Editor:
I am concerned that misinformation about water supply continues to circulate in our community (“Enough water in Chapman,” by Brian Carson, Letters, Sept. 24).
The SCRD has had licences to divert water from Chapman Creek and store water in Chapman and Edwards lakes since 1967, and still has these same licences today. No water licences were “given up” for Tetrahedron Park and the SCRD continues to have a right to maintain its infrastructure in the park and the right to draw water from Chapman and Edwards Lake under emergency conditions.
Activities in a Class A, Schedule D provincial park authorized under another enactment require a Park Use Permit (PUP). BC Parks required an environmental assessment for the SCRD’s PUP application for the Chapman expansion project. The BC Park Act requires park uses to “support or enhance” the values for which a park is designated. Since water source area protection is one of the key values of Tetrahedron Park and impacts were predicted, the application failed and no permit could be issued.
The remaining option was for land to be removed from the park. The Park Act stipulates that Class A park boundary amendments be authorized through an act of the legislature submitted by the Minister of Environment. There are various processes that guide the minister. One is public consultation. Two packed, open meetings were held with a large majority opposed to removing land from the park. Written responses from our region and from park advocates around the province also indicated very little support for removing land from the park.
The minister followed the relevant points of law, policy and consultation. He gave a rationale for the decision and advised the SCRD not to apply again. In the end park values, including water supply, were protected from panic-motivated development.
I support the current SCRD board in their pursuit of aquifer-based solutions for sustainable future water supply.
Daniel Bouman, West Howe Sound
