A framework that will further ensure the responsible use and management of northeast B.C.’s water resources is now in place, with the release today of a comprehensive water strategy for that region.

The strategy brings together the needs of First Nations, communities, industry and the environment into a single blueprint for monitoring and managing water resources for all users in the Northeast. By co-ordinating existing but separate water stewardship efforts into a single strategy, the Northeast Water Strategy (NEWS) will enhance transparency and effectiveness.

In coming years, population increases, industrial need and climate change will all affect water in the region. The NEWS will build on the strengths of the existing water stewardship regime and improve the ability to manage surface water and groundwater to ensure human and ecosystem needs are met now and into the future.

The overarching objectives of the NEWS are unified water stewardship, healthy aquatic ecosystems, clean water and the sustainable use of water resources in the region. To fulfil these objectives, the NEWS identifies five action areas:

• Enhance information to support decision making.
• Strengthen the regulatory regime.
• Co-ordinate and streamline decision-making processes.
• Enhance monitoring and reporting.
• Build a water stewardship ethic.

The Province will partner with First Nations, other levels of government, industry, communities and academia to implement the strategy over the next three fiscal years.

Quotes:

Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations -

“This strategy was built collaboratively with Treaty 8 First Nations, industry and communities in the Northeast. It lays the framework to ensure healthy and sustainable water resources for communities, industry and the environment in the Northeast.”

Diane Abel, director of administration, Treaty 8 Tribal Association -

“Water is our most important resource. Water is life. We look forward to working with the Province on a new era of water stewardship through the collaborative implementation of the Northeast Water Strategy.”

Lori Ackerman, chair, Peace River Regional District -

“The Peace River Regional District is pleased to see the new level of effort that the Province has undertaken in the characterization of water in our region and the establishment of a Northeast Water Strategy.”

Robin Archdekin, president and CEO of Geoscience BC -

“Groundwater protection is critical to all British Columbians. The Northeast Water Strategy will provide the necessary framework for groundwater stewardship and enable responsible water use in the resource sector, an initiative that Geoscience BC is proud to support.”

Brad Herald, vice-president, Western Canada and Natural Gas Markets: Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers -

“Water is an important resource, and using it responsibly is a priority for our industry. Northeastern British Columbia’s population and economy are projected to grow, with the natural gas industry as an important driver of economic growth. It is appropriate that the government implements a strategy to ensure water use by all sectors is managed responsibly to ensure the continued sustainable use of this important resource.”

Karina Brino, president and CEO, Mining Association of B.C. -

“The Mining Association of British Columbia (MABC) supports the Province’s efforts to develop a Water Strategy in Northeastern B.C. In particular, MABC believes that the Murray River Water Quality Monitoring project - a First Nations, industry and provincial government partnership—will enhance water-quality monitoring in the Murray River watershed to inform environmental management decisions in the region.”

Quick Facts:

• Major rivers in the Northeast include the Peace, Liard and Hay Rivers. These feed into the Mackenzie River Basin and collectively account for an annual flow of 120.6 billion cubic metres.
• Licensed surface water allocation in the Northeast to date is 61.8 million cubic metres annually, or roughly 0.05% of the water in the region.

Learn More:

To learn more about the Northeast Water Strategy or to download a copy:
http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/topic.page?id=CB2ECF355985423A91F8D7DC3F9963B3

A backgrounder follows.

Six factsheets are online at:

Hydropower: http://ow.ly/KAY48

Agriculture and Range: http://ow.ly/KAHQt

Forestry: http://ow.ly/KAI5P 

Rural Domestic:  http://ow.ly/KAIho

Natural Gas and Oil: http://ow.ly/KAIkS   

Mining: http://ow.ly/KAIxO

Media Contacts:

Media Relations
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 356-5261

BACKGROUNDER

The Northeast Water Strategy

Northeastern British Columbia is the source of abundant water supplies. It is also a focal point for resource development, increasing population and critical habitat for many species of wildlife, including endangered caribou herds. 

A number of monitoring and regulatory tools already are in place in the region, but more can be done to enhance and improve these tools. Ensuring that all of these values remain protected as they come under increasing demand will require a detailed knowledge of water resources, both above and below the surface, and a comprehensive strategy for determining their responsible use.

The goal of the Northeast Water Strategy is “the responsible use and care of water resources through conservation and sustainable practices to ensure human and ecosystem needs are met now and into the future.” The strategy has four objectives in support of this goal:

1. Unified water stewardship

• Develop and implement water stewardship actions together with First Nations, federal, provincial and local governments, regulatory bodies, communities, industry and academia.
• Share information and advice, and collaborate amongst partners in the delivery of this strategy.

2. Healthy aquatic ecosystems

• Connect ecology with water quality and quantity, including wetlands.
• Understand and inform decisions on ecological carrying capacity.
• Protect and enhance riparian habitat, aquatic ecosystems and species.

3. Clean water

• Protect drinking water.
• Minimize impacts from resource development.

4. Sustainable use of water

• Make conservation a fundamental requirement for all water users.
• Understand sustainable watershed health and apply knowledge to economic and community development decisions.
• Manage water demand.
• Protect and manage surface flows and groundwater levels within their natural range of variability.
• Prepare for climate change.

Manage water through a water-balance lens considering water uses (both ecological and human) now, through seasonal variation, and into the future.

Specific actions are outlined for each of the five action areas identified in the strategy to achieve these objectives. These actions provide direction to government initiatives and also inform how government and its partners deliver on shared actions. In the first year of implementation, the focus will be on enhancing information and tools to support decision-making, including:

• Address priority water knowledge gaps such as groundwater mapping and the effects of climate change on river flows, through implementation of water research strategy.
• Enhance surface water and groundwater monitoring systems in the region to address gaps in water quality and quantity data.
• Enhance public accessibility to water data and information through enhancements to existing data management platforms.
• Implement the Water Sustainability Act, with its associated regulations for the protection and use of groundwater, reporting requirements and environmental flows policy.

For a complete list of action areas, see Pages 5-7 of the strategy document at: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/topic.page?id=CB2ECF355985423A91F8D7DC3F9963B3  

Media Contacts:

Media Relations
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 356-5261