By Sebastian Kanally, Times Chronicle
Oliver’s irrigation shut off dates are set for Monday October 14, 2024.
After the town recommended setting the irrigation shut off dates for Monday Oct. 7, both water councillors, Rick Machial and Bhupinder Dhaliwal, argued that these should be pushed at least one week further.
Dhaliwal offered multiple reasons for the change, including the dry conditions experienced this year, some new varieties of fruits farmers have planted, and the state of local grapes after the devastating polar vortex experienced in January 2024.
Machial agreed, noting that he has heard from local farmers worried about the moisture in the soil, especially considering the damage that the grapes experienced last winter.
Anyone who requests late irrigation water after the turn off date will be charged $1.95 / acre /day.
The canal ceasing diversion date will remain unchanged and is set for Monday, October 28, 2024.
Last year the irrigation shut off date was October 11, and 13 requests were made for late water to the town.
Kelly Mercer Director of Operations with the town explained that the date that the town chooses varies each year, but last year Oct. 11 fell on a Wednesday, and because it takes three or four days to get everything officially shut down they wanted to move it up to a Monday.
The number of late irrigation applications Oliver received each year since 2020:
- 2023 – 13 requests for late water,
- 2022 – 65 requests for late water,
- 2021 – 19 requests for late water,
- 2020 – 48 requests for late water.
To apply for late irrigation contact the public works office at 250-485-6213.
