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.
The purpose of the Agricltural Drainage Criteria is to provide good drainage for low land crops to survive and thrive, The survival of crops depends upon the crop's roots not being saturated for long periods of time. The criteria were designed to limit the duration that the crop's roots are subjected to saturaged soil conditions and provide a water table low enough to allow for good root growth.
Some agriculture producers have expressed concerns that existing water rights on sensitive streams may be withdrawn and that water for fish will have a priority over other uses.
UBC Okanagan is a partner in the NOGWCA project. This is a three year study funded by the Canada-British Columbia Water Supply Expansion program made available through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC).
