Water Use Plan submitted to BC government

SECHELT – - SECHELT – BC Hydro recently submitted its Clowhom Draft Water Use Plan (WUP) to the Provincial Government.

The WUP incorporates the recommendations made by the Clowhom Water Use Plan Consultative Committee. The Plan will now be reviewed under the terms of the Water Act before any changes are made to BC Hydro's operations. "Water use planning is a new approach to making decisions on how to allocate provincial water resources," said BC Hydro Clowhom WUP project manager, John Kelly.

"By engaging a wide range of interests and perspectives in the review of BC HydroÂ’s operations at Clowhom, the community and all levels of government have gained a better understanding and appreciation for the benefits that could be achieved through a change in operations. The recommendations of the Consultative Committee reflect changing environmental and societal values - a key policy direction sought by government in undertaking this process."

At the final meeting in May 2003, the Consultative Committee recommended an operating alternative that will provide increased reservoir habitat for fish; improved reservoir recreation; improved safety and reliability of access to the reservoir, reduced the number of spills that could impact the bridge in the spillway; and increased annual revenue from power generation.

Clowhom Reservoir lies in a steep-sided valley at the head of Salmon Inlet and at the edge of the Tantalus Range, 32 km north of Sechelt. The basin experiences high annual precipitation of which 20 per cent is snow. Clowhom Reservoir is a peaking reservoir and experiences fluctuation in water level.

For more information on the Clowhom Water Use Plan go to www.bchydro.com/wup.