Water Stewardship Information Sources
| Citation | Christensen, R., & Brandes, O.M. (2015, June). California’s Oranges and B.C.’s Apples? Lessons for B.C. from California Groundwater Reform. Victoria, Canada: POLIS Project on Ecological Governance, University of Victoria/Ecojustice. |
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| Organization | Uvic |
| URL | http://poliswaterproject.org/sites/default/files/OrangesApples_FINALWeb_0.pdf |
| Abstract/Description or Keywords | The B.C. legislature passed the Water Sustainability Act (WSA) in April 2014 and it is expected to come into force in early 2016. The WSA has the potential to better protect B.C.’s freshwater resources and integrate the management of previously unregulated groundwater in B.C.’s water law system. This will be the case if the full suite of regulations are developed and enacted, and real emphasis is placed on early and substantial planning in watersheds across the province. To help inform this new, more integrated water law regime for B.C., important lessons can be drawn from California and its recent law reform efforts—which culminated in the passing of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) in 2014. Naturally, any advice or lessons learned must be considered in light of the different climatic, social, and legal considerations and traditions between the two jurisdictions. The purpose of this report is to better understand and evaluate recent steps taken in California in light of options available to B.C. Drawing from the California experience, we outline a number of insights that reveal priorities for B.C to ensure a comprehensive and effective approach to sustainable groundwater management. We are not suggesting that B.C. emulate California, but rather learn from the lessons offered by the California experience, both good and bad. |
| Information Type | report |
| Regional Watershed | Province |
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| Contact Name | Oliver Brandes |
| Contact Email | [email protected] |