Citation | Metro Vancouver. 2014. Joint Water Use Plan for the Capilano and Seymour Watersheds: Draft for Referral by the Comptroller of Water Rights. Metro Vancouver. |
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Organization | Metro Vancouver |
URL | http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wsd/plan_protect_sustain/water_use_planning/cabinet/draft-joint-water-use-plan.pdf |
Abstract/Description or Keywords | Metro Vancouver is a political body and corporate entity operating under provincial legislation as a ‘regional district’ and ‘greater boards’ that deliver regional services, policy and political leadership on behalf of 24 local authorities. The Greater Vancouver Water District (GVWD) is a separate corporate entity operating under the umbrella name of Metro Vancouver. Metro Vancouver supplies drinking water on a wholesale basis to its member municipals using an extensive system including watersheds, dams, reservoirs, pumping stations and transmission pipelines. The Capilano and Seymour Water sheds provide approximately two thirds of the drinking water for the 2.3 million residents and associated businesses in the Metropolitan Vancouver area of the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. The management of drinking water for the Region is guided by the Metro Vancouver Drinking Water Management Plan (DWMP). The goals of the DWMP are to: Provide clean, safe drinking water; Ensure sustainable use of water resources; and Ensure the efficient supply of water. The GVWD is committed to the sustainable management of the important water resources in the Capilano and Seymour Watersheds. To support the proposal to build hydroelectric generating stations to utilize water that would otherwise spill from the reservoirs, the GVWD has developed this Joint Water Use Plan (JWUP) for the Capilano and Seymour Watersheds and the Project Development Plan (PDP) for the Capilano and Seymour Hydropower Projects. The JWUP and PDP are part of an extensive planning process to accommodate the generation of clean renewable energy from the existing reservoirs without compromising the commitments by the GVWD to: Supply clean, safe drinking water Protect fish habitat The operating conditions proposed in this plan reflect the recommendations provided by the Consultative Committee (CC) for the Joint Water Use Plan Capilano and Seymour Watersheds. The proposed new infrastructure will provide an opportunity to address a number of issues encountered with the historic construction of the dams and reservoirs. This document explains the proposed terms and conditions to be authorized under the Water Act for the beneficial use of water at the Capilano and Seymour reservoirs. Future reference to these facilities includes all the works largely comprised of the Cleveland Dam, Seymour Falls Dam, associated reservoirs, and the proposed Capilano Powerhouse and Seymour Powerhouse. Metro Vancouver established the process for developing the JWUP in accordance with the thirteen steps outlined in the provincial Water Use Plan Guidelines. The process integrates technical study and evaluation with structured decision-making and public consultation. Since January 2011, Metro Vancouver has been working with key interested parties through a Consultative Committee, to develop the key elements of a JWUP that reflect the unique characteristics of the Capilano and Seymour watersheds. The JWUP Consultative Committee has developed a consensus outcome and unanimously endorsed the final report. Refer to the Capilano-Seymour Joint Water Use Plan: Consultative Committee Report (October 2012) for details on the consultative process, interests, objectives, performance measures, values associated with operating alternatives, and details of the proposed monitoring program. Through the interest-based process for the Water Use Plan, a recommendation was reached whereby domestic water, fisheries, and recreation interests were all improved over the current operations. The proposed conditions for the operation of the Metro Vancouver facilities will come into effect once an Order has been authorized under the Water Act of British Columbia. |
Information Type | report |
Regional Watershed | Lower Fraser |
Sub-watershed if known | Capilano, Seymour |
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