1993
A study of the Pender Harbour Lake District (Westland
Lake Study) provides the SCRD with information on the health of the
lakes. It identifies Hotel Lake as a small
‘summit’ lake, meaning the highest in the chain, that is already
exhibiting phosphate problems. It cautions that the fragility of this
lake will restrict its continued ability to be used as a potable water
source for more than limited development in the area.
May 15, 2003
The SCRD applies for a new licence to take an additional 14,000,000 imperial
gallons of water per annum from Hotel Lake. No notice is given, and most
people are only made aware of this request to Land and Water B.C. (L&WBC)
during a public information meeting held on a new development proposed
for Irvines Landing.
May, June, July, August, 2003
Members of the community joined together to review reports filed in support
of the application for the above water licence. Included are a lawyer,
a biologist and an engineer with extensive hydrology knowledge who rigorously
reviewed all of the hydraulic calculations. It quickly becomes apparent
that there are a number of errors in the reports submitted to the SCRD
and that certain vital items had been left out entirely. The grassroots
community group works tirelessly to complete their review, giving up valuable
professional time and income to do so. A report of their findings is printed
and circulated.
It also becomes apparent that water problems on Hotel Lake are much more
far reaching than the increased drawdown. Hotel Lake is the smallest potable
water source in the Pender Harbour area. No planning has taken place at
any time with respect to the drinking water on Hotel Lake, or for that
matter, for the whole of Area A and no scientific data has been gathered
upon which to base decisions for the future. An informal meeting is held
in July and the Hotel Lake Water Society is formed.
September 7, 2003
The first Annual General Meeting of the Hotel Lake Water Society decides
on a name change to reflect the entire area of water quality concern.
The new organization names itself Area A Quality Water Association (AAQWA).
Based on the information obtained by the previous group’s review
of reports, the membership directs the new Board to lodge an official
objection to the granting of a new licence on Hotel Lake with Land and
Water B.C. The AAQWA objections detail the errors identified in previous
reports and request verification of this information by qualified independent
hydrologists. Subsequently, an internal L&WBC evaluation by Hydrologist,
Christie Trainor, and Department of Fisheries and Ocean (DFO) Hydrologist,
John Heinonen, substantiates AAQWA’s concerns.
September 2003
The board of AAQWA, together with Joanne McClusky, lawyer for Hotel Lake
residents, presents the Master Water Plan proposal to a Land & Water
B.C. public meeting in Sechelt. The Plan advocates that for less than
$200,000 a pipeline could deliver water to the area and this quantity
amounts to less than ¼ inch per month draw from Sakinaw and Ruby
Lakes - enough for all Pender Harbour for the next twenty-five years.
The SCRD opposes the presentation.
Mid-November,
2003
Land and Water B.C. issues a Ruling, stating that the licence application
applied for by the SCRD on Hotel Lake will be parked for 6 months in order
to give the SCRD the opportunity to do a hydrological study that meets
with L&WBC approval. They instruct that this study must confirm (1)
the availability of water and (2) the impact of further withdrawal from
the lake on its water level. L&WBC also recommends a “Master
Water Allocation Plan” be developed prior to the SCRD making any
specific water licence application. The SCRD does neither and ignores
the order over the next two years.
Summers
2002/03
Water levels in Hotel Lake decrease significantly during the extremely
dry periods in these two record dry years. As well, the water quality
deteriorates accordingly during the time of extreme drawdown, which is
most pronounced during the summer months with the arrival of recreational
visitors.
January
2004
At AAQWA’s urging Bob Herath of L&WBC calls a meeting with the
three local water districts, the Health Ministry, the Aboriginal Band
Chief and DFO to reach consensus on a Master Plan that would ensure access
to Federal and Provincial funding. The SCRD offers $70,000 per year over
three years plus $40,000 for the mandated hydrology report. L&WBC
is to deliver the terms of reference for the required studies to the SCRD
and call a follow-up meeting within a month. This meeting inexplicably
never materializes, and no terms of reference are forthcoming. The monies
allocated by the SCRD were never forthcoming.
Mid
February 2004
AAQWA learns that the SCRD is in the process of arranging for the transfer
of two unused 30-year old water licences held on Hotel Lake by the Garden
Bay Waterworks District. The transfer is to the SCRD for the benefit of
a local developer.
February
24, 2004
AAQWA submits a formal letter of objection to L&WBC citing the section
of the Water Act that provides for the cancellation of licences which
are not in use. AAQWA maintains that the transfer of the Garden Bay Licences
would also result in a “further withdrawal of water” in direct
contravention of L&WBC's November 2003 ruling. It also mentions that
the shortcomings in water supply identified by the hydrology studies of
2001/2, and verified by the independent reviews, dealt with current use
only and did not include the unused licenses on Hotel Lake held by the
Garden Bay Waterworks District for emergency purposes.
March
2004
Garden Bay Waterworks receives approximately $79,950 from a local developer
to transfer the two unused water licences. AAQWA asks for a stay of the
transfer and requests a Hearing before the Environmental Appeal Board.
No acknowledgement or response is received to this filed objection. AAQWA
discovers from the L&WBC website that the two licences in dispute
have been transferred. However, a letter dated March 5, 2004 from Glen
Davidson, Manager Water Licensing and Dam Safety for LWBC, states that,
“the new studies on Hotel Lake submitted to LWBC in connection with
the recent SCRD water licence application did not show in an acceptable
manner whether, or not, it could meet additional water demands once the
proposed Transfer of Appurtenancy comes into effect”.
March
2004
AAQWA retained the hydrologist, Dr. Brian Guy, to study the initial reports
in support of the May 2003 application by the SCRD for a new 14,000,000
gallon water licence on Hotel Lake and the review of these studies undertaken
by the initial residents group. He is requested to make recommendations
with respect to the science required and to propose Terms of Reference
for a Master Water Plan. His findings are forwarded to all the stakeholders
who attended the January 2004 meeting organized by L&WBC.
