VANCOUVER SUN: “More irrigation is key to food security in BC,” (op-ed published in November 2017)
Note to Reader:
Water is THE issue of the 21st century, both around the world and even here in Canada where we have more water than anyone. Instabilities in the water cycle are increasingly apparent. Consider the extremes that British Columbia has experienced in 2015, 2016 and 2017 – flood, drought, fire, wind and cold. Droughts and wildfires will shape our future.
On November 18, 2017 the Vancouver Sun newspaper published an opinion piece co-authored by Kim Stephens, Ted van der Gulik and Fin Donnelly. The article foreshadowed aspects of what would be addressed at the Blue Ecology Workshop on November 28, 2017.
The article weaved three themes and two perspectives (environmental and agricultural) into a seamless storyline: watershed health, climate change and food security.
Ted van der Gulik is president and Kim Stephens is executive director of Partnership for Water Sustainability in B.C. Fin Donnelly is the member of Parliament representing Port Moody-Coquitlam and is founder of the Rivershed Society of B.C.
The Fraser River, Climate Change and Food Security
“Home to two-thirds of British Columbians, the mighty Fraser River is the lifeblood of a vast watershed that stretches from the Rockies to the Pacific. The lower Fraser Valley, one of the most productive agricultural regions in Canada, is vital to BC’s long-term food security,” stated the co-authors in their opening paragraph.
Scenic view of the Heart of the Fraser River. (Photo Credit: Graham Osborne / PNG)
“No longer is climate change a future scenario. It is here. At the mouth of the Fraser, the consequences of summer droughts and rising sea levels combine to impact river water quality while at the same time increasing the need for irrigation water.
“The critical issue, or impact, is the salt wedge and the shrinking window of opportunity for pumping fresh water from the Fraser River. This is a double whammy for agriculture.”
TO LEARN MORE:
To read the entire Op-Ed, click on Opinion: Increase irrigated land area to attain food security in B.C. to download a PDF copy of the online version.
Climate change may drastically impact the availability of fresh water for agriculture on Canada’s most productive agriculture land, the lower Fraser Valley
Everything is connected. Actions have consequences. And what happens in the upper reaches of the Fraser River Basin has ripple effects in the downstream reaches. Similarly, what happens at a global scale has consequences for agriculture and food security in British Columbia.
“To make the right choices for agriculture moving forward, and as Michael Blackstock reminds us, decision-makers at all levels and scales must understand how and where the rhythms of water are changing,” says Ted van der Gulik.
Ted van der Gulik was the Senior Engineer in the BC Ministry of Agriculture. When he retired from government in 2014, he was an inaugural inductee into the BC Public Service Hall of Excellence.
Provincial Picture
“BC’s farmers produce about 50% of all foods consumed in B.C., however they produce only 34% of the recommended consumption by Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating,” states Ted van der Gulik.
“To attain food security and produce a healthy diet for the projected population in the next 20 years, we need some 2.8 million hectares to be in farmland production. There is also the matter of how much farmland is irrigated. Currently about 190,000 hectares are irrigated in British Columbia. A 50% increase in irrigated area is necessary for food security.”
Fraser River Basin
The watershed area tributary to the Fraser River encompasses approximately one-third of British Columbia’s land base. Agricultural land accounts for 10 percent of the Fraser Basin area and about 3% of the entire area of British Columbia. The small amount of agricultural land that is situated in the lower mainland is a tiny portion of this agricultural land base but it is some of the most productive agricultural land in all of Canada.
“However, the most productive agricultural land is situated in the lower Fraser Valley. This is one of the most productive agricultural regions in all of Canada. Half the total provincial farm gate receipts come from the Fraser Valley,” explains Ted van der Gulik.
Irrigation Potential in the Fraser Valley
“The irrigated area in the Fraser Valley has increased dramatically over the past 25 years. This is due to a combination of higher value crops and drier summers that require irrigation to guarantee a productive crop.”
“Also, the potential buildout for irrigated farmland in the Fraser Valley is about 2.4 times what is currently irrigated. This means that 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.”
Impacts of a Changing Climate
“In the Fraser Valley, the consequences of summer droughts increases the need for irrigation while rising sea levels and drought flows on the Fraser River reduce the window of obtaining fresh water of good quality. It is a double whammy,” continues Ted van der Gulik.
“An increase in sea levels combined with a drought flow on the Fraser River would allow salt water to move further up the river in the future. This would shut down water supply intakes for a longer period of time, and could make it challenging to extract good quality irrigation water for use in Richmond and Delta.”
“Simply put, the water supply window for Richmond and Delta could be reduced from 15 hours per day in 2017 to only 3 hours per day in the next 30 years. No longer is climate change a future scenario. It is here. Now is the time to develop a long term plan for obtaining quality irrigation water for these important agricultural lands.”
Watershed, Rivershed, What’s the Difference?
“The Fraser River is my passion. The Fraser is one of the most diverse river basins in North America. The Fraser’s diversity, of both people and landscapes – is what inspires me,” explains Fin Donnelly.
Restore the Fraser River
“I learned about the issues threatening the health of BC’s longest river in university. I experienced those issues and drew attention to the world’s greatest salmon river in a unique way, by twice swimming its 1,400km length.”
“And because the need for Watershed CPR (Conservation-Protection-Restoration) is urgent, my goal is to inspire and encourage British Columbians to take action and apply CPR.”
