Editor:
Re: “Park values include water,” by Daniel Bouman, Letters, Oct. 15.
In response to Brian Carson’s letter of Sept. 24 regarding Chapman Lake, Mr. Bouman states that the regional district did not “give up its water licences.” This is a matter of semantics.
Prior to the establishment of the Tetrahedron Park, the regional district had a relatively unencumbered ability to increase community water supply. This was via licensing and its two Land Act Water Reserves that were under the management of the provincial Water Rights Branch. Once the park was established, a Park Use Permit (PUP) at the discretion of BC Parks was required to enable continued use of its water licences.
In a Class A provincial park, a PUP simply acknowledges and allows the continuation of an established non-conforming use. In our local situation, further permanent diversion and storage of water requires an amendment to the park designation. This is a complex process and uncertain in its outcome.
The regional district supported the establishment of the park, and consequently the park plan does recognize the significance of the Chapman system as a regional water supply source. It also indicates that options other than a Class A Park status will be pursued to allow BC Parks to authorize required infrastructure improvements for further growth.
This authorization has not happened. Further, Minister George Heyman has stated that the regional district now needs “to significantly reduce or eliminate the dependence on the Chapman system.”
The establishment of provincial parks and their modifications are political decisions. Other communities have had positive outcomes. As an example, in 2014, 10 hectares were deleted from the 1,807-hectare Elk Falls Park to allow the City of Campbell River to construct a replacement municipal water supply system. In comparison, proposed works by the SCRD in 2018 would have required 1.37 hectares for pipe installation out of the 6,000-hectare park, and the Chapman Lake surface area of 33.5 hectares would have been temporarily affected during drawdown.
Judy Skogstad, Sechelt
