Okanagan Water

Mayor Welcomes Reservoir Decision

admin — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:44:38 +0000

The provincial government has placed a decision on Okanagan reservoir lake lots on hold for two Victoria has backed off any immediate plans to sell property around high-elevation reservoir lakes.years so consultation can take place with local communities and First Nations. “It’s very positive,” said James Baker, Lake Country mayor. Baker has been concerned the sale of Crown lease lots would lead to urbanized development, impacting water quality for communities that depend on the reservoirs. There has also been the issue of water quantity. “We have no place else to store water in the uplands. If there is development, it would be difficult to increase storage,” said Baker. Besides the District of Lake Country, the Greater Vernon Services Committee and the North Okanagan Regional District have been opposed to the sale of reservoir lots. “The province is aware of the pressure on the water sources in the Okanagan and as such no decision will be made until communities are able to complete the necessary hydrology studies,” states the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands in a release. “The studies will help determine future storage needs and capacity, and are expected to take approximately two years to complete. During this two-year period critical information will be compiled on the state of the water sources in the Okanagan.” The ministry indicates that it is committed to making an informed, balanced decision regarding the possible sale of recreational properties on reservoirs. “During the next two years the province will continue to work with local elected officials and First Nations to ensure any new information about the potential impact sales may have on water quality, and the ability to expand the reservoirs, is reviewed.” Baker insists that Okanagan communities should have been consulted on the matter some time ago, and he supports the process being expanded to include First Nations. “We respect the Okanagan Nation Alliance’s title rights and those of the Okanagan Indian Band, and the watersheds are part of their rights and title lands,” he said. “How can we do anything unless we involve them?” Baker isn’t sure why the provincial government would expand public access to watersheds when other regions in B.C. have been allowed to follow a different direction. “The City of Victoria has closed its watershed and Vancouver’s watershed has been closed for years. There must be some merit to it,” he said.

Author Richard Rolke

Publisher Vernon Morning Star

Groundwater Management Plans

admin — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:25:47 +0000

This compiles a list of Domestic and International Groundwater Management Plans composed by regional Governements and authorities.

Groundwater Management Plans (GWMP)

GWMP Susquehanna River Basin pdf
GWMP Sonoma Valley pdf
GWMP Lassen County (without geology map) 10MB pdf
GWMP North Plains pdf
GWMP Mojave pdf
GWMP Twin Platte pdf
GWMP Urban City of Davis pdf
Californian Local Water Management Plans pdf
GWMP Hemphill County (draft) pdf

Water Management Plans

North Coast Integrated Regional WMP Phase I 2007 pdf
Methow Basin plan WMP Okanogan pdf
Alberta Water Plan pdf
Watershed MP Pend Orielle pdf
Australian Water Plan pdf
Australian SW Regional Water Plan Strategic pdf

Global synthesis of groundwater recharge in semiarid and arid regions

admin — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:01:12 +0000

Abstract:

Global synthesis of the findings from ~140 recharge study areas in semiarid and arid regions provides important information on recharge rates, controls, and processes, which are critical for sustainable water development. Water resource evaluation, dryland salinity assessment (Australia), and radioactive waste disposal (US) are among the primary goals of many of these recharge studies. The chloride mass balance (CMB) technique is widely used to estimate recharge. Average recharge rates estimated over large areas (40–374 000 km^2) range from 0.2 to 35 mm per year, representing 0.1–5% of long-term average annual precipitation. Extreme local variability in recharge, with rates up to ~720 m per year, results from focussed recharge beneath ephemeral streams and lakes and preferential flow mostly in fractured systems.

System response to climate variability and land use/land cover (LU/LC) changes is archived in unsaturated zone tracer profiles and in groundwater level fluctuations. Inter-annual climate variability related to El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) results in up to three times higher recharge in regions within the SW US during periods of frequent El Ninos (1977–1998) relative to periods dominated by La Ninas (1941–1957). Enhanced recharge related to ENSO is also documented in Argentina. Climate variability at decadal to century scales recorded in chloride profiles in Africa results in recharge rates of 30 mm per year during the Sahel drought (1970–1986) to 150 mm per year during non-drought periods. Variations in climate at millennial scales in the SW US changed systems from recharge during the Pleistocene glacial period (>10 000 years ago) to discharge during the Holocene semiarid period. LU/LC changes such as deforestation in Australia increased recharge up to about 2 orders of magnitude. Changes from natural grassland and shrublands to dryland (rain-fed) agriculture altered systems from discharge (evapotranspiration, ET) to recharge in the SW US.

