Water Stewardship Information Sources

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.
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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