KETTLE RIVER WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLAN
STAKEHOLDERS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MEETING #2
Monday, June 18, 2012
5:30 p.m.
Midway Community Centre
Midway, BC

The following are focal points and action items from a Kettle River Watershed Management Plan Stakeholder Advisory Committee meeting held at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, June 18, 2012 at the Midway Community Centre, Midway, B.C.

Participants

  • Tyler Hodgkinson, InterFor
  • Darryl Arsenault, Alternate for Paul Plocktis, Tourism – Big White Resort
  • Earl Lehmann, Recreation – Kettle Valley Wildlife Association
  • Victor Lockhart, Beaverdell Resident
  • Larry Jmaiff, Resident at large
  • George Dagg, Resident at large
  • Gary Schierbeck, Resident at large
  • Grace McGregor, Electoral Area ‘C’ Director
  • Irene Perepolkin, Electoral Area ‘D’ Director
  • Bill Baird, Electoral Area ‘E’ Director
  • Brian Taylor, City of Grand Forks
  • Nipper Kettle, City of Greenwood
  • Marguerite Rotvold, Village of Midway
  • Mike Hooge, Small Business Forestry – East Boundary
  • Murray Knox, Grand Forks Irrigation District
  • James Pepper, First Nations – Okanagan Nation Alliance
  • Mark Andison, Director of Planning and Development, RDKB
  • Maria Ciardullo, Senior Secretary, RDKB – Meeting Recorder
  • Ellen Clements, Mining - Boundary Mining Association
  • Jenny Coleshill, Stewardship/Conservation – Granby Wilderness Society
  • Tara White, Technical Advisory Committee (FLNRO)
  • Conrad Price, Technical Advisory Committee (FLNRO)
  • Phil Epp (Fisheries Biologist)

Regrets:

  • Paul Plocktis, Tourism – Big White Resort
  • Peter Regenberg, Industry – Roxul
  • Lorri Harpur, West Boundary Agriculture – Kettle River Stockmen’s Assc.
  • Roly Russell, East Boundary Agriculture – Grand Forks & Bndry Regional Ag. Society
  • Fred Marshall, Small Business Forestry – West Boundary
  • Sarah Winton, Tourism/Small Business – Regional Chamber of Commerce
  • Steve Babakaiff, Sion Improvement District
  • Jenny Coleshill, Granby Wilderness Society
  • Brenda LaCroix, Christina Lake Stewardship Society
  • Sonny Banjac, Alternate for Paul Manson, Energy – Powerhouse Developments Inc.
  • Paul Manson, Energy – Powerhouse Developments Inc.
  • John Jewitt, Mining – Boundary Mining Association (President)
  • Fred Elsaesser, Nursery – Advance Orchard Co. Ltd.
  • Peter Shiltin, Alternate for Peter Regenberg, Industry - Roxul
  • Michael Zimmer, Resident at large
  • Kathy O’Malley, Resident at large
  • Dick Dunsdon, Resident at large

Guests:

  • Linda Worley, RDKB Director Area ‘B’
  • Hugh Hamilton, Summit Environmental
  • Drew Layback, Summit Environmental
  • Brian Guy, Summit Envrionmental
  • Members of the public.
  1. Welcome & Introductions

Grace McGregor, RDKB Electoral Area ‘C’ Director and Chair of the Stakeholders Advisory Committee welcomed all the participants and thanked everyone for attending. The participants introduced themselves.

  1. Agenda – Review and Confirm

Moved: Marguerite Rotvold/Sec’d: Nipper Kettle

That the June 18, 2012 Kettle River Watershed Management Plan Stakeholder Advisory Group meeting agenda be adopted.

Graham Watt, Project Coordinator reviewed and discussed the action items from the previous month.

Grace McGregor asked Mark to speak on where the plan is heading and why the RDKB is involved if it has limited jurisdiction. Mark stated the intent of the plan is to provide guidance for decision making for all levels of government and for various organizations in the region. It has a direct bearing on local government decisions and a strong advisory role with other levels of government.

  1. Review Terms of Reference for Kettle River Watershed Management Plan and draft Terms of Reference for Stakeholder Advisory Group

Mr. Watt presented a slide-show regarding the Terms of Reference and the topics coverered were:

  • Role
  • Decision Making
  • Ground Rules

Issues & Questions raised:

  • 1st Nation Engagement - potential for presentation to Okanagan Nation Alliance and commitment to keeping First Nations informed.
  • Consensus & voting – decision points that require more than just a motion & opportunity to abstain from voting. Major milestones require a vote.
  • The assistance of the T.A.C.
  • A combination meeting of the S.A.G. and T.A.C. in the Fall of 2012.

4.Work Plan Review

Mr. Watt continued with the slideshow presentation on the work plan and monthly/yearly timelines. Topics of discussion were:

  • Commencing and timelines
  • Issues, values, visions
  • Goals, objectives, priorities
  • Solutions
  • Draft Plan
  • Implementation

Issues and Questions raised:

  • Potential role of the T.A.C.
  • Review of Phase I study – before publishing final report, more time was requested for reviewal purposes so that certain issues can be addressed. “Soft launch” to be prepared, with room for minor revisions once reviews are in by July 19 meeting.
  • Information gaps – what can be addressed during the planning process.
  • Technical support to set objectives, design and evaluation
  • Connecting back to organizations.
  • Public Involvement via presentations, open houses, booth at community events, websites, pamphlets so that all regions are included.
  • Presentation to 1st Nations.
  • Timing of Public releases – go to public to listen to feedback or to present hardcore facts? Both…
  • Linking with other organizations’ websites.
  1. Presentation on Phase 1 Technical Assessment (Summit Environmental)

Grace McGregor thanked Bill Baird and Irene Perepolkin for the bulk of funding for this project. She stated that only gas tax funds were used.

