole TLGC was completed in 1976 by Mr. Shillitto. A 1970s developer, Gabriola Enterprises, purchased all of the Twin Lake ranches except the northern dude ranch and the lakefront recreational properties. The developer planned to build a large resort with 4,000 dwellings along the southern aspect of Lower Twin Lake. After nine years, the developer sold to Art and Thelma Krieger. Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) could not be developed. From 1970 until 1990, the Kriegers owned the down gradient White Lake Ranch, all of the land around UTL, the water licence for the earthen dam, the Parc land and much of the

land around LTL except the Dude Ranch and the 18 LTL lakefront recreational lots. In 1990 Mr. Jim McPherson, a real estate investor, purchased the Kriegers’ Twin Lake Ranch which he named Twin R Ranch and in 2011 The Nature Trust of BC purchased Twin R Ranch for the value of grassland conservation.

RANCH WATER MANAGEMENT TO 1986 THEN DRY YEARS TO 1996

The Kriegers were active ranchers and managed the water satisfactorily on both Upper and Lower Twin Lake while successfully providing hay land for their cattle.

Spring run-off from Horn Creek was stored by backing it up onto the DL 427, where the old, large barn still exists on the southern shores of UTL. The water was stored until June 30 and then released from UTL, as per their water licences. Storing water in the spring behind the 1948 earthen dam caused flooding of the south pasture of UTL. Cattle thus had good hay until about mid-July when they were moved to The Parc area. The stored UTL water was released by June 30 from UTL to LTL. This gave the rancher two watered fields by storing and releasing water. This system worked well during average freshet years. The Krieger’s land also included the down gradient White Lake Ranch. With a planned sale in 1986, Krieger’s stopped their surface water irrigation in the Parc. A 30% water loss occurs with irrigation (to evaporation). No water management was required until the wet years of 1996- 1999.

DEVELOPMENT NO WATERSHED MANAGEMENT SINCE 1986

In 1986, an 18-hole golf course opened with irrigation from drilled wells in aquifer #261.

In 1990, Krieger’s sold to an investor, Jim McPherson. In the wet years of 1996 to 1999, there was no ranch irrigation. The LNID had a Statutory Right of Way surveyed across the Parc of DL 280, installed a 6 in. pipe and a low pressure electric pump at the Lower Horn Creek overflow outlet from LTL. Mr.

McPherson gave his permission but would not sign the legal documents. In 1997 to 1998, the spring run- off was so great that LNID arranged to divert ½ the water flow to the next S. White Lake Valley to fill a natural hollow which is now developed. Dry years occurred from 2000 until 2009 with no surface spring run-off water reaching the Upper Lake for 3 years. Many residents lost water in their well & lake intakes during 2009. Water use was greater than water-in Well levels were down – some dropped 2 to 3 meters. The Lake could not be managed since there was no water storage and even a dry Turtle Pond.

Mr.McPherson had the water licence for the earthen dam. He closed and locked the slide culvert at the Upper Twin Lake outlet to attempt to make the UTL larger in low snow pack years. In 2008, the outlet of UTL was deliberately blocked with rubble. The Ministry allowed this blockage and breach of McPherson’s water licence, telling the LNID that the Ministry office was “too busy to research this file”. In 2007 McPherson advertised his 800 hectare Ranch for sale in 5 large parcels. The Twin R Ranch did not sell with the down turn in the 2008 economy, but the Twin Lake Golf Course sold in Jan. 2008.

During 2007 and 2008 the Golf Course irrigation was 24/7 even though the snow pack was low. With no spring run- off water into the system and heavy water use by the Golf Course the Twin Lake water level dropped to a low of 7.5 vertical ft.

2010 to 2020 have been wet years with the exception of 2019 when the snow pack was 81% of N and no surface water reached UTL Twin Lake fell by 4 vertical ft. With snow packs of 150% N and 206%N in 2017 & 2018 respectively, no overflow outlet, no other available diversion, costly floods occurred. In 2018 the LTL had 8 ft. of flood water. The Emergency Measures cost was over a million dollars. The Ministry approved a low pressure Twin Lake pump only pumps 3/8 in. in 24 hr. thus larger diesel pumps were used at the original overflow outlet of Lower Twin Lake to pump 5 vertical ft. in 2017 and 14 vertical ft. of water in 2018. In 2019 with no water storage, a low snow pack and no surface water into the waterway 3 pending developments exist – 208 TLGC dwellings, a Marijuana Facility and logging in the Horn Creek Watershed which will influence waterlevels.

The BC Ministry of Environment aquifer information for the aquifer #261 has not been updated since 2007 even though there have been hydro geological studies completed since 2017. Several wells have been drilled and several houses built.

500 head of cattle wandered in and out of the Twin Lake Waterway until the waterway was mostly fenced off in 2016. Cattle consume about 20 USg/day of water and thus must be factored into the water- out calculations.

In 2020 it became popular to invite the public into the Twin Lake Area with proposed easement developments, a Park, and a fishing dock.

SOME BENEFICIAL INITIATIVES 1996-2016

In 1996 the LNID obtained a Statutory Right of Way (SRW) agreement and installed a pump and 6-inch pipe at the historical overflow outlet site of LTL to divert ¼ to ½ inch of water per day on the approval of the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources Operations Rural Development (MoFLNRORD) into Lower Horn Creek. Flooding was avoided during the very wet years of 1996 to 1999, by the use of the LNID pump along with a second culvert and ditch diversion (1996 to 1998) to the next White Lake Valley DL 1469s.

During the dry-year water cycle, 2000 to 2009, less water entered Twin Lake with no surface water in from 2007 to 2009, while water-use increased with the sale of TLGC in January 2008. LTL was pinched between less water-in and more water-out of this hydrologic system.

By 2009, the lake and aquifer levels fell below acceptable levels (well levels had dropped by 2 to 3m.), so that many lost water in their well or lake intakes and the Turtle Pond dried up.

In 2010, with the lake and aquifer #261 at very low levels, a Twin Lake Aquifer Capacity Study was completed by Summit. Summit concluded that only 30-35% of the recharge water should be used. The Summit Study was paid for by The Ministry and LNID with the shortfall covered by Okanagan Basin Water Board.

In February 2011, two Observation Ground Water Monitoring Wells were drilled at either end of LTL.

The Nature Trust of BC (NTBC) purchased the 800-hectare Upper and Middle TL ranches from McPherson in 2011. The owner of 325 Westview Road and the new owners NTBC signed legal agreements with LNID for the SRWs.

In 2016 the New Water Sustainability Act was released and commercial wells were to be licensed by 2022 and domestic wells were to be registered.

DROUGHT/ FLOODS & Inadequate “Works”.

Since the drought of 2007 to 2009 and then the costly floods of 2017 and 2018 on LTL, the LNID have gained increased understanding and realize fully that UTL and LTL are on a waterway influenced by events in the watershed above and down gradient. The Twin Lake is important as a source of water for the Okanagan River.

During the recent floods of 2017 & 2018, UTL and LTL did become one lake, just as we have read in the early days. One lake explains the early survey maps and the name of Twin Lake. During both floods, no

water flowed between the lakes as they were one lake.

By 2019, three developments applications were pending in the Twin Lake Area where water was said to be “overtaxed” by Golder in their 2011 Peer Review. The large diversion water licence belonging to NTBC is still active. About 500 head of cattle reside on NTBC land.

