Editor:
I watched the May 9 SCRD water update and was struck by the explanation of the EFN (Environmental Flow Need) water requirement situation, which Councillor Inkster had introduced to the discussion. I understand that lowering the EFN requirement for Chapman Creek from June through July would significantly increase the water available to the Chapman Creek water system – it would be nice for the SCRD to quantify just how much, e.g. 50 per cent of the Church Road well output. Unfortunately, last year, the provincial government and the shíshálh Nation were not able to respond with an approval for reducing the EFN until August, which meant that there was no increase in water supply for 2023. In addition, the province put in additional monitoring requirements, which would add costs of around half a million dollars and take a year or more to collect the data necessary. As CAO McKinley pointed out at the meeting, it is clear that the reduction in the flow of Chapman Creek must happen sooner rather than later to be effective. That means now. Unfortunately, the Province and the shíshálh Nation have not given their approval. Perhaps this needs to be an election issue to get everyone’s attention.
Greg Deacon
East Porpoise Bay
