Dam to be removed, two wells capped at Kitchen Creek

Strong concerns raised during a public information session last week has convinced the executive board at Kitchen Creek Golf Course to remove the rock dam near the edge of its property by Kehl Road.
Greens committee chair Rick Payne, who attended the session last Wednesday at the Crozier Hall, brought the concerns forward to the executive Monday night.
“It seems to have caused some concern so we’re going to remove [the dam],” he said, noting the golf course already has made inquiries as to what the proper procedure is for removing it.
The information session was held to hear concerns over the golf course’s plans to secure more water for its irrigation system, with Kitchen Creek being looked at as a possible source.
About 20 people turned out for the meeting, and it didn’t take long for it to turn confrontational–with accusations the golf course was hogging water.
Peter Spuzak, whose property lies just beside the golf course, said the rock dam cut off the water supply to his cattle last summer. He was forced to drain his own well, then haul water for a while to keep his livestock alive.
Dean McLean, who also has property downstream of the golf course, said he was forced to sell some of his cattle early because he lost his water supply last summer.
“Do you have in your possession a permit for either one of those dams,” one man asked from the floor, referring to the rock dam and the old one that forms the pond on the golf course.
Payne’s reply was “I doubt it,” which brought a quick question from McLean.
“How long before those dams are removed then?” he asked.
Payne said yesterday the rock dam would be removed as soon as possible, noting there’s some permit issues to deal with first. But there are no plans to remove the older dam.
In related news, the golf course does plan to cap the two wells it drilled last summer, Payne noted. The wells, which go down about 280-300 feet, was another bone of contention with its neighbours.
Bill Hammond, whose house lies just across the highway, said the water level in his well started dropping like a stone once the golf course drilled.
“There’s no way my well quit on its own accords,” he insisted, adding he saw people pumping from the ground wells for nine days before they were left alone.
Eventually, Hammond said his well dried up completely and he was forced to drill a new one.
“My well’s taken a big chunk out of my daughter’s college fund,” he said. “I don’t trust any of you guys anymore.”
Payne stressed the golf course does not have any specific plans for using the wells at this time.
“And before we could use the well water, there’s a lot of testing that has to be done and we’re not prepared to do that at this time,” he said.