A stream is not a stream without water | David Suzuki Foundation

The B.C. government is updating its Water Act. This is our chance to ensure enough water is left in streams and rivers to keep them healthy for the benefit of nature and us. Right now, water could be withdrawn from streams in B.C. until they run dry - we need your help to change this!

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Terry Lake - B.C. Environment Minister <Env.minister@gov.bc.ca>

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I am encouraged to see that the Government of British Columbia has decided to update the Water Act. The current Water Act allows too much water to be taken from streams and rivers without ensuring that these important water ecosystems are protected. A stream is not a stream without water, and wildlife, especially fish, need adequate water flows to survive.

Protection of our water and water ecosystems must be improved. Ecosystem-based minimum in-stream flows must be regulated and enforced. In areas where surface water is over-allocated licences must be withdrawn to ensure these minimum flows are protected and restored.

Three key Water Act reform recommendations to better protect B.C.'s water ecosystem are:

1. Establish, regulate and enforce ecosystem-based in-stream flow standards for all streams in all watersheds of British Columbia.
2. Transition to a priority-of-use water allocation system, including withdrawal and restructuring of existing water licences to ensure minimum ecosystem flow standards are protected and priority of use can be implemented.
3. Provide regional support for integrated watershed management and shared water governance.

The success of the Living Water Smart Program and the new Water Act will be determined by whether minimum in-stream flows are protected and existing water licences changed to restore minimum flows.

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