Agriculture & Water

Passed by the British Columbia Legislature in Spring 2014, the Water Sustainability Act and new regulations were brought into effect on February 29, 2016. It is a game-changer because it recognizes the connection between land use actions and the implications for the both the water cycle and watershed sustainability. “The Water Sustainability Act recognizes that groundwater and surface water are interconnected and addresses the need to manage them together,” states Minister of Environment Mary Polak.

Ag Water Demand Model – Okanagan Basin
The Agricultural Water Demand Model was developed to provide current and future agriculture water demands for the Okanagan Basin. The full report on this project is now available. As well we have reports on the Nicola, Kettle, and Similkameen Watersheds. All are online in PDF format for viewing and printing.

A drought occurs when a region becomes deficient in its natural water supply whether on the surface or underground. Droughts can last for months and even years. In general, droughts occur when a region receives less than the average rainfall in an annual year.

The Irrigation Industry Association of British Columbia was formed in 1979 to provide a forum for manufacturers, suppliers, and contractors to get together to communicate and exchange information about the irrigation industry.

The Irrigation Industry Association of British Columbia (IIABC), with funding from the National Water Supply Expansion Program, has developed a new agriculture irrigation scheduling calculator. The calculator will determine an irrigation schedule for all types of agricultural irrigation systems and crop types.

Okanagan Basin Water Board
Water supply information for the Okanagan is available from several sources, including the River Forecast Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Environment Canada, and the Ministry of Environment.

The Partnershipn Committee on Agriculture and the Environment provides a single-window approach for consultation on enviornmental issues that affect farmers and agriculture. The Partnership Committee provides an opportunity for local government representatives to meet face to face with the people who initiate policies and legislation that directly affect farmers.

The Farmwest climate station network is part of a water conservation initiative for more effective and efficient use of irrigation water.

InfoBasket is organised into areas of interest called Communities (e.g. Apiculture or Beef). Each Community is comprised of folders, such as Production and Processing, Business Management and Finance, Marketing and Trade, Regulations and Legislation, Directories and Contacts and Statistics and Market Data. Within these folders you will find links to documents specific to your agri-business needs.

“The agricultural area irrigated in the Fraser Valley is already substantial, and is about 1.4 times that in the Okanagan. This is a fact that few people know,” wrote Ted van der Gulik. “the Fraser Valley alone could provide two-thirds of the additional irrigated land area that is needed for food security. Think about that. The Fraser River would be able to supply much of the water required. But delivering the water would require a huge investment in infrastructure.”

The annual B.C. Dairy Expo at Tradex in Abbotsford showcases the latest and most innovative equipment and technology for the agriculture industry. It kicks off with the popular Dairy Farm Tour each year.

This factsheet from the BC Ministry of Agriculture provides an overview on building setback standards from watercourses and wetlands in farming areas.

The Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) was instituted in 1970 through a collaboration of the three Okanagan regional districts to provide leadership on water issues that span the entire valley – recognizing the need to work together to protect our common resources.