An attempt by the City of Cranbrook this morning to begin moving water out of Elizabeth Lake across Wattsville Road using a siphon system was not successful.

Instead of pumping, the city, through discussions with the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK), the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) and the Ministry of Environment (MOE), had planned on moving water through a siphon system.

The pipe was put into place and vacuum was applied using the pumper truck from Cranbrook Fire & Emergency Services to begin the siphon. However, once the vacuum of the fire truck was removed, the siphon stopped working. Crews attempted for over an hour to have the siphon work with no success of maintaining water flow.

City staff will be working with the MOE to develop a plan to lower the water level in a controlled manner and to obtain the necessary permits to do the work.

This plan, depending on cost, may include a new culvert at Wattsville Road with a control gate.

City of Cranbrook

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