Water Stewardship Information Sources

Citation Hatfield, T. 2007. Impact assessment of Chemainus River flow in relation to the District of North Cowichan proposed Chemainus well project. Prepared for District of North Cowichan.
Organization District of North Cowichan
URL http://a100.gov.bc.ca/appsdata/epic/documents/p221/1180543364910_f86613eb284644a583c4c8643677585a.pdf
Abstract/Description or Keywords The District of North Cowichan (DNC) is proposing to construct and operate three
groundwater wells at a site adjacent to the Chemainus River, near the town of Chemainus,
British Columbia. The District has applied to pump up to 131 L sec-1 from the wells. A
groundwater well project of this magnitude is a reviewable project under the BC Environmental
Assessment Act. DNC has therefore undertaken to assess the environmental effects of the
project.
This report provides an assessment of potential environmental impacts to fish and fish habitat
in the Chemainus River, from the proposed well project. The terms of reference for the study
have been discussed and approved by the working group set up by the BC Environmental
Assessment Office (EAO). In summary, the impact assessment is intended to address three
main questions:
1. What resources are present in the study area?
2. What impacts will occur to these resources?
3. What measures will be taken to reduce or offset these impacts?
To address the questions the study undertook the following tasks:
1. Review existing information on streamflow, Chemainus River fish and fish habitat, and
water quality and temperature data for Chemainus River and Banon Creek.
2. A visual assessment of Banon Creek and the Chemainus River.
3. Assessment of potential impacts to fisheries resources in the Chemainus River related to
groundwater withdrawals, surface flow reductions, and flow augmentation from Banon
Creek.
4. Assess mitigation options to offset potential impacts.
5. Provide recommendations for post-project monitoring.
The study area is defined as Banon Creek, from Banon reservoir downstream to the Chemainus
River, and the Chemainus River from 500 m upstream of the Banon Creek confluence to the
railway bridge, approximately 1.5 km downstream of the proposed well. The study was
undertaken at an overview level and relied on existing data and local knowledge — no new
data were collected for the assessment.
Information Type report
Regional Watershed Vancouver Island South
Sub-watershed if known Chemainus River, Banon Creek
Aquifer #
Comments
Project status complete
Contact Name
Contact Email