G.P. Sandher Holdings Ltd. – water steal – Ken Owens

Conservation officer Ken Owens is under investigation for receiving upwards of $50k from the Sandhers for quashing the ALC investigation into their water steal on Black Mountain. Money went to Brandon Jacobsen of the ALC, and Gavin Dew of ConservativeB.C. Fintrac flagged a crypto cash out sent from a Sami El-Helou bitcoin wallet at the bank account of Ken Owens at RBC in August.

ken.owens@gov.bc.ca

Brandon Jacobsen

"I reviewed your complaint regarding the alleged quarry/gravel extraction happening at 4502 Pyman Road and subsequently Goudie Road, Kelowna. In my review I don’t see any ALCA contraventions present. I’m concerned that the alleged information you’re receiving from residents in the area specifically the pictures may not be accurate to the complaint. Please note accessing private property to take pictures of alleged contraventions will not be utilized by the ALC in its investigations. The ALC doesn’t advocate for complainants to trespass onto private property without a property owners’ permission. The ALC considers this matter closed, if you want to provide the names of the residents that are providing you this information about alleged contraventions, please let us know and we can contact them ourselves."

The busted red-handed Brandon Jacobsen instantly ran to his boss, ALC Compliance and Enforcement Supervisor - Dave Birchmore. Dave.Birchmore@gov.bc.ca brandon.jacobsen@gov.bc.ca ALRlanduseconcern@gov.bc.ca

Photo of 4502 Pyman Road shows an unpermitted irrigation lagoon containing stolen crown water.

Mike's Creek used to run under Goudie Road. The area is now Punjabi wasteland. Bir Sandher, sons Gurtaj and Prabtaj.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/4502+Pyman+Rd,+Central+Okanagan,+BC+V1P+1M4/@49.8720418,-119.2854061,667m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x537d926a303a9259:0x98c5b70f3dcafa46!8m2!3d49.87133!4d-119.28519!16s%2Fg%2F11spwlkm4y?entry=ttu

In January 2022 police were called after the Sandhers obstructed an inspection.

There are 3 records by the MoE starting in 2020, (50.063/-119.4157) (49.875296/-119.2) and (50.4124/-119.262). The first was for tapping crown ground water, the last in late 2022 for diverting Dave's Creek. Here.

The Water Sustainability Act was implemented in 2016 so that streams and aquifers can be managed to keep them sustainable. Groundwater is a shared resource and excessive use for profit will deplete it. Licensing allows measurement of how much water is being consumed and the collection of usage fees. Fines for offenders range to a maximum of $500k. One may check B.C. water licenses without difficulty. HERE. There is not a water license in place for the consumption of ground water at Black Mountain.

Sandher’s cherry expansion of 343 acres is in Kelowna’s eastern city limits. The ground is within the Regional District of Central Okanagan and is in the ALR. Residents raised concerns about soil movement, drainage and noise. Its said the slope cuts above Highway 33 to plant the orchard had no geotechnical or environmental studies done. Its said the Sandhers have piped in water from an unpermitted source and are stealing crown water. Sandher applied to the Black Mountain Irrigation District (BMID) in 2021 to get water to its 1,058 new acres. That triggered an application by BMID to the province to extend its boundaries. It was so ordered on October 23, 2023. According to a MoU, Sandher is required to pay for a 14km pipeline of unknown cost and $4,516.29 per acre to buy in the water rights for agriculture from BMID. That would be $4,777,928. An agreement between the parties is overdue. Expanded Upland Reservoir storage of 2600 ML is needed to service Sandher. Funding for that isn’t spelled out. GP Sandher Holdings Ltd. has plans to plant 650,000 trees.

Highway 33 could be buried in a mudslide, with debris entering Mission Creek, which borders the Westbank first nation Medicine Creek reservation. The area has unstable silt slopes. Landslides and washouts are common.

A landslide caused extensive damage along Highway 33 near Rock Creek in 2018. BMID’s main conduit from Mission Creek to the water distribution system was compromised due to an unstable slope.

Prabtaj Sandher was the star in a promotional video for Delta Water Products in January 2023. The water supply system for the 343 acres of cherry trees on Black Mountain was operational then.