Mark Andison gave a brief history of the watershed management plan and introduced Hugh Hamilton from Summit Environmental to present his report.

Hugh Hamilton, Project Manager introduced 2 of his colleagues that were also present – Drew Layback, Hydrologist and Brian Guy, Manager of the Okanagan Water Supply and Demand Study. Mr. Hamilton then presented a slideshow which covered the following topics:

  • Background – gaps to be filled. Key issues were water demand, climate change/drought, surface water quality, aquifer, flood hazards and riparian constraints. Water flow has been consistently low for the past 10 years.
  • Scope/methods,
  • Surface Water Quantity – sub basin delineation (8). There are over 900 water licenses (waterworks, irrigation, mining, snow making). Water purveyors use ground water as their main source. Agriculture water use is declining. The Kettle River is sensitive to climatic variations. Trend in river flows – downward trend at present. Climate change implications: streamflow, rainfall, high flows in freshet, low flows, snow water equivalent.
  • Groundwater Quantity – Aquifer mapping (15); Wells – there are over 1400 on file in the BC database and ½ of those are located in Grand Forks; Ground water level – 2 active observation wells (automated data logger). Demonstrates that river and aquifer are connected. Detailed study was done by SFU and MOE in 2010 of the Grand Forks Aquifer.
  • Water quality – sampled every 2 weeks (Carson & Midway); Parameters include sediment, ph, temperature, dissolved solids, nutrients and organic matter); reports show generally good; Christina Lake ongoing monitoring – yearly with a rating of 85%. The Grand Forks Aquifer, nitrate nitrogen is a concern.
  • Aquatic Life – conserve and restore; 30 native species of fish; Issues are sport fishery deteriorating, low flow and high water temperature; Instream flow needs a study conducted.

Summary of Key Findings:

Surface water has low flows in August and September. Most suppliers use ground water as opposed to surface water. The quality of surface water is good except for temperature. Ground water has some nitrate issues in Grand Forks. Aquatic life is limited which is exacerbated by withdrawls in below average years.

Gaps:

  • Ground water outside Grand Forks
  • Irrigation water return
  • High elevation climate data
  • Water quality in sub basins (potential for mining)
  • Riparian function
  • Potential to improve habitat conditions for target fish species.

Recommendations:

  • Develop watershed population & economic development
  • Review groundwater demand. Potential switches from surface water.
  • Assessment of ground water and surface water interactions for aquifers.
  • Water quality survey
  • Runs of climate & agricultural demand models (present & future)
  • Creel surveys – update angler use
  • Radio telemetry to identify critical habitats & confirm fate of adult fish
  • Organize riparian working group to collate existing knowledge.
  • Monitoring network upgrades

Issues and Questions raised:

In the 1900’s there was a big impact on the Granby river habitat by logging. What was affected?

How much power is consumed by power generating stations and is water eaten up? – Depends on the size of the power station. Some water is lost due to evaporation as well.

Could flow be more evenly distributed throughout the year? - Potential storage sites for the Granby River

Mining takes a lot of power resource.

Be careful on how water is stored due to evaporation.

Are damns being built for water storage? – PFRA report for Granby River.

Does the Midway aquifer extend to Rock Creek? – No they are separate.

Is Riparian mapping available? – it is underway and expected soon.

If the water flow is unusually high, how would the river look? - there would be flooding.

Where is temperature monitoring conducted and is it affected by air temperature? - the two are tightly linked.

Will trees be re-planted along the rivers due to the Mountain Pine Beetle? – Currently in progress.

Do motorboats pose a problem on the Kettle River.

Has there been studies done on how much water a tree consumes?Water consumed by riparian trees (cottonwoods) miniscule compared to overall tree demand in the watershed

Next SAC Meeting

The date for the next meeting is Thursday, July 19, 2012 at the Grand Forks Seniors Centre.

9.Adjournment – 9:00 p.m.

Action Registry / Who? / Result
Meeting #2 June 18, 2012
2.1 Complete review of Phase 1 report by July 19 / Advisory Committee
Meeting #1 May 3, 2012
1.1.Prepare press release / story to increase awareness about planning process / Watt + Steering Committee / complete
1.2.Finalize SAG Terms of Reference / Watt + Steering Committee / complete
1.3.Prepare feedback form on website for further stakeholder expectations for plan / Watt + Steering Committee / complete
1.4.Follow up with Summit Environmental for date of final product and potential presentation dates / M. Andison / Complete
1.5.Identify potential meeting dates for June meeting and circulate meeting request to Group / Watt / Complete
1.6.Prepare “knowledge base” – watershed knowledge and affiliations of Advisory Group members, TAC and other stakeholders/public / Watt + all Group members / In progress
1.7.Follow up with MoE representative on potential implications of Water Act & current timeline / Watt / in progress

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Stakeholder Advisory CommitteeJune 18, 2012