11

Draft Water Management Plan Draft Water Management Plan – 2– 2ndnd Version Version

Council Special MeetingCouncil Special Meeting

May 26, 2008May 26, 2008

22

Vision StatementVision Statement

Ensure safe and sustainable groundwater Ensure safe and sustainable groundwater for our community for generations to comefor our community for generations to come

33

Guiding PrinciplesGuiding Principles

Fair Fair AdaptiveAdaptive SustainableSustainable ProactiveProactive Shared StewardshipShared Stewardship Community-basedCommunity-based AccountableAccountable

44

Issues and ChallengesIssues and Challenges

Increasing demand for water Increasing demand for water resourcesresources

Dropping groundwater levelsDropping groundwater levels Reduced stream flowsReduced stream flows Vulnerable aquifersVulnerable aquifers Intensification of land useIntensification of land use Uncertainty of climate changeUncertainty of climate change Limitations to existing legislationLimitations to existing legislation

Township Water Demand

-

10,000,000

20,000,000

30,000,000

40,000,000

50,000,000

60,000,000

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Date

Co

nsu

mp

tio

n (

m3)

Private Wells

Municipal Wells

GVRD

? ??

2007

55

Water Resources Management StrategyWater Resources Management Strategy 20 year action plan20 year action plan

• Public Outreach Public Outreach • Studies Studies • Policy developmentPolicy development

Water Management PlanWater Management Plan New legislationNew legislation

What Steps Have Been Taken?What Steps Have Been Taken?

66

Past ProgressPast Progress

Council request to Minister December 19, Council request to Minister December 19, 20042004

Ministerial Order signed July 14, 2006Ministerial Order signed July 14, 2006 Project charter signed August 31, 2006Project charter signed August 31, 2006 Facilitator hired November, 2006Facilitator hired November, 2006 Draft Plan – 1Draft Plan – 1stst Version to Council on Version to Council on

November 5, 2007November 5, 2007

77

Draft Plan – 1Draft Plan – 1stst Version Version

44 recommendations44 recommendations Reduce groundwater useReduce groundwater use Protect groundwater qualityProtect groundwater quality Protect fish habitatProtect fish habitat Improve knowledge and understandingImprove knowledge and understanding Implement planImplement plan

88

Public ConsultationPublic Consultation Four Stakeholder Advisory Committee meetingsFour Stakeholder Advisory Committee meetings One Expert workshopOne Expert workshop Two public open housesTwo public open houses Meetings with Township committees and Meetings with Township committees and

commissions and other interested groupscommissions and other interested groups Presentations at workshops, seminars and Presentations at workshops, seminars and

conferencesconferences Website up-datesWebsite up-dates Media releases, phone calls, emailsMedia releases, phone calls, emails

99

Common ConcernsCommon Concerns

Regulate largest usersRegulate largest users ““Quit picking on the little guy!”Quit picking on the little guy!”

Private property issuesPrivate property issues ““It’s my well! I paid for it…”It’s my well! I paid for it…”

Development concernsDevelopment concerns ““Why are we paying for Willoughby?”Why are we paying for Willoughby?” ““The Township is the problem!”The Township is the problem!”

Cost concernsCost concerns ““No tax grabs…”No tax grabs…” ““Who’s going to pay for these meters?”Who’s going to pay for these meters?”

1010

1111

Recent ProgressRecent Progress

Council motion to remove:Council motion to remove: Metering of private wellsMetering of private wells Charging for groundwater use through a cap Charging for groundwater use through a cap

and penalty systemand penalty system The establishment of a body to implement the The establishment of a body to implement the

water management planwater management plan Draft Plan – 2Draft Plan – 2stst Version Version

33 recommendations33 recommendations

1212

Draft Plan – 2Draft Plan – 2ndnd Version Version Protect Groundwater QuantityProtect Groundwater Quantity

Drilling authorization requirementsDrilling authorization requirements• Minimum set-backs from watercoursesMinimum set-backs from watercourses• hydrogeological assessments for large wellshydrogeological assessments for large wells• flow restrictionsflow restrictions

Enhanced standards for new developmentsEnhanced standards for new developments Enhanced conservation measuresEnhanced conservation measures

• Township-wide sprinkling restrictionsTownship-wide sprinkling restrictions Examine options to integrate groundwater and Examine options to integrate groundwater and

surface water allocationsurface water allocation

1313

Draft Plan – 2Draft Plan – 2ndnd Version Version

Protect Groundwater QualityProtect Groundwater Quality Locally enforceable agricultural practicesLocally enforceable agricultural practices

• Strengthened manure and composting Strengthened manure and composting requirementsrequirements

A pilot nutrient management plan for the A pilot nutrient management plan for the Hopington areaHopington area

Township-wide septic management planTownship-wide septic management plan

1414

Draft Plan – 2Draft Plan – 2ndnd Version Version

Learning and EducationLearning and Education Mandatory submission of well data Mandatory submission of well data Comprehensive monitoring and research Comprehensive monitoring and research

program program Expand Water Wise programExpand Water Wise program

Plan ImplementationPlan Implementation Community-based Advisory CommitteeCommunity-based Advisory Committee Special Conservation OfficerSpecial Conservation Officer

1515

LimitationsLimitations

Although a positive step in groundwater Although a positive step in groundwater management, additional measures will be management, additional measures will be required to ensure sustainabilityrequired to ensure sustainability Plan to be reviewed in five yearsPlan to be reviewed in five years Monitoring will better inform decision-makingMonitoring will better inform decision-making

1616

Next StepsNext Steps

Public ConsultationPublic Consultation Information bulletinsInformation bulletins Stakeholder meetingsStakeholder meetings Open HousesOpen Houses Attitude surveyAttitude survey

Revise plan and present to CouncilRevise plan and present to Council Final plan to Minister of EnvironmentFinal plan to Minister of Environment