Water

Issues:

  • Water shortages exist, and are likely to worsen, resulting in competition for limited water supplies.
  • Water licensing decisions need to account for the water needs of fish, fish habitat and aquatic ecosystems.
  • Water allocation planning, which includes information and analysis of seasonal water flows, licensed use, and ecological requirements, is needed.
  • An inventory of available water (e.g., quantity and flow information) for agricultural and industrial development, domestic use, storage, conservation purposes, and fish, is needed.
  • Development plans and decisions need to consider potential impacts to water quality and quantity.

Goals:

  • Balanced water management that provides for:
    • safe, reliable and accessible drinking water,
    • industrial development; and
    • fish, fish habitat and aquatic ecosystems

Crown Land and Water

Objectives Management Direction/Strategies Measures of Success/Targets Intent
1. Improve information about water use and availability 1.1 Inventory water storage opportunities for domestic, agricultural and industrial development and instream flows Water available for development, storage and water licensing opportunities.
1.2 Encourage domestic drinking water use licensees to use available internetbased mineral resource information to acquaint themselves of mineral exploration activities in their watersheds
2. Improve information about water quality, quantity and timing of flow 2.1 Research management practices to increase water yields from dry ecosystems Easily accessible (e.g., website) and accurate water licence, water monitoring, and watershed assessment data. Adequate monitoring of water quality and quantity
2.2 Continue existing baseline water quality monitoring
3. Ensure adequate instream flow requirements for fish, fish habitat and aquatic ecosystems 3.1 Instream flow requirements established for fish and aquatic ecosystems
4. Address existing and potential water use conflicts in all watersheds with shortages 4.1 In watersheds where there are water shortages, conduct water allocation planning Water allocation plans exist for watersheds with existing or potential water use conflicts
5. Manage resource development and use activities to maintain ground and surface drinking water sources, including water quality, quantity and timing of flow 5.1 Resource development plans address water quality, quantity and timing of flow 100 %
5.2 Special care to protect water quality in watersheds with domestic use
6. Maintain hydrologic stability in all watersheds contributing to fish habitat and licensed domestic water use 6.1 Encourage licensees to prioritize watersheds requiring assessments Hydrologic assessments completed for drainages where there is evidence of destabilization or potential destabilization Use tools such as the Lillooet Forest District Watershed Screening Tool (August 2000)
6.2 Incorporate First Nations traditional use and knowledge in these assessments where available
6.3 Encourage forest licensees to complete assessments on all prioritized watersheds
7. Improve communication amongst water users, development proponents, and resource agencies to minimize conflicts about water use and resource development 7.1 Facilitate sharing of water monitoring and watershed assessment data broadly, including the general public and stakeholder organizations Water tenures implemented without conflicts Resource development in watersheds with water tenures Easily accessible (e.g., website) and accurate water licence, water monitoring, and watershed assessment data.