2.0.0 TWIN LAKE WATERWAY FACTS

Both flood & drought affect the Twin Lake Area’s water sustainability. There is no other water source available for the Twin Lake Area. Emergency Measures funding for the Twin Lake floods of 2017 & 2018 was very costly and extremely stressful for the many lakefront residents. This flood expense could have been better utilized by restoring the overflow gate controlled gravity- feed pipe and the wetlands both above & below Twin Lake. These measures would help protect down gradient properties and decrease the risk of unsustainable water for the existing Twin Lake Area properties, ecosystems and 3 pending area developments.

To make the water history of Twin Lake clear, it is important to use the gazetted and original survey name “Twin Lake”. The anecdotal names of Horn & Nipit add to the confusion. Twin Lake is one lake in the spring of the wet years, but 2 lakes called Upper Twin Lake (UTL) and Lower Twin Lake (LTL) with warmer weather and/or dryer water cycles. Historically, the wet & dry water cycle is about 20 years which allows for much distraction, offences and a loss of focus. Twin Lake is part of an upland “Y” shaped waterway (hydrologic system) so formed by Orofino, Parker and Laidlaw Mountains in the Horn Creek Watershed. The Twin Lake Waterway is tributary to the Okanagan River. The 2 arms of the “Y” shaped waterway have 2 lakes in common, namely the no name “Top Lake” at 1550 masl & Twin Lake at about 800masl. Arising from the Top Lake the creeks Bear and Horn Creek join on the west face of Orofino Mt. and are then known as Horn Creek which is the main source of water supply to Twin Lake & aquifer #261. The “Top Lake” has an overflow outlet culvert crossed by a Forestry Services Road. Horn Creek is ephemeral at the lower elevation where it enters UTL. The flow of Horn Creek depends on the Orofino Mt. winter snow pack and the timing/amount of the spring precipitation.

The NE waterway arm now discharges through a land barrier from LTL into Lower Horn Creek to reach Myers/Park Rill Creek which originates from a NE face of Orofino Mt. In the early years, there was an (“appears to be” according to Botham) an overflow LTL outlet. The pre 1930 area map, obtained from UBC library archives, shows an ephemeral Lower Horn Creek exiting Lower Twin Lake. This overflow outlet is near the 1960 Middle Twin Lake ranch house. Lower Horn Creek was ephemeral at this land barrier before the man-made waterway excavations, licensed in 1951 on “The Parc” in DL 280.
The NW waterway arm from LTL is connected by ground water under the Twin Lake Golf Course (TLGC) to Trout Lake which did have a wetland overflow before the #3A Highway was built. Until about 2013 Trout Lake water seeped under Highway 3A. Trout Lake was a healthy, deep little lake teaming with fish & vegetation until the Yellow Lake Highway Improvement dumped tons of debris into a deep hollow near the Trout Lake historical wetland by the highway maintenance yard. Aquifer #261 hugs the shoreline of Trout Lake and is the source of Marama Creek which enters Marron Lake. Marron Lake moves via the Marron River to Skaha Lake.

There is an earthen dam at the UTL outlet with a slide culvert licensed to store 380 acre ft. of water over the 80 acre UTL or 4.9 vertical ft. of water before reaching the concrete spillway. The slide culvert output channel leads to the Turtle Pond (TP) with a drop of only about 1ft. over 1 km. When full the TP spills to LTL in a 24 in. culvert under Eastview Rd. In the mid wet year cycle of May 2013 UTL was at 797 masl with LTL at the vertical normal high water level of 795.6 masl and Trout Lake was at 764.2 masl

Ground water seeps from LTL under the TLGC to Trout Lake by hydraulic pressure. Underneath this “Y” shaped hydrologic system is the “Twin Lake” alluvial (sand & gravel) unconsolidated, semi confined Aquifer #261.

In Feb.1973 the BC Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water Resources released the Preliminary Report on

“Control of Surface Levels on Twin Lake” by J. Botham. The Report contains history, some hydrology, recommended lake levels and recommendations for further works.

In 1904 water licences were issued on Twin Lake & Horn Creek in an attempt to control water for irrigation, diversion/storage and to reduce disputes between 2 ranchers initially, then later between 3 ranches.

In 2010, the Water Canada Gauges (WCGs) had been lost due to the low water and were reset at:

LTL according to the old pipe sill on the beach at 325 Westview Rd. which equates to the 1968 hydrometric station of 17.6 ft. or 795.6 masl for the normal high water boundary.
At the UTL outlet wooden earthen dam structure – a measurement of stored UTL water and
The WCG at the Turtle Pond (TP) was set at “0” on the fence post at the outlet to mark water stored. Water begins spilling to LTL when the TP water level reaches .4m on the WCG. These WCGs require maintenance due to structure deterioration, ice/ wind and dislodging.

3. EARLY TWIN LAKE WATER LICENCES

Botham listed the following:

# 607 in 1904 to Charles de Blois Green from Horn Creek
# 1047 in 1911 to Gilbert Taylor for irrigation to DL 280 & 281 from LTL. But by1926 Mr. Taylor had not been able to devise a practical system to transport the water to land & his licence was abandoned
# 4192 in 1923 to Gilbert Taylor for 24.5 acre ft. to irrigate 9.8 acres of DL 281.
#10471 in 1930 to divert 30 acre ft./year to 18 acres of DL 427 (Green’s Upper Twin Lake Ranch), but pumping was too expensive so Mr. Green applied in 1935 to have the licence amended to construct a gravity pipeline from Horn Creek on DL 1469s upstream of UTL to irrigate DL 427.
# 10377 in 1938 to Mr. Green – final water licence as the conditional licence #10471 was successful. This diversion pipe is now covered by a slide or excavation debris but still spills in the spring to the SW side of the upper DL 427 of the Nature Trust field. This spill happens even when no water runs in the spring in Horn Creek at the DL 1469s culverts and is earlier than the Horn Creek flow through the culverts.
1942 was a heavy run-off so that Green & Sutherland agreed to reduce the flooding of the UTL & increase the low water level of the LTL. Green deepened the outlet of UTL.
1943 &1944 were below average inflow & Sutherland had returned the UTL outlet to what he stated was the normal level.
1946 with increased inflow a dispute between Greens & Sutherlands occurred as Mr. Green stated Sutherland closed the UTL outlet to create a higher elevation – Fairview Water District solved the dispute by assigning a maximum elevation to the UTL water level and the outlet.(The Ministry have not been able to find this elevation).
1947 was low run-off but 1948 was a maximum recorded run-off causing flooding of both Lakes.
# 19012 in 1949 the Sutherland Brothers applied to build a 3 ft. high earthen dam to store 200 acre ft. on the UTL. The storage was subject to the previous established UTL high water. A slide culvert was added and the water licence states that water maybe stored (culvert closed) from Oct. 1 to Jun 30.
#19011 in 1949 the Sutherland Brothers applied to install a pump in the SE corner of LTL to divert 200 acre ft. for the irrigation of 100 acres of DL 280 by pipe & ditch

1951 sudden snow melt caused flooding so the Sutherlands added another pump pumping 15 acre ft. per day beginning May 17. Water was pumped into Lower Horn Creek from LTL. Sutherlands were told to stop pumping July 18 due to downstream flooding.
# 20605 in 1952 to the Sutherlands to replace #19011 with the added clauses – water so diverted to be used for irrigation only, the rate of the diverted water will be designated by the Water Rights Engineer and must not be greater than his designation.
# 20605 in 1952 to the Sutherlands ( replacing #19012) stated “to install 500 ft.of 15 in. diameter pipe laid in a ditch to a depth of 25 ft. with a concrete headwall & vertical steel headwall with a vertical steel control gate at the lake end”. The pipe was backfilled and the open portion of the ditch was extended 1200 ft. east to a sump dug in Lower Horn Creek where the irrigation pump was relocated.
#20606 in 1952 replaced #19012 for John Stewart, owner of DL 282 & 283. He agreed to build weirs at the pumps of Stewarts re-diversion so to take all the water the Sutherlands could pump.
#20605 in 1961 was cancelled by Mr. Wassman owner of Middle Twin Lake Ranch – DL 280 &

281. In a letter Mr. Wassman warned the lakefront LTL property owners that he intended to plug the 15 in. drain pipe & fill in the ditch with 20 ft. of fill to protect his cattle. Mr. Wassman did carry out his plan.