April
1, 2004
The SCRD votes to withdraw the application of May 13th 2003 to Land and
Water BC for a new licence on Hotel Lake. However, this application is
still listed as pending on the L&WBC website.
May 2004
AAQWA is informed verbally that that the SCRD had passed in-camera motions
to commence scientific data collection and a hydrological study of Hotel
Lake, but will refuse to do anything unless AAQWA withdraws its appeal.
The SCRD never implements its motions.
May/June,
2004
A local biologist investigates two multiple species fish kills on Hotel
Lake. His findings are forwarded to the DFO as well as Environment Canada.
July, 2004
Board members of AAQWA meet with the Ministry of Health concerning the
deterioration of water quality of Hotel Lake and its continued suitability
as a source of potable water for future residents. They also discuss the
necessity of publishing regular boil water advisories. At this meeting
it is confirmed that a boil water advisory had been in existence on Hotel
Lake of a number of years without any notification to the residents taking
their water directly out of the lake.
A presentation is made to the Aboriginal Band Council on the idea of a
Master Water Plan for Area A. The Band Council supports the idea of a
Plan for Area A but advocate that future water planning encompasses the
whole area from Gibsons to Egmont.
August
2004
In
an attempt to move the process along, AAQWA takes the initiative, and
writes modified Terms of Reference for the Hydrology Study based on Dr.
Guy’s recommendations. It submits them to the SCRD.
Autumn
2004
Discussions with the SCRD continue and AAQWA offers to withdraw its Appeal
on condition that the SCRD enters into a Memorandum of Understanding to
complete the scientific work on Hotel Lake mandated by L&WBC. The
SCRD only agrees to contract for very limited scientific investigation
and rejects outright the Terms of Reference proposed by AAQWA, which would
have provided the data needed for adequate future planning of water resources
from this lake.
AAQWA informs
the SCRD that to maintain the organization’s commitment to the community
to ensure its goal of: “Quality Water for Health and Recreation
for Present and Future Generations,” it will continue its attempts
to protect Hotel Lake by proceeding to the scheduled Hearing on the transfer
of licences before the Environmental Appeal Board the following month.
SCRD hires a consultant hydrologist for its defence at the January 2005
Environmental Appeal Board (EAB) hearing.
January
2005
AAQWA is represented at the EAB hearing by a Sierra Legal Defence Fund
lawyer. Dr. Guy appears as an expert witness for AAQWA to explain his
review of previous reports and his subsequent recommendations. AAQWA also
receives invaluable support from two local scientists who donate their
services as expert witnesses during the week-long hearing. From the witness
stand the hydrology consultant hired as an SCRD witness agrees with AAQWA
reports presented and with information attested to by Dr. Brian Guy, and
endorses Dr. Guy’s recommendations.
April
2005
In
response to an enquiry on the status of the L&WBC mandated Water Plan
AAQWA receives the following e-mail from the SCRD Infrastructure Manager
– “In short, the Water Master Plan for Area A is on hold.
We will resume and re-group upon receipt of ruling from the Environmental
Appeal Board regarding the hearing on Hotel Lake”.
May
– June 2005
AAQWA pursues contacts within the academic field with a view to assembling
a multi-disciplinary scientific panel capable of acquiring the data necessary
to form the basis of a Master Water Plan. It also researches innovative
funding options to offset taxpayer costs for an investigation of this
nature.
July
2005
The SCRD begins application for a new water licence on Garden Bay Lake
having now done nothing on the Area A Master Plan for two years.
August
2005
AAQWA wins the Appeal – (except for water needed for current use).
In its decision, the Environmental Appeal Board orders the SCRD, again,
to undertake a Master Water Plan and puts on notice that the SCRD will
be liable to pay costs to both developers and other lakeside residents,
when approved by the EAB, if the work is not completed in a timely manner.
SCRD hires
a consultant to convince Garden Bay residents to vote for amalgamation
with the SCRD Hotel Lake system at a meeting to be held in November 2005.
September
2005
Because L&WBC is currently being absorbed into the Ministry of the
Environment and a new contact person will not to be appointed until October,
2005, AAWQA is unable to discover the timeframe that is denoted by the
EAB’s, “in a timely manner” or identify the person now
responsible for ensuring adherence to EAB decisions.
AAQWA launches
a Petition and begins campaign for a Clean Potable Water System for Area
A residents leading up to the November 17th SCRD election.
October
2005
Board members peruse information supplied by the developers of Pender
Harbour Landing and attend Public Information Meeting to express concerns
about the water supply for this development. Written submissions to Highways,
the proponents and the District highlight drainage impacts of possible
leachate from the sewage treatment area into Hotel Lake, the adjacent
potable water source. Concerns also extend to proposed road patterns and
park dedication required.
President of AAQWA Board is invited to present at the Water Forum sponsored
by the Sunshine Coast Chapter of the Canadian Federation of University
Women. Board members participate in the round table discussions and interact
with candidates who have put their names forward for the November municipal
elections.
November
2005
AAQWA notifies SCRD Parks and Recreation Manager of the need to adhere
to the Official Community Plan when approving plans for the dedication
of new parkland and requests further information on the area designated
by Pender Harbour Landing.
Board and general members attend the Madeira Park SCRD Parks meeting to
discuss the current trail system and proposed future extensions.
January
2006
Enquiries made on the timelines for the EAB manadated report on Hotel
Lake. District’s verbal response indicates late March a possible
completion date. AAQWA members named as Appellants in this action request
an update on work presently being undertaken and a commitment on a firm
release date for this study.
Garden
Bay Waterworks District Conversion Plan November 2005
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