Drinking Water Management, Mark and Matthew Creek
City of Kimberley
The City of Kimberley, in the Purcell Mountains of BC, obtains its drinking water from Mark Creek and Matthew Creek, two forested headwater streams. These watersheds provide water to about 6,500 residents as well as a large population of visitors to the local ski and golf resorts. Both watersheds are the site of active timber harvesting and Mark Creek is again being explored for mineral deposits. Lower Mark Creek is home to the largest lead and zinc mine in the world, the Sullivan Mine, that closed in 2001. Aqua-Tex has advised the City on management of its drinking water watersheds since 1998 and has conducted routine monitoring and coordinated their integrated watershed management committee continuously since 2001.