Water Stewardship Information Sources

Citation Lewis, A et al. 2004. Assessment methods for aquatic habitat and instream flow characteristics in support of applications to dam, divert, or extract water from streams in British Columbia. Prepared for BC Ministry of Environment.
Organization Ministry of Environment
URL http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/bmp/assessment_methods_instreamflow_in_bc.pdf
Abstract/Description or Keywords The British Columbia Instream Flow Guidelines for Aquatic Habitat are made up of two
components: Instream Flow Thresholds and Instream Flow Assessment Methods. The Instream
Flow Thresholds are guidelines designed to protect aquatic habitat in British Columbia streams
from excessive water withdrawal. The Assessment Methods are methodology guidelines designed
to identify impacts from water withdrawal. This document defines the Assessment Methods for
aquatic habitat: Flow Thresholds are defined in a companion document (Hatfield et al. 2003).
Although these Assessment Methods were designed for small hydro water licence applications, the
Assessment Methods are also appropriate for other applications, such as some large hydro projects
and applications for consumptive water uses.
Applications to dam, divert, or extract water from streams in British Columbia must be supported
by high quality information on hydrology, biology, and habitat from the stream of interest. The
Assessment Methods defined in this document are structured into two tiers: those applied at a
preliminary ‘coarse’ screening level and those applied at a detailed level. Applications for water use
hoping to meet the Guidelines’ Flow Thresholds must provide preliminary level data consisting of a
project description, daily hydrological data estimated from regional stations or collected from the
stream of interest, biological data including fish presence determined through existing records or
direct sampling, and reconnaissance- level fish habitat information. Applications that move to the
detailed level will have to provide information at both the screening and detailed levels. Detailed
information needs must include: geomorphology, water quality, fish biology, fish habitat, lower
trophic levels, ecological function, and cumulative effects.
The two-step process is designed to identify projects that pose a low risk to fish and habitat.
Projects that do not meet the ‘Guidelines’ Flow Thresholds represent a higher risk to the
environment and will be subject to greater scrutiny through a requirement for detailed studies. The
Assessment Methods identified here are intended to meet the requirements of the Fisheries Act.
Specifically, information is required to assess a harmful alteration, disruption, or destruction of
habitat (HADD) and to develop appropriate mitigation and compensation of project impacts.
Although the methods identified here are detailed, proponents have ultimate responsibility in
meeting the information requirements of DFO. Accordingly, all detailed studies should be carefully
planned and documented to allow external review, should that be requested during or following the
study.
The Assessment Methods provide data collection and analysis procedures that should be followed
when presenting relevant information to fisheries agency staff as part of an application for a water
licence. It is important to note that these methods only address fish and fish habitat concerns. In
some cases, additional detailed studies on other resources (e.g., wildlife, recreation) will be
required, but these are not described here. Data must be collected and summarized using the
methods described and referenced in this document. All studies should be certified by a qualified
professional in the appropriate field (e.g., R. P. Bio., P. Geo., P. Eng., etc.) with demonstrated
experience on instream flow issues.
Information Type report
Regional Watershed Province
Sub-watershed if known
Aquifer #
Comments
Project status complete
Contact Name
Contact Email