Editor:
I want to voice my support of the actions taken by the SCRD board and staff as discussed at the June 20 meeting of the SCRD infrastructure committee meeting concerning our water supply emergency.
The situation is that the current provincial Environmental Flow Notice, issued in 2016, sets the minimum required flow rate in Chapman Creek at 200 l/sec at all times. This was primarily put in place to provide adequate flow for the returning pinks and chinooks during some days in August and September. It is my understanding that during June and July this flow rate draining Chapman Lake storage is in excess of the flow requirements to provide suitable habitat for the fish population in Chapman Creek, which could be provided at a flow rate as low as 120 l/sec, and as a consequence we are wasting in the order of 6,900,000 litres of water every day during June and July.
This is a significant percentage of the total SCRD Chapman system water requirement of approximately 14 to 16 million litres per day. If the SCRD can get a temporary variance in the Chapman Creek required minimum flow back to pre-2016 levels, this would provide enough water in storage in August and September to delay the need to go to Stage 4 by many weeks.
It is also my understanding that there is the possibility of providing the water flow required during August and September for the returning pinks and chinooks by controlled water releases from Chapman Lake as and when required. The water saved in August and September through this approach would provide additional stored water for SCRD domestic use. If this is also done, we could possibly avoid the need to go to Stage 4 this year altogether. The Chapman hatchery is not operating for the balance of this summer and would not be impacted by such actions.
Hopefully the people in Victoria responsible for giving approval to this emergency measure will carry out their required assessments quickly and provided that no unacceptable damage would be done to the habitat and fish population in Chapman Creek, they will expedite an approval.
We should all be aware of the good work our SCRD board and staff are doing at this time and if Victoria does not respond in a timely manner or denies the request without good reason then we should all support our SCRD in further action.
Bob Michor, Sechelt
