LAND SURVEYING IN BC Robert Allen
Water Flumes Across Southern British Columbia Photos by Robert Allen
The remains of the flume along the Deadman Valley Road
Previously published in The Link magazine, these two articles appear in The Scrivener with gracious permission from Robert Allen. Orchard Irrigation Flume
I
n September 1985, while driving west from Kamloops toward Cache Creek with my father and one of my uncles, we drove past Walhachin (pronounced Wall’-a-sheen) and my uncle pointed out the remains of the flume on the hillside above the Trans-Canada Highway.
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My uncle pointed out that water had been brought down the Deadman Valley, eventually crossing the Thompson River to provide irrigation to the orchard area of Walhachin. I had probably noticed it before but hadn’t really paid attention. My uncle pointed out that water had been brought down the Deadman Valley, eventually crossing the Thompson River to provide irrigation to the orchard area of Walhachin. A number of gentleman English BC Notaries Association
farmers arrived in the early 20th century with the promises of wonderful soil where apples would grow by the bushelful. Well, their dream didn’t turn out as they had hoped and when World War I broke out, most of them left to serve their home country and most never returned. The story of Walhachin is an interesting one; if you are interested in reading more, I suggest reading, Walhachin, Birth of a Legend. I have been back to visit numerous parts of that flume since.
Log Flume I read about another flume north east of Johnson Lake and west of Adams Lake. On one of my hunting trips in the area, I had to go look for it. It was Volume 29 Number 1 Spring 2020
