Water is an important cultural resource for First Nations in British Columbia and its management is a key part of the agreements signed between Treaty 8 First Nations and the Government of British Columbia (Province) in January 2023 that will guide a joint approach to land, water and resource stewardship.
DATE ISSUED: Dec. 15, 2023
EFFECTIVE DATE: Nov. 28, 2023
A pilot water management policy and decision support tool has been developed by the Province in partnership with the Blueberry River First Nations (BRFN), the British Columbia Energy Regulator (BCER) and Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. This follows the commitment outlined in the Blueberry River First Nations Implementation Agreement (Agreement – Schedule P) to jointly develop an “Environmental Flow Needs (EFN) Framework for Water Management.”
The pilot operational policy provides a quantitative environmental flow needs methodology to support water authorization decisions under the Water Sustainability Act (WSA - Sections 9 and 10) within the Blueberry River, Upper Beatton River and Lower Sikanni Chief River water management basins (pilot area, see Figure 1 below). This updated approach is consistent with current considerations for environmental flow needs thresholds but uses a more transparent and rigorous process in the interest of protecting both treaty rights and ecologically sensitive systems.
On Nov. 28, 2023, BRFN officially endorsed the co-developed operational policy and the updated Pilot Water Allocation Tool. With this, the Pilot phase is effective as of Nov. 28, 2023, whereby applications under the WSA Sections 9 and 10 within the pilot watersheds will be reviewed using this new operational policy.
Development and implementation of the Environmental Flow Needs Framework for Water Management is to occur in three phases:
- Interim phase, started on April 1, 2023, whereby applications for water use received between April 1 and Nov. 27, 2023, will be assessed using the Interim EFN Approach.
- Pilot phase, starting as of Nov. 28, 2023, and lasting until the end of 2024.
- Permanent phase, starting after collaborative review of the pilot phase results and implementation of any recommended adjustments to the operational policy and Pilot Water Allocation Tool.
The pilot policy, associated Provincial guidance, and links to the Pilot Water Allocation Tool, can be found on the Provincial Environmental Flow Needs webpage. Associated guidance for applicants of water use authorizations in the pilot watersheds can also be found on the BCER’s Energy Professionals webpage.
The BC Energy Regulator is committed to working with all First Nations in making ongoing improvements to water management while respecting treaty rights and cultural practices. This new approach to updated EFN considerations in these watersheds is part of this ongoing effort.
If you have any questions regarding this Information Update, please contact:
Ryan Rolick
Hydrologist
BC Energy Regulator
Ryan.Rolick@bc-er.ca
250-794-5213