4. TWIN LAKES WATER REPORT BY J. BOTHAM, FEBRUARY 1973

Botham concluded that the average annual Twin Lake freshet was 4 to 7 vertical ft. The licensed diversion was 202.7 acre ft., estimated evaporation was 160.2 acre ft. (18 in.) and estimated seepage was

27.1 acre ft./year. Total irrigation water-use in 1973 was estimated to be 390 acre ft. or 4.6 vertical ft. of Twin Lake water. The 1939 to 1970 water history was documented in the 1973 Botham Report to address concerns around control of high and low water levels in Twin Lake & outline the possibility of re- establishing the 1951 outlet works. A Bathymetric Map of LTL estimates one inch of water in LTL to be 2,900,074 US gallons.

1937 – 1941 were years with below average run-off.

1942 heavy spring run-off caused flooding of the UTL affecting the UTL resident rancher, Mr. Green. However, LTL was at a low level from the previous 4 years of low spring run-off. Mr. Sutherland, owner of Lower & Middle Twin Lake Ranch, received permission to deepen the outlet channel from UTL to LTL.

1943 & 1944 had below average run-off. 1945 had an average in-flow.

1946 heavy in-flow & Mr. Sutherland owner of the Lower TL Ranch reassured Mr. Green that “the channel had been closed to the original level”.

1947 was a low run-off year.

1948 was a maximum recorded run-off and flooded both lakes (2 lakes become one Twin Lake as on the original survey).

1948 – 1959 had above average run-off.

1949 – June 2 water licences were issued to the Sutherlands: 1. to construct a 3 ft. high dam at the UTL outlet to store 200 acre ft of water in UTL. This licence was subject to the water level established in 1946 by the Fairview Water District for the UTL and 2. the water licence to install a pump at the SE corner of the LTL to divert 200 acre ft. of water to irrigate the 100 acres of DL 280 by pipe & ditch (no minimum lake level was stated at this time).

1950’s – was a wet weather cycle.

1950 – Caused flood damage so that a gate controlled gravity feed overflow pipe & ditch was constructed at the natural overflow outlet of Lower Twin Lake to divert excess inflow water to DL 280. Botham stated these works were only to be used for irrigation (of DL 280 & 281), but operated so that the surface level in Lower Twin Lake was reduced without adding to the flood potential of Park Rill.

1951 was another high run-off year with a large snow pack & rapid spring melt causing flooding of the Dude Ranch. Pumping was stopped July 18 due to down gradient flooding.

1952 Sutherlands applied for a sump pump licence to pump water from mid DL 280 to DL 281. 1960s the water level continued to drop in a dry weather cycle so that no water reached the LTL overflow pipe outlet. . Mr. Wassman purchased the Middle Ranch in 1960.

1960 LTL was at13.6 ft.

1964 – the overflow pipe had been removed & the ditch had been filled with 20 ft. of fill to protect the cattle. With power to the area in 1965, and low water levels, Mr. Wassman pumped water directly from the Lower Twin Lake to his “Parc” field in DL 280.

1964 & 1965 LTL was only at 13.6 ft.

1966 LTL was at 11.6 ft

1967 LTL was at 10.2 ft. (residents observed over pumping by the Middle Lake rancher, Mr. Wassman). 1968 – a hydrometric station (08NM148) was set near the overflow outlet of LTL so that the normal high water mark was 17.6 ft. (a vertical water level mark). The tree line or initial flood stage or full lake pool is about 19.6 ft. The Province took regular readings at the hydrometric station from April 1^st to Sept 30^th in 1968 to 1972. There was also a hydrometric station at the confluence of Bear & Horn Creek.

1968 LTL dropped to 7.6 ft.

1969 LTL recovered very slightly.

1970 LTL had minimum inflow and was at the low level of 4.6 ft.

1973 – Botham assigned a low lake level to LTL of 12.6 vertical ft. to prevent excess ranch irrigation.

5.0.0 DISCUSSION

In 2014 the Horn/Bear Creek confluence had a large washout and was observed by the Ministry of FLNRORD from Vernon. This large washout has caused the following down gradient erosion and two more washouts which all require further assessment, stabilizing and repair by the Ministry.

Repairs/stabilizing has not been completed as 1^st Nations artifacts were found.

In early May 2018, Bear & Horn Creeks washed out at the confluence and all the way to the culverts at the S. White Lake Rd. The culverts were rebuilt by, the now deceased, land owner Si Siebens. In 2018, after the Horn Creek spring washout, these culverts were blocked with rip-rap (rock rubble) but cleared by a nearby resident. There is a new logging road at the S. end of Grand Oro Rd. competed in 2019. The logging road crosses the “Top Lake” overflow outlet which has a 24 inch culvert under the road. It does not seem that either of these potential offences caused the minimal flow of Horn Creek in 2019. Low snow pack and greater water-out than water- in seem the contributing factors.

We, the LNID, state again, there is a window of opportunity for a possible Twin Lake Area sustainable water solution. Since the wet year flooding of 1996-1999, when ½ the freshet was diverted to the next valley; it was evident that a solution to mitigate both the flood & drought was necessary. The LNID has written many letters to BC government officials requesting assistance/leadership. Sustainable water in Twin Lake & the aquifer must be achieved before further development & pending climate change takes effect. The only sensible solution is to restore the original wetlands and the gravity feed gate controlled pipe so that water can be made to slow, sink and then be stored over aquifer #261. Because of the historical 20 year wet & dry year water cycle the wetlands would only be for a few years (estimated to be about 6 years) out of the 20 years.

There is some water storage available around the UTL on Nature Trust Land and has been used to increase storage successfully in the past. There are no residences around UTL or in the DL 280 “Parc”

wetland. The old earthen dam requires a “common sense” safety approach – it is not the Testalinden Dam. The slope from the UTL outlet to the Eastview Rd. culvert is only about 1 ft. over ~1 km. This document,

“Twin Lake Water History and Levels” provides some incite and understanding of the Twin Lake Waterway and aquifer #261. Some definite freshet patterns are evident, along with abuse of the waterway. Conclusions can be drawn. The Water Canada Gages are difficult to maintain due to ice, wind and the large water level variances. The waterway flows can and must be managed in order to have sustainable water in the Twin Lake Area. At this time, it is impossible to manage the wet years with only a small flow pump. The pump is operated only with the BC Ministry FLNRORD Water Stewardship permission to release water which depends on downstream water levels.

6.0.0 CONCLUSION

If the Province and the several stakeholders, who need sustainable water, work together a solution can be achieved. Leadership is needed. The Province owns the water of BC; the Province should provide the leadership to protect their water. All stakeholders must understand the importance of and the risks to sustainable water and be willing to participate/co-operate. The Twin Lake Area has water storage in the alluvial aquifer #261, but if too much water is removed from the aquifer the ability to store water will decrease due to cementation. Summit in the 2010 Twin Lake Aquifer Capacity Study suggested that only 30 to 35% of the recharge should be used in any given year.

