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Letter: Fish need water, as do we – it's time for a regional watershed board

'We can debate how long Chapman supply will last at Stage 4 with no rain or how much water we will save in leaks but the fact remains we need more water.'
Letter contributor
Chapman Lake
Chapman Lake as seen in September 2022. Sunshine Coast Regional District photo

Editor:

For too many years we have known Chapman water supply will be unable to meet the environmental flow need (EFN) of 17 million L/day and community need of 10-15 million L/day (Stage 4 or 3).

We can debate how long Chapman supply will last at Stage 4 with no rain or how much water we will save in leaks but the fact remains we need more water. Church Road well at 4.6 million L/day isn’t enough. The July 2023 SCRD Water Demand Analysis identified this, again. 

We have explored many options (reduce EFN, find new wells, design reservoirs) there is little to show for our efforts. It’s complicated, there are many players. I get that. Other communities have faced similar challenges and have formed watershed boards to collaboratively find and implement innovative solutions. Most recently Cowichan Watershed Board found a solution and $14 million for fish and human needs.

It’s urgent. We need to get our act together. It’s time for Sunshine Coast leaders to form a watershed board, agree on solutions, and implement them.

Kim Dougherty, Halfmoon Bay