The nights have been getting cooler, and there’s been some rain in the past couple of weeks, but there hasn’t been enough for the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) to consider lifting Stage 3 watering restrictions on the part of the system that draws from Chapman Lake.
As well as the lack of rain, water consumption has remained above the Stage 3 target of 12 million litres/day since the restrictions went into effect.
Low flows in Chapman Creek continue to be a cause for concern at the Chapman Creek Hatchery. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans closed the creek to recreational fishing in August because of “extremely low water levels.” The closure will remain in place until Oct. 15.
Hatchery manager David Burnett says fish trying to move upstream to spawn are getting trapped in pools. The water temperatures are colder now, though, which means there’s a better chance of survival for smaller fish, and salmon fry.
Burnett told Coast Reporter there was a “low water incident” at the hatchery Sept. 10, when water levels dropped to the point the intake for their tanks was exposed.
According to Burnett, coho salmon are starting to appear in greater numbers in the estuary and some are making their way upstream to the hatchery. He explained that coho have been expected to start running around mid-September.
Burnett, who also sits on the local Sport Fishing Advisory Committee, said the committee is anxious to see more water released from Chapman Lake in light of the recent rain and the approach of fall.
SCRD general manager of infrastructure services Bryan Shoji was scheduled to give a verbal update on the water supply situation at the infrastructure services committee meeting Sept. 15.
The committee was also due to receive a staff report on moving forward with another initiative tied to the Comprehensive Regional Water Plan.
The report outlines the scope of work for the first part of a search for groundwater sources that could replace the rain and snowmelt-fed Chapman Lake.
The report says a request for proposals will go out later this month for companies interested in doing a “hydrogeological desktop study to identify the most promising aquifer(s) located within the SCRD to pursue with test drilling.”
As well as identifying aquifers, the work in the first phase of the project includes drafting estimates of the costs for infrastructure such as wells, treatment plants and pump stations, as well as “identifying all potential environmental impacts and regulatory approval requirements related to the development of a well in each aquifer.”
Once the most promising sites are identified, test wells will be drilled as part of the second phase of the project.