Water is important, not just for man’s existence, and property values, but also, for this sensitive ecosystem and the many species at risk found in this upland South Okanagan Area. We repeat the March 2020 Partnership for Water Sustainability statement that “Restoring Nature Builds Resilience” and there are benefits of “Transforming Eco liability into Eco Assets”. A one million dollar 2018 flood event handled by Emergency Measurers that placed large diesel pumps and diesel fuel on the edge of LTL is and was a huge liability. The 8 ft. x 300m sand bag & heco bin wall to hold back the force of two 80+ acre ft. lakes was very dangerous. Downstream had large areas of erosion from the effects of the forceful pumps. All of this waste of funds and environmental damage occurred because the obvious solution of restoration has not been accomplished .

7.0.0 References & Studies

1940, “Geology of the White Lake Basin” by Cairns includes the Twin Lake Area. The White Lake Basin is just over Parker Mt. from Twin Lake.

1941, the Bostock Geological Government Service of Canada included Twin Lake information.

1967, Dr. Neil Church presented “Geology of the White Lake Area” to UBC.

1973 BC Lands & Forests Twin Lake Botham Report provided historical and scientific water information on the Twin Lakes Area and recommended a high and low surface water level which limited the ranch surface water withdrawal. The gravitation overflow gate controlled pipe from Lower Twin Lake to DL 280 is also described on p. 7-9.

1981, Dr. G. van der Kamp, a well known hydro geologist wrote a letter stating that the annual

estimated aquifer recharge was limited to about 400 US g pm and “It appears that water consumption in the Twin lakes watershed may already be near the maximum sustainable yield”.

1994 the EBA Twin Lakes Golf Course Hydrological Study stated the annual estimated recharge of the aquifer to be 756 US g pm. This study was completed on behalf of the Twin Lakes golf course to support the many layers of development applications. Hydro geologist, Richard Guiton of EBA at an RDOS open

house meeting in January 1996, stated “from the data and the subsequent, recommendations development was not favorable. There was not enough water available in the basin, and it was not good for the people or the environment”.

2007 & 2010 EBA completed two update letters supporting the 1994 Study assuming there had been no new housing in the area when, in fact ,there had been approximately 30 more residences built.

2008, the “Geology Penticton Tertiary Outlier” by Dr. Neil Church included Twin Lake info.

2010 the Summit Aquifer Capacity Study concluded that the annual estimated recharge was about 570 US g pm and “additional water demand from the development may not be achievable in the long term” (Summit Executive Summary p.iii)

2011 the Golder Peer Review agreed with the Summit study.

2015 RDOS Area D Infrastructure Study – includes an aquifer update by Remi Allard

2016 the TLGR Golder Hydrogeological Twin Lake Area Study denied any surface water irrigation licenses in the Twin Lake Area and used a higher water recharge than Summit.

2019 BC Feasibility Flood Study – Park Rill & Twin Lake. See the RDOS website.

2019 the Terms of Reference for the 2^nd Phase of the TLGR Development by Golder with only 3 references all to Golder’s past work and the 2012 Water Use Plan of the TLGR Developer’s Waste Water Treatment Designer, Michael Seymour, AScT.

8.0.0 FIGURES

FIG. 2 PRE-1930 TWIN LAKE AREA MAP

Lower Horn Creek old map preemptors_1930.jpg

Fig. 2

Pre-1930 Twin Lake Area Map, courtesy of UBC Archives Library, July 2018.

The broken lines show ephemeral creeks – creeks that run in the Spring of wet years or when there is increased snow pack.

Note; Lower Horn Creek flowed from LTL with an overflow outlet.

Twin Lake Sand & Gravel (Alluvial) Aquifer #261 with wells entered before 2008

Fig. 5 Surface Watercourse of Twin Lake 1975

9.0.0 APPENDICES

LOWER TWIN LAKE WATER LEVELS FROM LNID RECORDS, 1970 – 2019

Lower Twin Lake (LTL) water level readings are in vertical feet, according to the hydrometric station set in 1968. The Upper Twin Lake (UTL) and Turtle Pond (TP) readings for water storage were in both feet and meters. Each of these three water bodies has a Water Canada Gauge (WCG). The TP had a new WCG in 2012, but was reset in 2013 as fencing had been done. The UTL 1991 storage record was in feet, but was reset in metres in 2013.

1970 October 1 – LTL was at 4.48 ft

(there was irrigation ++ see old letters written Nov 2, 1970 from the District Engineer, ED Anthony of the Water Rights Branch to R.A. Wassman and Wildwood Gabriola Estates Ltd – leaser and owners respectively of Upper Twin Lake Ranch DL 427. Wassman was the owner of the Middle Twin Lake

Ranch (SE portion of DL 280) and the present Twin Lake Golf Course lands. The letter states that “the continued pumping of the lake will eventually destroy the lake for any useful purpose”. Wassman had begun to develop a 9-hole golf course, but his death in 1971, “untimely death” slowed the Golf Course construction.

1971 October 1 – LTL was at 5.88 ft

The Upper Twin Lake Ranch, DL427, the Twin Lake’s Guest Ranch at the north end of the LTL plus the pasture land at the present day golf course were ordered not to irrigated in this year. This was a year of above average precipitation. LNID members stated there was a large freshet but the lake was very low in the spring and irrigation water was still being pumped by the Middle Ranch of DL 280. It was assumed that much of the freshet went to fill a depleted aquifer. Wildwood Gabriola Estates purchased the Greens Upper Twin Lake Ranch (what is now the Nature Trust of BC) and applied to build 4000 residences with swimming pools and riding rings.

1972 May 23 – LTL was at 11.6 ft

Lower Horn Creek was flowing into Myers Creek. Freshet was about 10 ft or 1,038 acre ft.

May 13 to 20

LTL rose 2.92 ft., with an average inflow of 30 acre ft/day. Horn Creek peak flow was 30 cubic ft./sec.

1973 (month unknown) – LTL was at 11 ft

1974 March 21 – LTL was at 14 ft.

A 9-hole golf course opened. October – LTL was at 12 ft.

1975 LTL was up 6 feet to 18 ft. Some irrigation occurred at the 9 Hole Twin Lakes Golf Course & by Wildwood Gabriola Estates of the Middle & Upper Twin Lake Ranches.

1976 to 1981 in the Hadley Water Graph. 1979 Wildwood Gabriola Estates cancelled their development applications which had been reduced to 200 residences and sold to Kriegers.

1980 LTL level was 11.6 ft

1981 An application was made for a TLGC strata housing development along Range Rd.

May 20- a letter of refusal for a water licence on Horn Creek to Si Siebens (File no. 0368037) was written by Deputy Controller of Water Rights as “there is insufficient water in the source”. This source, Bear/

Horn Creek, is the source of the spring freshet water to UTL and which provides the annual water in the creek/lake systems & the aquifer.

1982 WCG was dislodged.

1983 LTL rose from 12.4 ft. to 19.8 ft.

Jul. 4 LTL was 19.45 ft. There was above normal snow pack and heavy rain with some ranch & TLGC irrigation.

