Water fight continues in Robbins Range
Editor:
The diversion of Qahal Creek, to give more water to Larry Campbell, was the issue at a ministry meeting on June 18.
Some time between 1991 and 1995, someone infilled about 100 feet of Qahal Creek to prevent it from flowing into Robbins Creek at Bogetti Meadow.
So, the ministry apportioned $50,000 to divert Qahal Creek into an old channel about 1.25 miles upstream, instead of restoring the 100 feet that was filled in. There is so much water in Robbins Creek flowing past the Buse Creek diversion point that it floods Cowan Meadow all spring.
In a statement to KTW regarding Buse Lake, Campbell said the lack of water has hurt wildlife in his area: “Without the water, a nearby lake is drying up,” he said. “There is no intention of hurting someone . . . We’re the ones that were hurt when this water was diverted and we just want to reconnect it and then we’re off and running.”
It was surprising that no one from government — and there were at least six of them in the room at the June 18 meeting — corrected the claims.
There is no water in Buse Creek because the diversion pipe (seet photo above) is not attached to Robbins Creek.
And, 80 per cent of water that enters their diversion, when the pipe is attached, is lost in the porous ditch.
Both the Ministry and the Buse Creek licensees knew these things long before. Why the deception?
In the same KTW article, Campbell said the request isn’t malicious. But, it walks like a duck.
Which person can tell the ministry to get Larry Campbell his water and the ministry bows in obedience?
Michael Lindelauf
Robbins Range
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