In 1892, Forbes George Vernon sold the Coldstream Ranch near Vernon, B.C. to the Earl of Aberdeen, who planned to make the land saleable by irrigating it. The first ranch manager, Coutts Marjoribanks, arranged to build a ditch known as the North Ditch to service part of the ranch. Another ranch manager developed the Orchard Ditch and the King Edward, Abbotfield, and Walker systems by diverting water from local sources such as Coldstream Creek. In 1905, a surveyor was hired to determine whether the Duteau Creek watershed could supply adequate irrigation. On his recommendation, the Grey and South Canals were built along the north and south sides of the Coldstream valley to serve adjacent lands, including those east of BX Creek. The White Valley Power and Irrigation Comapny was formed to manage the new system. In 1910, the Grey Canal was extended west and north and finally across the north end of Swan Lake. In 1914, the Grey Canal was extended north and south again to include lands in the Bella Vista area. By 1915, in need of government funding to upgrade the system, landowners petitioned the province to form an improvement district under the Water Act. The Vernon Irrigation District was formed in 1920 by amalgamating several agricultural systems. Its distribution system consisted of 57 miles of open canals and 37 miles of pipes, most of which were built prior to the District being incorporated. From 1945-1963, parts of the canal system were lined with concrete slabs to prevent seepage. Steel flumes were replaced and asbestos-cement pipes were laid. From 1965-1970, the Vernon Irrigation District gradually changed over to a new pipeline system. By 1971, the VID operated entirely without delivery ditches. In 1994, the Vernon Irrigation District changed its name to the North Okanagan Regional Water Authority.