Letter regarding our Water issues
The following is a superb letter written by Lorraine Bennest. It clearly outlines Summerland's current water situation and how it relates to new development potential. She will be sending this letter to:
Hon. George Abbott Minister of Sustainable Resource Development, PO Box 9054
Hon. Bill Barisoff Minister of Land, Water and Air Protection, PO Box 9047
Hon. Rick Thorpe Minister of Provincial Revenue, PO Box 9065
Hon. John van Dongen Minister ofAgriculture,POBox9058, Stn. Prov. Government, Victoria, V8W 9E2
I think it should also be forwarded to Drew Frymire at Land and Water BC.
Dear Ministers
As a fruit grower in an arid valley I have long recognized the connection between land and water. With the Water Use Plan (Fish Flow Agreement) Summerland’s water supply is fully allocated and users face a 30% potential shortfall that corresponds to 2800 acre feet. The Thirsk Dam upgrade of 2500 acre feet is allocated first to further increases in fish flow and then to replacing lost allocations to current users. New developments since the 2003 water crises have already added 183 acre feet of use.
It is not possible to allocate water from Summerland’s system for further development. The current housing and golf course proposal is estimated to use 800 acre feet.
If we assume that this crown land development will be adequately supplied from groundwater now and in the future we ignore some very important points:
1. The Faulder aquifer is part of Summerland’s water system and may prove useful in overcoming the current 30% potential shortfall.
2. Aquifers have been known to fail – Min of Agriculture staff are warning agriculture groups in the valley that ground water sources are declining
3. Concerns are being raised that the Okanagan Basin may be fully allocated
4. First Nations Lands have not yet been factored into water use calculations in the valley
5. Groundwater is not currently regulated. The government is working on establishing regulations. Preliminary indications are that these licenses will be time limited due to the recognized need for studies on the equilibrium of groundwater. For instance the Faulder Aquifer is not well understood – professionals guess that 50% of its recharge capacity is allocated between Faulder and Summerland – does that mean that if we actually use that capacity it is guaranteed to be replaced? If so where does that capacity bubble out now and who will we be taking it away from?
6. If this aquifer fails, what demands will transfer to Summerland’s surface water system?
The Okanagan Partnership has ‘sustainable prosperity’ as its goal. So do I. We need to delay judgment on this proposal to make sure it qualifies as sustainable. In the absence of groundwater legislation we have no tools to properly address the aquifer issues.
Less than 5% of the provinces land base is arable – it is only arable in the Okanagan if it has irrigation water.
Please hold off on Crown Land application 3410376 until ground water legislation is available to provide long term protection for all water users.
Hon. George Abbott Minister of Sustainable Resource Development, PO Box 9054
Hon. Bill Barisoff Minister of Land, Water and Air Protection, PO Box 9047
Hon. Rick Thorpe Minister of Provincial Revenue, PO Box 9065
Hon. John van Dongen Minister ofAgriculture,POBox9058, Stn. Prov. Government, Victoria, V8W 9E2
I think it should also be forwarded to Drew Frymire at Land and Water BC.
Dear Ministers
As a fruit grower in an arid valley I have long recognized the connection between land and water. With the Water Use Plan (Fish Flow Agreement) Summerland’s water supply is fully allocated and users face a 30% potential shortfall that corresponds to 2800 acre feet. The Thirsk Dam upgrade of 2500 acre feet is allocated first to further increases in fish flow and then to replacing lost allocations to current users. New developments since the 2003 water crises have already added 183 acre feet of use.
It is not possible to allocate water from Summerland’s system for further development. The current housing and golf course proposal is estimated to use 800 acre feet.
If we assume that this crown land development will be adequately supplied from groundwater now and in the future we ignore some very important points:
1. The Faulder aquifer is part of Summerland’s water system and may prove useful in overcoming the current 30% potential shortfall.
2. Aquifers have been known to fail – Min of Agriculture staff are warning agriculture groups in the valley that ground water sources are declining
3. Concerns are being raised that the Okanagan Basin may be fully allocated
4. First Nations Lands have not yet been factored into water use calculations in the valley
5. Groundwater is not currently regulated. The government is working on establishing regulations. Preliminary indications are that these licenses will be time limited due to the recognized need for studies on the equilibrium of groundwater. For instance the Faulder Aquifer is not well understood – professionals guess that 50% of its recharge capacity is allocated between Faulder and Summerland – does that mean that if we actually use that capacity it is guaranteed to be replaced? If so where does that capacity bubble out now and who will we be taking it away from?
6. If this aquifer fails, what demands will transfer to Summerland’s surface water system?
The Okanagan Partnership has ‘sustainable prosperity’ as its goal. So do I. We need to delay judgment on this proposal to make sure it qualifies as sustainable. In the absence of groundwater legislation we have no tools to properly address the aquifer issues.
Less than 5% of the provinces land base is arable – it is only arable in the Okanagan if it has irrigation water.
Please hold off on Crown Land application 3410376 until ground water legislation is available to provide long term protection for all water users.
posted by Amie |
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