A Water Use Plan (WUP) sets out,
for a particular water control facility (dam or reservoir), how water is to be
managed and how the facility should be operated to balance environmental,
social and economic interests. Under the Province’s Water
Act, the Comptroller of Water Rights (and employee of the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management) may
require a Water Use Plan as a condition of a new water licence, as part of a
review of an existing license, or in response to a perceived water use
conflict.
With hydro-electric power being
the single largest source of power in British Columbia, and B.C. Hydro one of
the primary operators of damns, this process has been most frequently to
resolve water-use conflicts around B.C. Hydro facilities. Once a planning process has been initiated, the water licensee will make
a public announcement in a manner required by the Comptroller.
B.C.
Hydro is preparing a WUP for each of its major facilities. DFO,
WLAP, and Ministry
of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries staff are providing significant input,
with the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management
Water Planning Team providing facilitation and coordination. Interim orders for fish flow releases are
already in place at nine facilities. As of January 2002, there were 23 WUPs
underway; three completed and one on hold.
Public Consultation
Water use planning is intended
to involve extensive consultation, engaging government agencies, First Nations, community groups and other stakeholders.
The plans are intended to balance
economic, social and environmental values, as well as to consider the competing
demands of industrial, recreational, flood management, community, and fish
habitat water uses in the development of the plan. There is no specific guide to how public consultation will be
done, but open houses, focus groups, and town hall meetings are common tools
used. First Nations may have additional rights of consultation.
It is the responsibility of the
water licensee developing the plan to manage the process. This includes:
·
managing
plan development,
·
ensuring
that all interested parties are able to participate meaningfully in the
process. Parties that are not satisfied
with the process may complain to the Comptroller, who can order an inquiry,
·
providing
draft plans and technical information to provincial and federal agencies for
advice, input and guidance.
There is no
doubt that the Water Use Plan process can reduce the negative environmental
impacts of large scale hydro-electric projects. However, it has been criticized as allowing B.C. Hydro to justify
increases and other changes to its water licenses, thereby escaping past
violations of the licenses. Whether it
will be a useful tool depends on the individual case and the willingness of the
water licensee to carry forward the planning process in good faith.
Related Guide Pages:
·
Water Act
·
Water Act – Water Licences
·
Provincial Planning Processes
For more information about Water Use Plans:
·
Guidelines
for Water Use Plans on the Land and Water
B.C. Website.
·
B.C. Hydro
Water Use Planning web-site.
