Headgates Spillway Dam/Harvey Lake (photo credit: RDNO)

By Kevin Rothwell

Choice to battle or spend millions extra

Headgates headache: fight looming with Dam Safety B.C.

Apr 9, 2021 | 5:00 AM

Years of sparring between the Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) and Dam Safety B.C. over the Headgates Spillway Dam on the Duteau Creek water system, could be headed for a political showdown.

The spillway dam, which is above the Duteau Creek Treatment Plant, is in line for a multi-million dollar retrofit. The Duteau system supplies nearly 60 per cent of Greater Vernon water.

There was a high water incident in the spring of 2017, requiring emergency measures. The dam risk assessment had been rated significant for several years, but was upgraded to high over the objections of the regional district.

“We did a report that suggested this was a significant spillway or dam, and it was not accepted by Dam Safety, we did further study to show that it was significant, dam safety would not accept it,” RDNO General Manager of Utilities, Zee Marcolin, told the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee board. “What I have found out in the industry, this particular dam safety officer, he is just making high dams everywhere.”

Marcolin noted that Kelowna has gone from three significant storm water ponds, up to 20, with all the ponds designated as high risk, even though they are on flat land.

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RDNO has applied for a $2.6 million federal infrastructure grant for the construction of the estimated $5.2 million total cost. The grant has so far not been approved, meaning additional funding sources would need to be found.

“There has been many, many fights with this dam safety officer, I’m kind of at the end of my rope, I don’t know what else to do. I’ve tried many, many avenues to try talk to this person,” Marcolin added. “Our other dams are significant dams up on the plateau, they have a different dam safety officer and he is extremely reasonable.”

If the dam rating was deemed significant — which RDNO has reports suggesting that is an appropriate rating — instead of high risk, the cost for replacement could be as low as 1.3 million. If the inspector insists on the high risk rating and a concrete reinforced spillway, it could cost taxpayers $5.9 million.

“We want to pursue the best case scenario, if our engineers believe that we are right and we have corroborating opinions from independent engineers saying the same thing, we should stick with that and suggest to the dam safety officer and Dam Safety B.C., if they disagree with that, they better fund us,” Electoral Area B Director Bob Fleming stated.

If the current design is rejected, the project could not be completed this year.

“We should know in two weeks or three, if Dam Safety has accepted scenario one (riprap design), and if they haven’t accepted scenario one, we will have lots of time to argue with them, because we’re not going to build it this year,” Vernon Mayor Victor Cumming said.

Some reinforcement of the dam has been done, and there are emergency procedures in place when water flows reach high levels.