Drought Management Plan Infrastructure Services Committee March 21, 2019 www.scrd.ca www.scrd.ca 1
Overview • What is the DMP • Why • Regulatory Framework • How – Stage Declaring Framework – Authority – Lawn permits – Water Systems – Operational responses to escalating stages – Siphon system • Climate change impact: – Droughts – Snow surveys www.scrd.ca 2
What is the DMP • Primary tool for minimizing impacts to water supplies caused by summer drought or unforeseen water shortages • Provides direction for timely and responsive management • Current form adopted in 2002 • Revisions: – 2003, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 – With community consultations www.scrd.ca 3
Why – Purpose of DMP • Ensure there is enough accessible water until supplies are replenished (Fall rains) • Behavior change to reduce outdoor use of potable water • Ensure adequate water and pressure for fire protection during peak use periods • Protect fish and ecosystem functions • Assist with community adaptation to climate change • Manage water for summer droughts – Before: ~100 days – 2018 Water Demand Analysis: 184 days www.scrd.ca 4
Why – Rain Dependent System From 2018 Water Demand Analysis www.scrd.ca 5
Why – Demand vs Precipitation Average monthly consumption Consumption (m3) Precipitation (mm) Compared to precipitation 700,000 250 Precipitation (mm) 600,000 200 Consumption (m3) 500,000 150 400,000 300,000 100 200,000 50 100,000 0 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec www.scrd.ca 6
Regulatory Framework • SCRD Bylaws – Water Rates and Regulations – Bylaw 422 – Bylaw Notice Enforcement – Bylaw 638 • FLNRORD (Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations, and Rural Development) – Water licenses for storage, diversion, and groundwater – Environmental Flow Needs (EFN) Order • BC Parks – Parks Use Permit for infrastructure within Tetrahedron Provincial Park (eg. Siphon system) • Vancouver Coastal Health – Water quality – Grey Creek www.scrd.ca 7
How • Prescribes water use restrictions leading up to, during, and following periods of drought or unforeseen circumstances, with an emphasis on restricting outdoor water use. • Prioritizes water usage for: – Human health – Fire protection – Environmental flows www.scrd.ca 8
Declaring Stages • Any stage may be declared due to extenuating circumstances. • Stage 1 – Normal Conditions – May 1 to September 30 www.scrd.ca 9
Declaring Stages (cont’d) Stage 2 (Moderate), 3 (Acute), and 4 (Severe): 1) Time of year and typical seasonal trends 2) Snow pack assessments and snowmelt forecasts 3) Storage volume of water sources and draw down rates 4) Stream flows and monitoring data 5) Weather, recent conditions and forecasts 6) Water usage, recent consumption and trends 7) Water supply system performance www.scrd.ca 10
Declaring Stages (cont’d) • Authority to declare Stages: • General Manager, Infrastructure Services • Supported by multidisciplinary team at weekly meetings considering: • Operational • Management • Outreach and communications • Enforcement www.scrd.ca 11
DMP in Different Water Systems www.scrd.ca 12
Lawn Watering Permits • One-time temporary lawn watering permit • Issued at Stage 1 • Valid for 21 days • For new lawns • Allows 7 days / week watering during sprinkling schedule hours Year Number of Lawn watering permits 2018 54 2017 26 2016 55 2015 16 www.scrd.ca 13
Operational Response As Stages Escalate Communication Plan • Media releases, radio, paper, social media • Road-side signs (3) • At Stages 3 and 4: – Sandwich boards (10) – Mass mail out – Engagement of specific stakeholders for notification and voluntary reductions (eg. Town of Gibsons, District of Sechelt, shíshálh Nation, SCRD Parks and Recreation, Fire Halls, and large water users) www.scrd.ca 14
