Gibsons and the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) have finalization of a long-term Aquifer 560 watershed agreement, paving the way for the town to supply water to the SCRD’s Chapman system should additional supplies be required.
A July 28 joint press release from the two entities stated that as in 2021 and 2022, the Town of Gibsons “will supply the SCRD with up to 1,500 cubic metres of water a day to supplement the Regional District’s needs for 2023." The release also noted, “With the additional well capacity at Church Road, it is anticipated that the SCRD will be able to supply its own needs in the future and that the exchange of water will be limited to emergency situations."
Talks relating to the agreement update were launched in 2022. The release stated the new arrangement improves on a previous (2013) agreement and commits both local governments to jointly expand the monitoring program across the ecological area of the watershed, identified as “the aquifer recharge area extending up the mountain, Chaster, Charman, Gibson and Soames creeks, and the Gibsons harbour in Átl'ḵa7tsem/Howe Sound."
Cooperation on more than water supply
In partnership with the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nation, the agreement parties have committed to exploring legal protections for the natural assets that provide ecosystem services, including water storage and filtration, drainage, and coastal protection. Those are anticipated to take the form of a Water Sustainability Plan Area designation.
Gibsons and the SCRD have also agreed to look at the interconnection of their water systems to build greater resiliency for both. Such efforts will focus on multiple points of relationships between the two water systems and their management.
In the release, Gibsons Mayor Silas White gave credit to town staff and his community, noting their “concern, cooperation and willingness to work together to solve issues that affect the entire Sunshine Coast.”
SCRD board chair Leonard Lee spoke to the value of respectful cooperation and collaboration in the release. “We can accomplish big goals by bringing everyone together to work towards maintaining and protecting our watersheds,” he said.
The partnership envisions going beyond water to the creation of a Fringe Area Plan to better align governmental planning for the land base and resources in and around Gibsons. According to the joint statement, that would look at a transportation network plan, alignment of land use planning and the protection of natural areas to ensure current and future growth remains sustainable, meeting the needs of the community while protecting the ecological integrity of that area.
