Golder Report on Groundwater

The Association has several copies of the November 2003 Golder Report on Groundwater Development in the Meadow Valley Aquifer. A comment from the audience at the June 23rd meeting referred to this report and the very cautious language used to describe future development of this aquifer.

In this report, the proposed Golf Course Development is considered, while aware of the limited information available on the Course, and more specifically, the possible water demand and associated residential development.

The report states: "The net water balance calculations for Meadow Valley completed in Section 7.2 which do not account for the golf course development, indicate annual withdrawals by the District of Summerland (from the emergency wells) and the Faulder Area Residents could potentially be as much as 50 percent of the annual recharge to the Meadow Valley System. Additional development of the aquifer, including pumping from the wells completed for the proposed golf course, should only be undertaken with more detailed studies to more accurately determine long-term impacts from increased withdrawals."

Conclusions found in the report:
"Based on the results of the current drilling program and information on the Faulder Community Well, it is apparent that the District of Summerland wells and the Faulder Community Well are completed in the same aquifer."

Recommendations found in the report:
"Further development of the aquifer should not be undertaken without more detailed hydrogeological studies."

"It is imperative that the current stakeholders of the aquifer monitor the existing groundwater consumption and development activities in order to limit potential overuse, or mining, of the groundwater resource in the area."

Clearly water is an issue. This is a 30 page report and a copy can be viewed or obtained by contacting me.

Amie