1984 LTL was at 15.6 ft. and all storage full (culvert at the dam was closed).

1985 No record (?)

There was minimal spring run–off. LTL dropped but no measure due to dislodged WCG. The18 Hole Golf Course opened. An anecdotal observation by a Willowbrook farmer was that the TLGC irrigation seemed to affect his Willowbrook well level. Mr. Krieger of Twin R. & White Lake Ranches became a member of the LNID as he was concerned about the TLGC irrigation. Krieger’s storage at the earthen dam was 4 ft. (the slide culvert was kept closed to gain1 more ft of water storage. Mr. Krieger suggested the TLGC pumping was affecting the decreasing LTL level. Ranch irrigation stopped due to a pending sale.

1987 No run-off but Turtle Pond had water.

1988 No run-off but Turtle Pond still had water.

1989 Jul LTL decreased but had 7 in. of seepage (there was no surface water flow from Turtle Pond through the Eastview Rd. culvert to LTL). There was a good snow pack but most water was absorbed as ground water before reaching the LTL.

1990 LTL was considerably less than 12.6 ft., and rose by only 1.1ft. or 13.75 in. (6 inches from direct precipitation +7.75in. run off from Turtle Pond) – decreased snow pack for a few years. Upper & Middle Twin Lake Ranches were purchased by Jim McPherson and were together called Twin R Ranch. Mr.

McPherson locked the slide culvert shut so that no water flowed to the LTL. The LNID opened the culvert which allowed16 inches of water to be released from the UTL slide culvert during first 2 weeks of July & Turtle Pond rose 3.5 vertical inches toward the Eastview Rd. culvert and 12.5 inches ran from Turtle Pond to LTL but LTL rose only .75 in.

After the culvert was opened by LNID, Mr. McPherson refused to co-operate with any waterway management until his sale in 2011.

1991 LTL was at 13.75 ft. with 4 ft. of stored water held at the 4 ft. spillway by Mr. McPherson. The concrete spillway had logs placed on top to increase storage by 2 ft. to 6 ft.- by whom? The LNID’s Bob Tate and Hugh Goldie Water Report was completed and on page 8 it states that “daily domestic water licences on LTL measured 12,000 to 14,000 gallons per day and irrigation licences exceeded 250,000 gallons per day. This did not include all the ground water used in the Twin Lakes Valley – there were now many private wells and with 5 golf course wells, water consumption was high”.

The LNID realized that water levels of LTL required knowledge of all lake levels, storage, irrigation, diversions and ground water-use. The condition of the UTL outlet/ channel to the dam, the slide culvert status and the amount of water being stored at the earthen dam/ Turtle Pond are all important factors.

Besides the lake levels, snow pack, ice-on and off, temperatures and rain fall should all be considered in order to predict the next year water in-flow capacity. This waterway requires cooperation & understanding by all land owners drawing water from this hydrologic system.

1992 No recordings.

1993 By Jul 20 there was 3ft of freshet water into LTL with UTL full and slide culvert was again locked in closed position. There had been no irrigation of the DL 280 pasture from LTL since 1987 and none after the 1990 purchase by J. McPherson. The previous owners, the Kriegers, irrigated about 2 ft. of water from LTL when LTL was above the required 12.6 ft. level (as per Botham Report).

1994 May LTL was at 8.75 ft. on WCG. The snow pack/ run off was decreased.

1995 May LTL was at a normal low water level of 12.5 ft. but up 2.5 ft. Twin R Ranch’s irrigation sump pump house on DL 280 was removed. Approximately 2 ft. of water was used over the summer for evaporation, seepage and domestic use.

Dec. 8 Ice-on.

1996 Apr 10 was ice-off.

May LTL rose 33 inches to 11.5 ft and continued to rise to 17.6 ft. 48 inches was diverted at the Horn Creek and South White Lake Rd. crossing on DL 4169s where water ran all winter into Si Siebens field (diverted 50% of the Horn Creek flow). DL 4169s had a natural land hollow to act as a reservoir. The LNID planned to install a temporary diversion pump in the spring of 1997 with the old 1500 ft diversion pipe, but they were unable to relocate the pipe. The Dept. of Hwy. had installed this concrete diversion pipe along Lower Horn Creek and it was used from 1952 to 1962 from LTL to a natural earth reservoir on DL 280. The LTL overflow outlet was closed in 1961/62 due to low lake levels by Mr. Wassman (1973 Botham Report).

Nov 24 was ice-on.

1997 In Mar LNID installed a low pressure high volume pump to divert water to the Parc/ DL 280 and LNID was instructed by Ministry of Environment (MoE) to begin pumping water out of LTL (2 cubic ft/sec or 800 gal/min. or 1/3 inches from LTL/day). The vertical 1/3 in. depends on how large the lake is at the time.

Apr 16 was ice-off.

May 1^st LTL was at 17.65 ft. and water ran over the spillway of UTL.

May 8 LTL was at 18.35 ft.

May 15 LTL was at 19.25 ft. (diversion ditch dug to Si Siebens DL 4169s natural land hollow to receive

½ freshet flow from Horn Creek above Horn Lake).

May 22 LTL was at 19.65 ft. – LTL rose by 3 inches /day even with pumping & diversion. Pumping continued to Oct 30/97.

Jun 5 LTL was at 19.85 ft. (2.5 ft over normal high water mark and Si Siebens excavated large ditch through his property and the run- off water created 2 lakes covering over 20 acres on Sieben’s property. Aug 1 LTL was at 19.5 ft.

Aug 30 LTL was at 18.25 ft. (LTL level had been successfully reduced by 7 to 8 ft.) with pumping to DL 280 and diversion to south White Lake Rd. Valley (Si Siebens DL 1469s).

Nov 1 -unable to find the old ranch, concrete diversion pipe, LNID completed a Right of Way agreement in principle on a hand shake & initials with McPherson and Denton Black of 325 Westview Rd. LNID installed their permanent pump & 6 in. diversion pipe works beginning Nov.19 & completed Nov. 23.

LTL was pumped to 16.5 ft in order to install the works. J. McPherson would not sign a legal agreement. The LNID survey, pump & drainage pipe into DL 280 field cost $40,000.00 paid for by LNID members. In 1997 Sieben’s property DL 1469s hollows received about 48 vertical in. of water.

Dec 13 was ice-on.

1998 Mar 25 was ice-off.

Mar 28 – LTL was at 16.33 ft.

May 16 LTL at 19.5 ft. – run-off into LTL was 31 in.

May 18 the LNID diversion pump began pumping to DL 280/Park Rill.

Jun 8 LTL peaked at 20.15 ft.- electrical inspector stated must get permit for permanent pump (pump stopped Sept 14).

Si Siebens was no longer able to take Horn Creek water due to his development and closed the diversion ditch & the installed an 8 in. culvert.

Dec 24 was ice-on.

1999 Apr 8 was ice-off.

May 5 LTL was at 18.5 ft. and dam spillway at the slide culvert/storage of UTL at 1 ft. May 25 LTL at 19.38 ft and spillway at the slide culvert at the dam at 5 ft.

May 31 LTL at 19.56 ft. and spillway at slide culvert at the dam at 7.5 ft. Slide culvert was opened as UTL capacity was too great. Pumping began.

Sept 14 LTL was at 17 ft. and spillway at culvert at dam at 5.0 ft. – diversion pump shut down.

In 1997, 1998, 1999 each year the total diversion-pump released 10 ft from LTL plus in 1997 & 1998 4.6 ft. was diverted from Horn Creek above UTL to a hollow on Si Sieben’s property DL 1469s.

Dec 20 was ice-on.

2000 Mar. 25 LTL was at 16.45 ft. and spillway storage at culvert /dam works at 2.3ft.

Apr 1 was ice-off.

