Get our Web feed. Login (No account? Register!)
Location: Thompson, Bonaparte River Watershed Project Summary
SUMMARY The project will review low flow issues and develop a Bonaparte Watershed water conservation strategy including a summary of options that can be subsequently pursued with MOE and water license holders to mitigate the impact of low flow issues on fish and aquatic habitat. This objective is one within a larger suite of water related issues identified as priorities during the 2007-2009 community based watershed planning process. OVERVIEW The project will review low flow issues and develop a Bonaparte Watershed water conservation strategy including a summary of options that can be subsequently pursued with MOE and water license holders to mitigate the impact of low flow issues on fish and aquatic habitat. Water supply issues have been identified as a major blockage to watershed sustainability within the BWSS watershed sustainability plan, providing key linkage between other watershed sustainability priorities such as river habitat restoration to support sustainable fish and farming needs. The project will demonstrate the value of the recently completed watershed planning process as a tool to improve fish and fish habitat values and promote human behaviour change in relation to water use and water conservation. There have been 9 consecutive years of restoration effort with various agency, NGO, industry and funding partners, There are increasing numbers of landowners coming forward willing to undertake projects that improve riparian management. These are examples of behaviour change in-the-making, similar to a trend that gathered momentum through a policy to “lead by example” that was followed on the Salmon River a decade before. The BWSS has always made progress on its own with strong internal leadership and community based support, and in addition is now benefiting from the SRWR experiences as a sister watershed with transfer of expertise to local hands by SRWR staff. The watershed planning process has enabled a watershed perspective to develop providing the linkage between key issues such as the need to improve water management practices and other watershed sustainability goals.
Objective #1 Assessment of available water supply and demand information
Existing hydrometric data for the watershed will be assembled and reviewed. A watershed overview of water supply will be developed. Water demand for irrigation and other human uses will be summarized for the watershed at an overview scale and compared with supply. A naturalized hydrograph will be developed and opportunities for water conservation and storage will be developed including relevant suggestions for drought management and opportunities to improve governance and licensing practices. Monitoring, outreach for improved water management continue to be important aspects of the watershed project. Water conservation and storage candidates for future pilot projects will be developed during a series of field visits, linked to watershed planning and streambank restoration activities. Existing initiatives such as water smart and current licensing requirements will be incorporated into the plan. The long term water management plan is to help develop a more sustainable water use plan from a watershed perspective that provides for human as well as fish and other instream aquatic values. The findings of this 2010 water management project will be added to the watershed plan living document “Bonaparte watershed trends and conditions” . BENEFITS Improving natal stream habitat by improved water management to mitigate summer and winter low flow as well as spring flooding impacts supports sustainable salmon and salmonid habitat goals within the Fraser basin as well as promoting awareness and behaviour change around the importance of water management practices as a key to watershed sustainability. Engage First Nations, government agencies and community groups/NGOs The SNFC and the Bonaparte Indian Band are involved in groundwater and fish studies in the watershed. Gov Agency involvement includes MOE, DFO, MAL. Landowners and agriculture industry such as BC Cattlemen’s are also involved Complement or implement local and / or regional plans (e.g., recovery plans, watershed plans) The watershed planning process undertaken by the BSWSS (WFSP, 2007-2009) address salmon and salmon habitat issues at a watershed scale in annual work planning Value-added aspects Local capacity and understanding of the value of instream water to support riparian and fish/fish habitat values will be improved by the project. Mentoring and leadership are products of the efforts to communicate and explain the value of good riparian and water management practices. A broad range of partners engaged through watershed planning and field actions to date including citizens, students, First Nations , landowners , agricultural producers, industry, NGO and government agencies in building project successes to date and will be expanded upon under this initiative .
|
EMAIL
PRINT
Be the first to leave a comment on this page!