The impact of LU change was much greater than climate variability in Niger (Africa), where replacement of savanna by crops increased recharge by about an order of magnitude even during severe droughts. Sensitivity of recharge to LU/LC changes suggests that recharge may be controlled through management of LU. In irrigated areas, recharge varies from 10 to 485 mm per year, representing 1–25% of irrigation plus precipitation. However, irrigation pumpage in groundwater-fed irrigated areas greatly exceeds recharge rates, resulting in groundwater mining. Increased recharge related to cultivation has mobilized salts that accumulated in the unsaturated zone over millennia, resulting in widespread groundwater and surface water contamination, particularly in Australia.

The synthesis of recharge rates provided in this study contains valuable information for developing sustainable groundwater resource programmes within the context of climate variability and LU/LC change. Copyright 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Water an Abused Lifeblood of a Near-Desert Region

admin — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:44:20 +0000

By Judie Steeves – Kelowna Capital News Published: August 28, 2008 10:00 PM Updated: August 28, 2008 11:34 PM Big drops of rain seemed to sizzle as they hit my hot skin during the first thunderstorm in August. We hadn’t had rain in weeks and temperatures had soared to nearly 40 C, leaving me limp and listless. Yet, as humans, we have the capability of scrounging up water artificially when we need it. Plants in the wild just wilt and dry out when there’s a drought in this near-desert climate. I felt rejuvenated as I lifted my face and my arms to feel that rain on my skin, and I’m not unhappy waking in the morning this week to the sound of rain pitter-pattering on the deck outside my window. It’s not just refreshing. it’s life-giving and life-saving. Mother Nature just saved our bacon. The fields and forests of the Okanagan were becoming tinder dry, reminiscent of the summer of 2003 when I warned in this column that we were on the verge of a devastating forest fire unless the rains came soon. That was shortly before the Okanagan Mountain Park wildfire was ignited by a chance lightning strike, setting the hills of south Kelowna ablaze. That’s becoming less and less likely as our forest fire fighters pounce every time a bolt of lightning touches earth around here, and now as that earth gets a drenching. When it becomes as dry as it has this summer, it takes a lot of rain to re-charge groundwater. The first rainfall simply evaporates from the over-heated soil and asphalt. It takes a lengthy downpour to begin to penetrate the top layer of soil, or to start to run off the forest canopy and reach any of the soil underneath. It takes even longer before water runs off and into streams and reservoirs and lakes, to replenish them. We’ve been pretty unconcerned about the water resource in the valley over the years. With a rapidly rising human population occurring in recent years, there have been some warnings—particularly during that drought of 2003 when Summerland declared a local state of emergency, banned the watering of lawns and gardens, and reduced agricultural irrigation by 20 per cent because its upland reservoirs were going dry. The municipality stopped the flow of water down Trout Creek and into Okanagan Lake, despite the fact that would kill trout and prevent kokanee from entering the stream to spawn. Middle Vernon Creek in Lake Country went dry, and flows in Mission Creek—the largest single contributor of water to Okanagan Lake—dropped alarmingly. It was a wake-up call for those with authority over water in the Okanagan Basin. It took a couple of years of soul searching, but eventually, the valley-wide Okanagan Basin Water Board, which was made up of elected representatives from each of the basin’s regional districts, began to talk about broadening its mandate, which up to then, had focussed on controlling milfoil in valley bottom lakes. In 2006, the board agreed to take on the mandate for leading and coordinating basin-wide water management in the Okanagan. Since then, it has embarked on the ambitious, but essential, task of assessing water resources in the basin, both above and below the ground. It has tackled the issues of priorities for water management and formed partnerships with all levels of government, including local water utilities and federal researchers, and an enormous body of work is now underway to learn all we can about the Okanagan’s water resource. It has become clear that water policy and planning in this basin must be integrated so the resource can be husbanded, in order that the disasters of the year 2003 won’t happen all over again. Currently, the OBWB is reviewing its progress since 2006 because it’s necessary now to gain approval from local government throughout the basin to extend the water management program for another three years; to continue the efforts that are underway to work toward basin-wide, sustainable water management. In the next two weeks, Anna Warwick Sears, executive director of the OBWB, will appear before regional districts throughout the valley with a proposal to continue the current work of the basin-wide board. It would be folly for any of them to refuse to support the huge task the OBWB has undertaken and waste the investment of energy, time and money that’s been expended thus far. As well, there should be enthusiastic support for the Okanagan Water Stewardship Council, which advises the OBWB. This council has done some amazing work, bringing together as it does the expertise of groundwater engineers, fisheries biologists, farmers and foresters, agriculture researchers, professors from a variety of relevant disciplines, health ministry drinking water officers, federal and provincial environment ministry staff, developers, water utilities and the Okanagan Nation Alliance. Each has brought a unique view to the table, and each has taken away a new view of the water resource in the Okanagan, from every meeting. As a result of the work this 26-member council has done in the past two years, a workshop called One Watershed—One Water will be held Oct. 21 to 23 in Kelowna where an action plan for sustainable water use in the valley will be presented. It’s taken decades longer than it should have, but it’s exciting to finally see some concrete steps being laid out to take the valley into the future, based on sustainable use of the water resource. Judie Steeves writes about outdoors issues for the Capital News jsteeves@kelownacapnews.com

