The Collective for Lower Elk Aquifer Restoration (CLEAR) Society is continuing its work toward restoring water to aquifers in the South Country with high hopes for 2025.
Since the CLEAR Society was established, it has brought together experts, professionals, government officials and concerned residents to look for solutions to the ongoing water crisis.
“We put the professionals in there, we have hydrologists, geologists, river experts and engineers. That has done nothing but good things to bring the science into it,” said Stan Doehle, RDEK Electoral Area B Director.
“We’ve proven where the water flows now and we went through chemical and geological analysis. We’re working with Elk Valley Resources and recently they drilled four test wells, which is a huge asset for monitoring in the area.”
Water levels in the South Country have been receding since the Elko Dam was decommissioned in 2016, with wells and aquifers drying up across the region. Eventually, the dire situation prompted the RDEK to declare a state of local emergency in 2020.
Since then, Doehle says the CLEAR Society’s team has been able to identify where the aquifer flows into.
“Our goal is to restore water in the head pond of the Elko Dam and the big question is if that hydro facility is going to operate sooner rather than later,” said Doehle.
BC Hydro will review the Elko Dam this year to find out if the facility is still operational or if the CLEAR Society needs to find a different solution.
“They’re going to find out what they’re going to do with that facility and we’ll see where it goes from there,” said Doehle.
“If it can’t operate, we’re going to look for other solutions to fill that head pond area and put the water back into the aquifer.”
Doehle says he’s optimistic about finding solutions to the ongoing water crisis.
“I can’t say enough about what these professionals bring to the table and their ability to put the science behind it,” said Doehle.
“It’s been a 50-year argument with people saying there’s no conclusive evidence behind it. Well, there is now.”
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