Vernon NewsOrchardists seek emergency wells as North Okanagan water crisis deepensFruit trees fight for survivalPhoto: BC Fruit Growers Association Fruit trees are entering into the danger zone, as the RDNO has enacted Stage 3 water restrictions. Greater Vernon Water, operated by the Regional District of North Okanagan, supplies water to the City of Vernon, District of Coldstream, Electoral Areas B and C, and portions of Area D and Spallumcheen. The utility draws its supply from the Aberdeen Plateau reservoirs on Duteau Creek as well as Kalamalka Lake. At an earlier July meeting, two prominent agricultural property owners, David Geen and John Byland, presented a proposal to drill three temporary emergency wells into the Coldstream aquifer. "These emergency wells could provide much-needed security for local agriculture during what has become an increasingly challenging period for growers.”