While the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) board has decided to deepen the channel at Chapman Lake, directors revisited some issues related to water supply on the Coast during their Oct. 1 infrastructure services committee meeting.
The first issue noted was the way environmental concerns related to the drawing down of Chapman Lake, which were brought up with the previous board, had been addressed.
Staff said concerns had been addressed in a 1999 environmental impact report and through the Comprehensive Regional Water Plan process, but Sechelt director Bruce Milne said nowhere did staff list what the environmental concerns were for new board members. He said having those items listed would make it easier for the board to ensure they were addressed.
“I don’t know what kind of meetings have been held with us,” Sechelt Indian Government District director Chris August said. “Seeing as we don’t have the ability to vote on any of this today, I’d like to see it go to the next water meeting with us.”
All were in favour of sending the topic to the next joint watershed meeting for more discussion.
On the issue of supply, West Howe Sound director Ian Winn asked how serious the drought in August really was. “How much supply did we have left?” Winn asked.
“It was approximately about 15 days left when the rain came,” said acting general manager of infrastructure services Dave Crosby, adding that was “within our capability without doing the siphon.”
The siphon option, directors heard, wasn’t able to be tested out this year.
“We were unable to test it due to the high water level of the lake and also the weather made us unable to access the lake as well,” said Crosby.
“We’re planning to [test] it late spring, when the supply starts to drop again.”
On the topic of alternative water supply options, Milne said he wanted staff to ensure options were the same after the 2015 drought as were identified before it happened. “Because I think there is a difference and that’s a concern,” Milne said.
Roberts Creek director Mark Lebbell also wanted to see more alternate sources presented to the board than just the engineered lake option. A staff report noted that drawing down Chapman Lake was the only viable short-term option while building an engineered lake was the preferred long-term supply option.
Crosby said looking at other water supply options was on his “work plan list for 2016.” On the topic of an environmental assessment in relation to deepening the channel at Chapman Lake, staff said a request for proposals was expected to go out within the next two weeks.
