A KTW Q&A ON CITY’S ORGANICS PROGRAM
PROFESSOR OUT OF PRISON — FOR NOW Kamloops’ David Scheffel remains in Slovakia as he seeks appeal
A10
RIBS AND CARS ON A HOT, HOT WEEKEND
The new collection schedule is set to begin in late August
Ribfest and Hot Nite in the City will be held downtown as temperatures rise
A12-A13
A19
kamloopsthisweek.com | kamloopsthisweek |
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2023 | Volume 36 No. 31
kamthisweek
#YKASTRONG
Watering rules are more about protecting fish
The water levels in both the North and South Thompson rivers are at extreme lows for this time of year — levels that led to high temperatures in rivers waters as a result of how shallow the waterways are. DAVE EAGLES/KTW
MICHAEL POTESTIO STAFF REPORTER
michael@kamloopsthisweek.com
Every drop counts. That’s the message from the City of Kamloops to residents as it prepares to enact new, unprecedented watering restrictions as of Monday, Aug. 14, in response to the latest drought severity level issued by the province. For the first time in its history, Kamloops is at level 5 drought severity — the highest of a six-level scale ranging in severity from zero (least severe) to five (most severe). The new restrictions, and the province’s move to level 5, is mostly about protecting salmon and other fish populations. The water levels in both the North and South Thompson rivers are at extreme lows for this time of year — levels that led to high temperatures in river waters as a result of how shallow they are, Kamloops’ utility services manager Greg Wightman, told reporters at
Riverside Park on Tuesday, Aug. 8. “We are trying to protect our potable water system so we can continue to use our indoor water and have it available for fire suppression, but really maintain as much water as we can in the rivers to protect the fish stocks that are coming,” Wightman said. As of Aug. 8, upstream from Kamloops, the depth of the North Thompson River at McClure is 1.41 metres, according to online data from the provincial government. That is down from the normal level of 2.04m for that date, but still above the historic minimum of 0.54m. On the South Thompson River at Chase, the river measures a depth of 1.77m, down from the normal 2.93m. The historic minimum there is 1.09m. Wightman told KTW the city uses a “very small amount of water overall” compared to what is flowing by. See CITY, A7
20 GMC SAVANA #U2016
$50,998 +tax
16 BUICK REGAL AWD #U2006B
17,998 +tax
$
19 NISSAN MICRA 1.6 S 5SP #U2013
22,998 +tax
$
21 TOYOTA RAV4 #U2011
41,998 +tax
$
18 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER SPORT #M21099A
69,998 +tax
$
Mercedes-Benz Kamloops, 695C Laval Crescent, Kamloops, BC, Toll Free 855-984-6603, Mercedes-Benz-kamloops.ca Some conditions apply. See dealer for details. Payments based on financing on approved credit with $2000 down or equivalent trade and include all fees & taxes.