A report reviewing the feasibility of providing an alternate water supply for agriculture in the Creston Valley has been finalized and submitted to the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK).
The Creston Valley Water Supply Feasibility Study Final Report was submitted to the RDCK this week. Its purpose is to reduce pressure on existing water systems in the valley while identifying ways to improve water use efficiency and reduce system losses.
“This report is an important first step in recognizing the scale and complexity of water supply challenges for agriculture in the Creston Valley,” said Chris Gainham, RDCK Utility Services Manager, in a press release.
Gainham says the study does not present a shovel-ready project, but rather a roadmap outlining the limitations of current systems and the magnitude of investment required to meet long-term agricultural water supply needs.
“This is valuable information that allows us to make more informed decisions. Moving forward, our efforts will concentrate on evaluating economic opportunities, the potential for crop diversification, and the cost–benefit of securing more reliable water—alongside the risks of doing nothing.”
The RDCK adopted a drinking water conservation plan in 2019. Under this plan, treated drinking water from Arrow Creek is currently used for agricultural irrigation in the Creston Valley.
The feasibility study explored alternative water sources and the infrastructure needed for crop irrigation – an important step in sustaining agriculture in the region.
At present, agricultural demand in the valley is met by the Arrow Creek Water Treatment Plant, the Goat River, and numerous private groundwater wells and surface water licences.
Securing a separate water source for irrigation would help conserve treated drinking water from Arrow Creek for domestic use while alleviating pressure on the sensitive Goat River watershed.
The study represents a critical first step in securing a sustainable source of agricultural water for the Creston Valley and reducing pressure on the existing water systems.
Other goals of the project include:
- Define water supply areas currently at risk and potentially requiring a new water source in the near future.
- Identify interested parties, water purveyors, and First Nations governments with interests and rights in each area.
- Summarize current agricultural land use and explore how agriculture in the study area could evolve in response to changes in precipitation and hydrological patterns, market forces, and food trends.
- Establish and define future condition scenarios to form the basis of predictive water demand.
- Explore options to centralize water supply on the Kootenay River, reducing pressure on over-allocated waterbodies and at-risk supply areas.
- Identify potential infrastructure requirements – including intake, treatment, storage, and water conveyance options – for a proposed Kootenay River water supply system. The study presents and evaluates these infrastructure options and provides high-level cost estimates for each.
- Assess the agricultural potential and cost–benefit ratio if water supply and reliability are improved.
Proposed infrastructure routing map
A high-level conceptual routing map for the proposed intake and water transmission infrastructure – designed to supply water across a large area of the Creston Valley – is available online.
The map includes estimated maximum daily water demands for agriculture, based on a full build-out scenario.
To better understand current water use in the valley, the study team has also created a map of existing groundwater and surface water diversion points, as well as water licence status. This map is also available for download.
Gathering feedback
Agricultural producers in the valley are encouraged to share their feedback on the report and project via an online survey.
Survey responses will help the RDCK determine the scale of infrastructure needed and the level of support among local residents.
You can find the survey here.
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