April 30 LTL was at 16.35 ft. and WCG spillway at slide culvert of dam at 2.1 ft. Low snow pack.

May 13 LTL was at 16 ft 6 in. Jul. 15 LTL was at 15.6 ft.

Oct 15 LTL was at 15.0 ft.

In 2000 there was minimal freshet water into LTL with no diversion pumping and the pump pulled for maintenance then stored until 2013. Wet years began again in 2010, but the lakes were at a very low level so that no pumping was required.

Dec 8 was ice-on.

2001 – low snow pack- no record, but only 2 feet of water with run- off (average is 4 to 7 ft.).

Apr 8 was ice- off.

Dec 9 was ice-on.

2002 Apr 13 was ice-off

May LTL at 12 ft 3 in.(5 ft. below high water level). UTL spillway was at 5.6 ft at the culvert. Average run-off usually received by mid July depending on snow pack, timing of melt & spring precipitation.

Dec 17 was ice-on.

2003 Mar 29 was ice-off.

Apr 23 LTL was at 11 ft – slide culvert closed. Dam culvert was at .2 ft. from bottom of slide culvert and Turtle Pond 4 horizontal ft. away from Eastview Road culvert. Snow pack was normal.

May 5 Slide culvert opened.

May 8 Turtle Pond filling and nearly full but no surface water spill into LTL. LTL was declining.

Nov 30 Ice-on.

2004 Mar 30 was ice-off.

Mar. 30 was ice-off. The run-off began and ice- off the lake 2 weeks earlier than average.

May 5 LTL was at 8 ft 9 in. with decreased snow pack & there was no snow left in the water shed (earliest total melt ever observed). Slide culvert was locked closed and water was at 1 ft from bottom of the slide culvert but there was no water in the channel from UTL outlet to Turtle Pond.

Apr. 15 – 3.5 ft at the slide culvert dam and ~3.5 cu ft of Horn Creek flow at the culvert on Horn Creek at DL 41695 (White Lake Road S. culvert) but the creek bed dried ½ way to UTL within a week. Some water spilled from the old west diversion pipe of DL 427 (old pipe diversion for water licence #10471 in 1930) did reach UTL but only for 1 week. LTL was at the lowest level in 10 years, but still had some water in the Turtle Pond.

Dec 10 was ice-on.

2005 Apr 4 Ice-off.

Jul 9 LTL peaked at 8.5 ft. but down 3 in. since 2004 (decreased snow pack but increased rain in June). UTL outlet was filled/collapsed/trampled by cattle and UTL water level was high. Logging stopped in the Horn Creek Watershed due to alternate area logging to remove pine beetle forests.

Dec 9 Ice-on.

2006 Apr 6 Ice-off.

May LTL peaked at 9.1 ft. – up 7 inches since 2005. 2006 was the last time water ran under the Eastview Rd. culvert for 3 years. Turtle Pond filled but overflowed only minimally to LTL – 7 inches.

Dec 29 Ice-on.

See Bob Wilson’s lake levels – not able to relate to the normal high water level (NHL) of 17.6 ft. as we had lost the water gauges and were unsure of the sill referred to in the Botham Report.

2007 Apr 5 was ice-off.

Water in Turtle Pond rose to the Eastview Road culvert but did not cross the road. Only ground water seepage moved into LTL. Golf Course sale was pending and irrigation increased. Logging company reforested the clear cuts. Horn Creek forestry roads are adjacent to the steep creek bed and many culverts were no longer cleared of debris so caused large washouts.

Jul. 2 LTL peaked at 15 ft.(was culvert open?)

Oct. 4 LTL 10 ft. (loss of 5 ft. since peak & about another 4 ft. before ice-on in Dec.)

Nov 30 was ice-on.

2008 Apr 10 at ice- off. LTL was only 6 ft. Water began to run out of UTL towards the dam but then the UTL outlet was filled by the renter on Twin R Ranch and water stopped. Turtle Pond – a wetland important to replenish ground water began to dry.

Dec.15 at ice- on LTL was at 6 ft. The TP was very low.

Twin Lake Golf Course sold and there was increased constant irrigation throughout 2008.

2009 Apr 16 was ice-off. LTL was at 6ft.

Jul 20 LTL peaked at 8.5 ft. Snow pack was below normal.

Nov 18 LTL WCG was at 6 ft.

In 2009 no water ran to UTL or in Horn Creek once out of the mountain at DL 1469s, but water did run at higher elevations in the watershed. Horn Creek water was observed from the pipe ½ way along from Horn Creek culvert to UTL and spills over the pasture. In dry years the water has been observed disappearing into the ground (assumed to recharge the aquifer). But even in dry years there is some diversion water from Horn Creek to the west side of the pasture above Horn Creek – see the diversion water licence from 1930. The Turtle Pond had a hard grass covered bottom with no water. Speaking with Dude Ranch visitors in the early 1960’s no one had ever observed a dry Turtle Pond.

Dec 3 was ice-on. LTL was at 5.6 ft. **

2010 Mar 17 Low Snow pack with ice off LTL at shallow north end. Mar.21 ice off deeper south end &

Mar 28 was ice off UTL. UTL dam WCG was at .6 ft.

Apr 16 LTL WCG was at 6 ft

Apr 17 Water began to run at Si Siebens south White Lake Rd. in DL 1469s culvert for about 40 ft following 3 days of 20 degrees C and then rain. Large washouts occurred at km. 4 of the Longhorn Creek Forestry Rd.

Apr 20 Water reached UTL.

May final Twin Lake Aquifer Capacity Study ($22,000) released. Study paid for by LNID, with a grant from Ministry Municipal Affairs &Housing (MoMA&H) with shortfall by OBWB.

May 5 Some water reached the old fence in Turtle Pond (was dry for all of 2009 until May 2010).

May 9 the Turtle Pond Floor was covered with water.

May 11 UTL was at 1.5ft on the WCG with dam at .2 ft. (the UTL outlet has a channel for water to flow to the earthen dam) and beyond to the TP.

May 15 The Turtle Pond was filling and water was 4 horizontal ft. from the culvert on Eastview Rd.

May 28 Water in UTL was at 1.8 ft on the WCG.

Jun 2 Water crossed under Eastview Rd. from Turtle Pond, but only in rocked in channel, not yet reaching LTL. UTL filled to 2.6 ft on the WCG, and at the dam at 1.4 ft. showing water moving through. Jun 4 Water reached LTL in 2 days and ran until July 13 which gave LTL 3 ft. of freshet.

Jul. 14 LTL was at 8.7 ft. This was a very unusual spring with a lot of rain and increased snow in the watershed in the spring. The Testalinden mud slide S.W. of Oliver occurred & this changed all earthen dam BC Province concerns. There was twice the normal rain and cool weather. Above average precipitation was recorded through all of June, Sept, & October. The Twin Lake Golf Course irrigated less, but creating dry hard, sandy patches of grass.

Aug 8/10 – LTL WCG peaked at 8.9 ft.

Oct 30 LTL lost only 4 inches of water by rather than the average 3 ft. loss in UTL & LTL (2 ft/yr. loss over the past 3 years with continuous golf course irrigation). No surface water entered LTL in the past 3 years. No water was stored as the slide culvert remained open.

Dec 31 was ice on. LTL WCG was 8.1 ft.

2011 Feb – BC Ground Water Observation Wells #403 & 404 were installed at either end of LTL. The Nature Trust purchased the 800 h Twin R. Ranch, now known as the Twin Lake Ranch.