Author Judie Steeves

Publisher Kelowna Capital News

Date August 28, 2008

Water Quantity in the Okanagan Basin

admin — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:25:56 +0000

Foreword

Technical Supplement I describes and presents the results of water quantity studies as carried out under the Okanagan Basin Agreement, including the synthesis of all historical water quantity resource data into a summarized form. The results of studies concerning water quantity computer models and water quantity alternatives are covered separately in Technical Supplements II and III respectively. Supporting water quantity data tables for all three supplements (I,II,and III) are included in Technical Supplement III. Other Study publications are listed on the Inside front cover of this report.

The material presented in this supplement supercedes that of all earlier preliminary reports or publications prepared under the Canada- British Columbia Okanagan Basin Agreement.

A. Murray Thomson

Study Director

Introduction of the follwoing:

Foreword

Synopsis

Table of Contents

List of Tables

List of Figures

PART I – Surface Water

Chapter 1 - Introduction

Chapter 2 - Meterological Records

Chapter 3 - Hydrologic Regime [Part 1] [Part 2]

Chapter 4 - Forest Hydrology

PART II Selected Tributary Studies

Chapter 5 – Selected Tributaries

Chapter 6 - Trout Creek

Chapter 7 - Peachland Creek

Chapter 8 - Powers Creek

Chapter 9 - Equesis Creek

Chapter 10 - Vernon Creek

Chapter 11 - Kelowna Creek

Chapter 12 - Mission Creek

Chapter 13 - Penticton Creek

Chapter 14 - Summary of Selected Tributary Studies

PART III Groundwater Studies

Chapter 15 – Hydrogeological Study of The North end of the Okanagan River Basin

Chapter 16 - Sub-Basin groundwater Reconnaissance Studies

PART IV – Monitoring, Technilogical Advances and Conclusions

Chapter 17 - Water Quantity Monitoring

Chapter 18 - Technological Advances

Chapter 19 - Conclusions

Acknowledgments

References

Appendices

A - Lake Evaporation

B - Snow Surveys

C - Estimated Natural Historic Inflows

D - Statistical Analysis, Main Valley Okanagan Rivers

E - Evaluation of Watershed Deforestation and Harvesting Practices in the Okanagan Basin

F - Okanagan Seismic Survey

Components of a Groundwater Management Plan

admin — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:50:41 +0000

Managing groundwater to ensure a long-term sustainable and reliable, good quality water supply requires that local agencies implement a groundwater management program suitable to the political, legal, institutional, technical and economic opportunities and constraints that exist in their basin. This Water Fact lists components that should be considered for inclusion.

List of Components

Component 1

Include documentation that a written statement was provided to the public “describing the manner in which interested parties may participate indeveloping the groundwater management plan,” which may include appointing a technical advisory committee.

Component 2

Include a plan by the managing entity to “involve other agencies that enables the local agency to work cooperatively with other public entities whose service area or boundary overlies the groundwater basin.”
A local agency includes “any local public agency that provides water service to all or a portion of itsservice area and includes a joint powers authority formed by local public agencies that provide water service.”

Component 3

Provide a map showing the area of the groundwater basin, as defined by DWR Bulletin 118, with the area of the local agency subject to the plan as well as the boundaries of other local agencies that overlie the basin in which the agency is developinga groundwater management plan.

Component 4

Establish an advisory committee of stakeholders (interested parties) within the plan area that will help guide the development and implementation of the plan and provide a forum for resolution of controversial issues.

Component 5

Describe the area to be managed under the plan, including:

The physical structure and characteristics of the aquifer system underlying the plan area in the context of the overall basin.
A summary of the availability of historical data including, but not limited to, the components in Section 7 below.
Issues of concern including, but not limited to, issues related to the components in Section 7 below.
A general discussion of historical and projected
water demands and supplies.

Component 6

Establish management objectives (MOs) for the groundwater basin that is subject to the plan.

Component 7

Include components relating to the monitoring and management of groundwater levels, groundwater quality, inelastic land surface subsidence, and changes in surface flow and surface water quality that directly affect groundwater levels or
quality or are caused by groundwater pumping. Consider additional components.

Component 8

For each MO, describe how meeting the MO will contribute to a more reliable supply for long-term beneficial uses of groundwater in the plan area, and describe existing or planned management actions to achieve MOs.

Component 9

Adopt monitoring protocols for the components in Section 7.
“Monitoring protocols” is interpreted to mean developing a monitoring program capable of tracking changes in conditions over time for thepurpose of meeting MOs.