Operational Response As Stages Escalate Communication Plan (cont’d) • Water consumption charts and targets • Booth at community events • Water Treatment Plant tours for schools and public in May also address DMP • Responsive communications and engagement – Approximately 5 to 20 DMP related inquiries per week during Stage 1 – Peaking at start of Stage 3 with 60 to 90 inquiries per week www.scrd.ca 15
Operational Response As Stages Escalate Enforcement • Process guided by – Bylaw No. 422 (Water Rates and Regulations) – Bylaw No. 638 (Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw) • Patrols increase in frequency with Stages • Responses to complaints or suspicious instances – Site visit – Outreach and education material – Verbal warning www.scrd.ca 16
Operational Response As Stages Escalate Enforcement (cont’d) • Requires line of sight from public road – Challenges posed by larger properties or enclosed yards • Bylaw Enforcement Notice (BEN) Tickets – issued following written warnings or at higher stages – only when staff witnessed the bylaw infractions themselves. Period Verbal Written BEN ticket warnings warnings 2018 May 1 – Sep 16 88 40 1 2017 May 1 – Oct 28 103 30 0 2016 May 1 – Oct 5 83 7 1 2015 Jun 1 – Sep 30 171 24 0 2014 Jun 1 - Sep 30 109 35 0 2013 May 1 - Sep 30 55 34 2 2012 May 1 – Oct 11 118 56 0 www.scrd.ca 17
Operational Response As Stages Escalate Supply • Additional supply brought online – Chaster Well online – Grey Creek surface water online (requires VCH approval) – Siphon System activated (BC Parks requires Stage 4 declared) www.scrd.ca 18
Siphon System • Chapman Weir outlet and channel too high for additional water diversion • Siphon enables the diversion of additional water over weir from Chapman Lake into Chapman Creek • BC Parks allows use of siphon system at Stage 4 • Siphons activated in 2017 and 2018. www.scrd.ca 19
Siphon System (cont’d) Chapman Lake Channel From Weir August 6, 2017 October 2, 2017 www.scrd.ca 20
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DMP Dates • Stages 3 and 4 was never used before 2012 Year 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Stage 2 13-Sep 9-Aug 7-Aug 9-Jun 25-Jul 21-Jul 5-Jul Stage 3 18-Sep -- -- 11-Jul 26-Aug 1-Sep 13-Aug Stage 4 5-Oct -- -- 13-Aug -- 3-Oct* 31-Aug* Return to -- -- -- 8-Sep 19-Sep 28-Oct 14-Sep Stage 2 * Siphon system activated www.scrd.ca 23
Climate Change impacts Sunshine Coast - Summer Precipitation 175 Baseline (1961-1990 Normal Gibsons Stn.) 150 125 PRECIP. (MM) Projected 2050 - 16% decrease from Baseline 100 75 50 25 0 2015 2016 2017 2018 Sechelt Env. Canada Stn. Records www.scrd.ca 24
Snow Surveys • Part of Provincial River Forecast Center – Flood and water supply forecasting • Snow Cores – Monthly • High Elevation Weather Station – near real-time since Sept 2017 – Partnership with SCRD, MFLNRORD, MOE, Vancouver Island University www.scrd.ca 25
Snow Surveys • Chapman Snow Water Equivalent 12% below average Snow Depth & Water Equivalent (SWE) - CHAPMAN Snow Course March 400 350 Depth: 254 cm 300 250 CENTIMETERS (CM) 200 SWE: 94 cm 150 100 50 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1998 2001 2002 2017 2018 2019 Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) Snow Depth Ave. SWE Ave. Depth www.scrd.ca 26
Snow Surveys • Edwards Snow Water Equivalent 23% below average Snow Depth & Water Equivalent (SWE) - EDWARDS Snow Course March 250 200 Depth: 137 cm CENTIMETERS (CM) 150 100 SWE: 54 cm 50 0 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 2017 2018 2019 Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) Snow Depth Ave. SWE Ave. Depth www.scrd.ca 27
Questions www.scrd.ca 28
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