BOUNDARY ALLIANCE
r
environmental
WORKING TO PROTECT NATURAL
RESOURCES IN THE BOUNDARY
issues continued:
-After two of us met with Water Branch in March 2008, we remained concerned:
That withdrawals, even at time
of freshet, will have negative downstream effects on flow, groundwater recharge &
refreshing of fish habitat.
-That dam volumes, according to stated application amounts, are not static, and that usage
could exceed
stated volumes.
-That a variety of studies indicate that we are in a warming trend, that so called "climate-
change" could increase that trend, and studies have indicated that these trends drive a
change" could increase that trend, and studies have indicated that these trends drive a
local need for earlier and greater agricultural irrigation
demands primarily due to
increased evaporation and transpiration.
increased evaporation and transpiration.
-That the Kettle is effectively already oversubscribed
-That
the lack of regulation or control over groundwater withdrawals will further impact
the Kettle.
the Kettle.
We Propose That:
S No licences be issued to Big White for additional water for expanded growth, snowmaking,
golf course irrigation unless Water Branch can demonstate to the community that there
golf course irrigation unless Water Branch can demonstate to the community that there
will be no downstream effects.
S That no further licenced withdrawals on the Kettle be approved without a Watershed
Management Plan.
Management Plan.
S That until a Watershed Management Plan is in place the Kettle be deemed to be
fully subscribed.
S That interested parties, NGO's, stakeholders get together immediately to begin a
process for a Watershed Management Plan for the Kettle.
We will work to advance this issue.
process for a Watershed Management Plan for the Kettle.
We will work to advance this issue.
S That the Provincial Government
bring in groundwater legislation/controls. B.C. remains the
only Province without groundwater legislation/controls. This is still the case despite numerous
Hearings, Inquiries and Processes that have recommended such action, dating back to and
probably prior to 1990 when B.C was even then the only Province without legislation.
only Province without groundwater legislation/controls. This is still the case despite numerous
Hearings, Inquiries and Processes that have recommended such action, dating back to and
probably prior to 1990 when B.C was even then the only Province without legislation.
2008
the first in a series of articles examining cattle range use in our sensitive
dryland area, and the consequences to water quality, riparian zones, sensitive grasslands and habitat.
E-COLI COUNTS in local streams. An ongoing study relating range-cow usage to water quality issues.
nov 09