INNOVATION May-June 2017

Water Sustainability Act guides BC water management

The Act and regulations were developed by a team of professionals, including APEGBC members who brought their engineering and geoscience expertise and experience in water resources management to develop the legislation. Additional regulations—for example, water objectives, and measuring and reporting of water use—will be developed in the coming years. APEGBC members, Water Sustainability Act policy team:

The Water Sustainability Act and the first phase of associated regulations came into effect in 2016. The Act benefits all British Columbians, our environment and our economy, and marks a major step forward in water resource management in BC. Key legislative provisions include: • licensing of non-domestic use of groundwater (e.g., industrial, agricultural) for the first time in BC • stronger protection for aquatic ecosystems, especially during droughts • new rental fees for water use • expanded protection of groundwater including new well construction and maintenance standards • increased dam safety and awareness, and compliance and enforcement In the summer of 2016, Ocean Networks Canada deployed steel-armoured fibre- optic cables to enhance the reliability of the NEPTUNE ocean observatory. With two ships maneuvering less than 80 metres apart, the C/S Wave Venture achieved a first for Ocean Networks Canada by successfully laying 18 kilometres of advanced-technology extension cable onto the seafloor. Ranging from three to seven kilometres in length, the cables were laid in water depths exceeding two kilometres. The exploration vessel E/V Nautilus and remotely operated vehicles Hercules and

V.J. Cameron, P.Geo., G. Davidson, P.Eng., J.-A. Ishikawa, P.Geo., M. Lepitre, P.Geo., C. Pryce, P.Eng., B. Symonds, P.Eng., S. Thomson, P.Geo., M. Wei, P.Eng.

Fibre-optic cables deployed in the deep ocean

Argus played important supporting roles by monitoring the four cable lays while also conducting scientific research and providing state-of-the- art telepresence capabilities. With a requirement to deploy the terminations of the cables within a 50-metre circle on the seafloor without damaging existing subsea infrastructure, the operations demanded detailed planning and a high level of precision during execution. APEGBC member: Ian Kulin, P.Eng. First Nations and government agencies that are engaged in managing Okanagan water urgently needed an improved understanding of environmental flow needs. Provincial water licensing staff require this information for making water- allocation decisions under the new BC Water Sustainability Act . The Okanagan Nation needs the information for fish population and fish habitat restoration plans. Long-term water use predictions, as well as water use restrictions during drought, also depend on the data. The Okanagan Basin Water Board, Okanagan Nation Alliance, and the province are leading a project to determine

Environmental flow needs determined in Okanagan streams

environmental flow needs in Okanagan streams. In Phase 1 of the project, Associated Environmental Consultants Inc. led a diverse team to develop recommended methods for determining environmental flow needs in the region, and provided information to customize the methods for 19 high-priority Okanagan streams. Work to apply these methods on these priority streams is underway. APEGBC members, Associated Environmental Consultants: Brian Guy, P.Geo.; Urban Systems: Don Dobson, P.Eng.; Polar Geoscience Ltd.: Lars Uunila, P.Geo.; Agua Consulting Ltd.: Bob Hrasko. P.Eng.; BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations: Brian Symonds, P.Eng.

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