Apr 10 was ice- out of culverts at south White Lake Rd. in DL 1469s.

Apr 11 was ice-off LTL.

Apr 14 LTL WCG was at 8.5 ft.

Apr 16 A small flow of water was observed into UTL from DL 427 diversion pipe.

May 6 Horn Creek water reached UTL. More washouts occurred on Longhorn Forestry Rd. at km2.

May 18 Some water moved into LTL and storage of UTL was at 3ft.

May 22 Water flowed over the dam spillway.

Jun 16 LTL was at 12.5 ft. and some spillway water flowed into Turtle Pond & culvert opened.

Aug 4 LTL peaked at 15.8 ft.

Aug 10 No water into LTL, but water still out of UTL into Turtle Pond.

Nov 15 LTL at 13.6 ft. with “freshet was ~5 ft on the WCG” with culvert open

Dec 10 was ice- on.

2012 Apr 15 was ice- off and LTL was at 13.6 ft. Apr. 23 UTL dam culvert closed today.

Apr. 28 Water passed through South White Lake Rd. culvert 2 inches deep towards UTL.

Jun. 6 Freshet finished no water flow into UTL from Horn Creek.

Jul 5 Flow of water into LTL stopped.

Jul 6 LTL peaked at 15.75 ft. to gain about 2 ft. – vertical gain is less as the lake spreads out. Nov 29 LTL WCG was 14.25 ft. & UTL at 0. LTL evaporation, use & seepage was about 18 in. Dec 16 was ice- on.

2012 the Ministry of Forests Lands & Natural Resources Operations & Rural Development (FLNRORD) suggested that LNID monitor the Twin Lake water levels in relation to trigger points and dates. Thus a new form of lake monitoring began.

2013 Snow pack was average. Power for pump reconnected. Pump replaced into lake. Dam culvert was open all winter.

Apr 4 Ice-off & LTL WCG 13 ft. 11 in.

Apr 6 Heavy rain & water ran thru Eastview Rd. culvert about 2 in. deep.

Apr 29 LTL at 15.6 ft.

May 13 Culvert remained closed but water over spillway until Aug 25.

May 14 LTL WCG 17.67ft.

May 14 Power reconnected to pump (not used since 1999). Rain ++ all spring.

May 16 10mm of rain.

May 19 LTL WCG 17.84 ft. & .5ft. of water was flowing over the spillway at the dam. The culvert was down.

Jun 16 LTL at 19 ft. and pump pulled for maintenance. Strata Rd. was soft.

Jun 19 Minimal water into UTL from Horn Creek, with 2 in. depth of water moved over the dam spillway.

Jul 1 Water over N. strata road. LTL was at 19.6 ft. and still some water into UTL with 2 in. over dam spillway and .5ft. in Eastview Rd. culvert and water into LTL.

Jul 11 LTL peaked with WCG at 19.7 ft. UTL at 3.88 ft. storage (+1 ft at bottom of WCG).

Jul 30 LTL down to 19.5 ft. with culvert closed. No water over spillway. One inch of water was in Eastview Rd. culvert moved into LTL.

Aug 19 Replaced burned breather pipe of diversion pipe water line.

Aug 25 LTL WCG at 18.45 ft. with UTL storage at 4 ft. Began LNID pump with sequence LTL 12 hr. on and12 hr. off. One inch depth of water flowed into Turtle Pond and 3 inches flow into LTL. Pump moved about .5in. of water per day.

Sept 3 to Sept.16 dam culvert was opened to release 1 ft. of water. LTL at 18.3 ft. & UTL storage was at

3.75 ft. with heavy rain of 12 mm and Sept 5 another 12 mm of rain.

Sept. 16 culvert closed and LTL at 19.1 ft. and storage at UTL 2.7 ft., dam at 2.1ft., Eastview Rd culvert 6 in. deep into LTL.&10 mm of rain.

Sept. 23 pump began 24 hr./day. LTL at 18.9 ft., UTL at 2.7 ft. and dam at 2.1 ft with 2 in. of water through Eastview Rd. culvert.

Oct. 7 – Pumping only ¼ to ½ inch/day with 4 mm rain.

Oct. 10 to 22^nd – Culvert opened to release another ft. of water from storage.

Oct. 10 LTL at 18.4 ft. UTL at 1.9 ft of stored water and water still running into UTL from Upper Horn Creek.Dam at 1.7 ft. and 1 in. of water moving through Eastview Rd. culvert.

Oct. 17 Turtle Pond very full and over the WCG with only 8 in. to the top of a 4 ft. fence post (above water). LTL was 18.6 ft., UTL 1.2 ft. & dam 1.7 ft. and1inch thru Eastview Rd. culvert.

Oct. 22 LTL at 18.45 ft., UTL at .9 m. (holding 2+ ft. of water) dam at 1.28 ft. and 6 in. deep water thru Eastview Rd. culvert. Only 6 in. of TP post showing. Temp was 2C and foggy.

Nov 1 LTL at 18.5, UTL at1 ft. of stored water, dam at 1.2 ft. of stored water and 1 in. of water in Eastview Rd. culvert.

Nov 16 to 28 The pump was rattling & only pumping ¼ in./day, but both Lakes full/larger than normal (N).

Dec. 5 Pump off as lake ice- on. LTL at 18 ft. UTL at 1 ft. of storage and dam at 1.2 ft. of storage with 1 in. of water sitting in Eastview Rd. culvert. TP full and will spill at spring thaw.

2014 Apr 7 Ice- off with LTL WCG at 17.5 ft. Dam at 1.6 ft. UTL WCG dislodged and reset.

Apr 17 No water running but flowing at higher elevations above the upper culverts at S. White Lake Rd. – water could be heard running under the ice. No water in the Eastview Rd. culvert (sitting at the lip).

Dam slide culvert was closed. Dam & UTL were each holding about 2 ft. of water. The UTL WCG was set 18 inches from the lake bottom and the pole is18 inches above the WCG.

Apr 16 & 17 gentle rain of 10 mm. UTL WCG had fallen to 1.58 ft. Apr 22 Horn Creek water into UTL.

Apr 24 LTL at 17.6 ft.

May 21 Pump was on until May 29 & ordered off & on again July 6.

Jun 3 Water in Horn Creek stopped flow to UTL. The water was over the WCG in UTL & at dam.

Jun 13 Culvert opened to release 1 ft. of water from UTL.

Jul 6 Pump began & removed ¼ in. of water in 24 hr.

Jul 18 LTL peaked at 17.5 ft. Good flow into LTL but little gain. Golf Course irrigation ++ and tanker truck filled from LTL (for White Lake Rd. fire suppression & domestic water for Grand Oro Rd.?).

Aug 7 No water flow into LTL, dam at 1.8 ft. of storage.TP at .4m. on WCG (at .4m+ on new WCG, water will begin to flow through Eastview Rd. culvert).

Sept 1 Culvert closed with 1.65 ft. of storage at dam, outflow channel from UTL was14 in. deep and LTL at 16.84 ft. No pumping but water running in Lower Horn Creek of DL 280.

Sept 23 Dam culvert opened for 2 weeks.

Dec 1 was ice- on with LTL at 15 ft. The WCG was dislodged but dam structure WCG remains.

2015 Mar 14 was ice- off. This was a year of non compliance and blocking of the LNID’s SRW which began on March 15 by a new owner at 325 Westview Rd. The pump and SRW is situated across the North East LTL at 325 Westview Rd. & the field of DL 280. This SRW was surveyed 1.5 years previous to the March 15 purchase and was registered in the Land Titles office. Reaching the pump by water or land was almost impossible. No pumping occurred in 2014 as LNID was unable to even check the pump due to the new owner blocking the SRW. Power from the transformer was damaged twice and required a Fortis repair.