Component 10

Describe the monitoring program, including:

A map indicating the general locations of any applicable monitoring sites for groundwater levels, groundwater quality, subsidence stations, or stream gages.
A summary of monitoring sites indicating the type (groundwater level, groundwater quality, subsidence, stream gage) and frequency of monitoring.
For groundwater level and groundwater quality wells, indicate the depth interval(s) or aquifer zone monitored and the type of well (public, irrigation, domestic, industrial, monitoring).

Component 11

Describe any current or planned actions by the local managing entity to coordinate with other land use, zoning, or water management planning agencies or activities.

Component 12

Provide for periodic report(s) summarizing groundwater basin conditions and groundwater management activities. The report(s), prepared annually or at other frequencies as determined by the local management agency, should include:

Summary of monitoring results, including a discussion of historical trends.
Summary of management actions during the period covered by the report.
A discussion, supported by monitoring results, of whether management actions are achieving progress in meeting MOs.
Summary of proposed management actions for the future.
Summary of any plan component changes, including addition or modification of MOs, during the period covered by the report.
Summary of actions taken to coordinate with other water management and land use agencies, and other government agencies

Component 13

Provide for the periodic re-evaluation of the entire plan by the managing entity.

Component 14

For local agencies not overlying groundwater basins, plans should be prepared including the above listed components and using geologic and hydrologic
principles appropriate to those areas.

Where do you get more information?
For more information contact any of the following
California Department of Water Resources offices,
or see our Web site: wwwdwr.water.ca.gov.

Full text Californian Water Management Plan Components pdf

Running Dry

admin — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:42:16 +0000

Water is a critical lubricant of the global economy. And as with oil, supplies of water—at least, the clean, easily accessible sort—are coming under enormous strain because of the growing global population and an emerging middle-class in Asia that hankers for the water-intensive life enjoyed by people in the West. Oil prices have fallen from their recent peaks, but concerns about the availability of freshwater show no sign of abating. This article addresses challenges that corporations are going to have if water supplies dwindle

Author adapted from the print edition, The Economist

Publisher The Economist.com

Date August 21

International News

admin — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:27:51 +0000

US Water News

China Water news

Switzerland Water News and Events

7-Steps for Managing Groundwater Supplies

admin — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:22:14 +0000

The amount of groundwater in storage in each basin is dependent on the precipitation, recharge and the total extraction of all the wells. A groundwater management plan that is designed for the political, institutional, legal and technical specifics of the basin can help everyone maintain the quality and quantity of the groundwater supply.

The following 7-step groundwater management program will help local groundwater managers, individuals, residents, and public water supply system operators determine how far groundwater levels will decline if a certain amount of groundwater is extracted.

Locate and identify water wells, and collect groundwater level and ground water quality data.
Determine the amount of groundwater that is extracted by each well or otherwise removed from the groundwater basin.
Prepare appropriate maps and graphs.
Determine the total amount of water that flows into the basin through precipitation and surface water imports and the total amount of water that flows out of the basin.
Use drillers' logs and other data to estimate specific yield.
Project future rates of extraction and estimate the rate of decline of ground water levels and possible changes in groundwater quality.
Develop a plan for managing ground water supplies. Such a plan may require reductions in extractions so the long-term change in storage does not cause water quantity or water quality problems.

Full Text 7 Steps to Managing Groundwater pdf

Okanagan Reservoir Lakes Decision on Hold

admin — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:22:03 +0000

VICTORIA – The Province will not make a decision on recreational lot sales in the Okanagan reservoir lakes area until local elected officials and First Nations have been consulted and local communities have the opportunity to undertake hydrology studies. The Province is aware of the pressure on the water sources in the Okanagan and as such no decision will be made until communities are able to complete the necessary hydrology studies. The studies will help determine future storage needs and capacity, and are expected to take approximately two years to complete. During this two-year period critical information will be compiled on the state of the water sources in the Okanagan. In 2006, the Integrated Land Management Bureau developed an advisory committee with local and technical representation to develop a process that would address water quality and quantity issues. The Province has been kept apprised of the options developed as a result of the advisory committee discussions. Local hydrological studies undertaken by local communities would continue the proactive assessment of issues affecting the water supply in the region. During the next two years the Province will continue to work with local elected officials and First Nations to ensure any new information about the potential impact sales may have on water quality, and the ability to expand the reservoirs, is reviewed. The Province is committed to making an informed, balanced decision regarding the possible sale of recreational properties lying adjacent to reservoirs in the Okanagan watershed. Media contact: Liz Bicknell, Communications Director Ministry of Agriculture and Lands 250 356-2862

Author Ministry of Agriculture and Lands

Publisher B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Lands

News Article – 1 pages

Date August 26, 2008