Groundwater enforcement picks up

Drought conditions worsened on Vancouver Island last week, coinciding with a growing stream of reports that BC Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship staff are visiting farms in the Tsolum watershed to ensure compliance with groundwater licensing rules.

The Tsolum was one of four watersheds where irrigation of forage was shut down last August via a fish protection order under Section 88 of the Water Sustainability Act. The orders followed several letters encouraging voluntary reductions, until the province deemed stream flows too low for aquatic life.

This summer, conditions on Vancouver Island have yet to reach a point where adverse impacts are possible. The Peace saw drought conditions ease last week, after ending last season in severe drought and dry conditions remaining elevated for much of this season.

But the province isn’t taking any chances.

“While drought levels across the province are dropping, the Ministry of Water, Lands and Resource Stewardship are not dropping their diligence in pursuing compliance with water licensing and are following up with reminders to register wells and obtain water licenses,” the BC Landscape and Nursery Association warned its members last week.

It reported enforcement activities along Fishtrap Creek in the Lower Mainland, the Salmon River in Westwold and the Koksilah watershed on Vancouver Island as well as the Tsolum.

“Contact FrontCounter BC to understand the state of your watershed and what you need to do a licence application,” BCLNA advised members.

While all applications for groundwater licences since March 1, 2022 have been considered new rather than existing uses, BCLNA indicated that the province is being flexible.

“When applying, make it clear it is for existing use and provide any evidence you have of your long-term use,” it said.

Water, Land and Resource Stewardship staff did not respond immediately to requests for information regarding the scope of the compliance and enforcement initiative.

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