Mar 21 Ice- out of culverts at South White Lake Rd. LTL at 15.67 ft. UTL/ dam storage was 1.4 ft. & TP .1m of storage.

Mar 26 Water into UTL with lake level as on Mar. 21.

Apr 8 Water moved over dam spillway.

Apr 11 Water ran into LTL.

Jun 8 Horn Creek stopped the flow to UTL. LTL peaked at 17.75 ft. with UTL storing 4.95 ft & Turtle Pond .8 m of storage.

Jun 15 Flow over spillway stoped.

Aug 6 email from MoFLNRO, R. Warner re: drought level 4 directive. Aquifers & creeks were warm & fish were affected and thus requested to release all stored water.

Sept 3 No water to LTL from Eastview Rd. culvert.

Nov 6 The culvert was opened as/ BC order and then was shut Feb 28/16.

Dec 19 was ice-on with LTL at 16.5 ft. UTL storing 1.4 ft. & TP storing .5 m.

2016 Mar 24 was ice-off. LTL was at 16.65 ft. with UTL storing 1.5 ft. &TP at .4m. Apr 7 Water entered into UTL

Apr 18 Water flowed over spillway.UTL was storing 4.95 ft. Apr 19Water moved into LTL.

May 15 Horn Creek flow stopped to UTL. LTL was at 17.75 ft. UTL was storing 4.95 ft. with TP .6m. May 24 LTL peaks at 17.8 ft., UTL storing 4.9 ft., & TP storing .65 m.

Jul 25 No water crossing dam spillway. LTL was at 17.16 ft., UTL at 4.9 ft. & TP at .6m. Oct 4 – flow to LTL stops with LTL at 17.4 ft., UTL storage was 2 ft., & TP storing .6m. Pumped about 1.9 vertical ft. Freshet estimated at 5ft.

Dec 11 Ice- on LTL at 16.5 ft., with UTL storing 2 ft. & TP storing .6m.

2017 A season of flooding. Snow Pack 150% of normal.18 inches added to storage for UTL with sand bags on the concrete spillway. Debris was down+ in the field above UTL from Orofino Mt. washouts. Apr 17 was ice- off. LTL 16.6 ft., UTL 2.1 ft. of storage and TP .18m.of storage.

Apr 20 Horn Creek water to UTL.

May 1 Water over dam spillway. LTL 16.75 ft., UTL 4.9 ft. of storage, TP .4m. of storage.

May 2 Water into LTL 16.8 ft., UTL at 4.9 ft. of storage, TP .45m.of storage.

May 20 LTL peaked at 21.53 ft., with UTL 5.1 ft. of storage, & TP 4.2 m. of storage.

Jul 2 Horn Creek stops with LTL at 20.15 ft., with storage in UTL of 6.5 ft. & TP 1.2 m.

Jul 10 Spillway with 18 in. of sand bags stops spilling. LTL at 21.17 ft., & storage in UTL 6.5 ft. & TP

1m. with Eastview Rd. 3 ft. culvert grate covered. The lakes are one. No water able to flow.

Aug 12 Culvert ½ open & shut Oct. 2. All UTL storage water must flow through LTL to decrease lake levels before the next year freshet so that there is some capacity to accept the spring run-off.

Oct 14 Water to LTL stopped, thus most (see Dec. 14) stored water released. LTL at 17.1 ft. Dec 14 was ice- on with LTL at 16.75 ft., storage in UTL at 1.9 ft. & TP at .79 m.

2 pumps on – Emergency Measure (EM) diesel Jun 8 to Sept 17 and LNID electric pump on May 9 to Nov.15. Total pumped was about 5 vertical ft. of water. Freshet was about 13 vertical ft.

2018 Second year of flooding, sand bagged properties with a wall of sandbags 8 ft. above the full lake supply of 19.6 ft. OK Valley snow pack was 206% of normal. A 300 m long 10 ft. high wall was built at the N. TL strata to avoid lake contamination by a pump up sewage system. About 33 residences had water damage. Residents began bagging by early April. Fire Service employees came to assist full time residents.

Apr 13 Horn Creek was raging with debris & large washouts above and at the White Lake Rd. S. culverts as 2 in. deep water entered into UTL.

Apr 19 Ice-off and LTL at 17.10 ft., with storage in UTL at 2.6 ft.& TP at .4 m. Flooding in Willowbrook & Sportsman Bowl.

Apr 19 Horn Creek water to UTL with water levels as above. Water reached and filled UTL quickly.

Apr 22 Water over UTL spillway & LTL was at 17.3 ft., with storage in UTL 39 in., & TP at .8m. Apr 23 Water flowed to LTL. LTL was at 17.36 ft. & storage in UTL at 3.93 ft & TP at .8m.

Apr 24 Serious flooding of all downstream properties when the public BCEM meeting was held in Oliver. Horn Creek water just beginning to flow into UTL.

May 1 and water began over north LTL strata road. The driveway was built up 5 ft. with about 280 loads of gravel over 300 m. topped with a10 ft. high Heco bins and sand bag wall.

May 4 A 39 in. culvert was installed by BC Emergency Measures under the supervision of Mike Noseworthy, Dam Supervisor FLNRORD. The 39 in. culvert is under Eastview Rd. about 10 ft. above the original 48 in. culvert. Water was approaching the top of the earthen dam and the decision was made to release increased water into LTL . The 39 in. culvert filled to release 10 in. of water for about a week.

May 18 Still 6 in. of water in 39 in. culvert but not flowing. 80 Military soldiers arrived for 3 days to complete the 300 m. wall which held back the 88+ acre lake. UTL & LTL was one/level with no water able to flow.

May 23 LTL peaked at 26.78 ft., with storage of UTL 6.5 ft. &TP at .82m. May 24 Three pumps began intermittently (often down for repairs) on LTL.

Jun 21 Horn Creek flow to UTL stopped. LTL was at 23.93 ft. with storage of UTL at 5.08 ft. & TP at

1.8m.

Jul 16 Water over the spillway with LTL at 21.34 ft. storage in UTL of 5 ft. & TP at 2.13m.

Jul 16 Dam culvert opened and – still open end of Feb 2019 to allow UTL to reach normal level.

Dec 4 No flow to LTL which was at 16.12 ft. with storage at UTL dam minus1ft., but a trickle flowing & TP at .46 m. Water still flowing some from UTL since culvert was open and UTL still in some flood Pumps on – LNID May19 to Dec.12 and EM pump was on May19 to Nov. 16 with several days off for maintenance/repairs.

Dec 5 was ice- on. LTL was at 16.12 ft., UTL was at -1 ft. of storage, but water was still running in and through into TP. TP at .46m of storage but culvert of Eastview Rd. blocked with ice.

In 2018 14 ft. of water was pumped and freshet was about 17 ft. It is said this was a once in 200 year flood.

2019 No surface water entered UTL or LTL with snow pack for the Okanagan Valley at 78% of normal.

April 7 was ice- off with LTL at 15.9 ft. & storage in UTL .25ft. and TP .35m.

Nov 30 was ice-on with LTL at 14 ft. and no water storage in UTL or TP (both ~ one ft. below normal levels).

9.1.1 Annual Twin Lake Level Reports

Twin Lake Lands | Water Levels & Historical Data | 1937 – 2019