Convening for Action in the South Okanagan:Water for life and livelihoods

Meggin MessengerMinistry of Community Services

Ted van der GulikMinistry of Agriculture and Lands

Demand for LandTop Ten Regional Districts

2001-2003 vs 2004-2006• Peace River 283%• Comox Strathcona 255%• North Okanagan 248%• Central Okanagan 236%• Okanagan Similkameen 223%• Sunshine Coast 208%• Nanaimo 203%• East Kootenay 198%• Thompson Nicola 188%• Central Kootenay 187%

Building on Case Study Experience: Building on Case Study Experience: Convening for Action in the South OkanaganConvening for Action in the South Okanagan

WaterWater--Centric Planning: Centric Planning: A Guidebook for BCA Guidebook for BC

South Okanagan South Okanagan Regional Growth StrategyRegional Growth Strategy

Convening for Action Convening for Action in the South Okanaganin the South Okanagan

Town of Oliver: Town of Oliver: Smart Growth on the GroundSmart Growth on the Ground

Water for Life and Livelihoods:Water for Life and Livelihoods:Protecting the Agricultural Legacy and Strengthening CommunitiesProtecting the Agricultural Legacy and Strengthening Communities

In May 2006 we held a In May 2006 we held a ‘‘MiniMini--SummitSummit’’ at the at the BCWWA Annual Conference BCWWA Annual Conference to to ““provincializeprovincialize”” the the South South OkanaganOkanagan Case StudyCase Study

The concept of a Beneficial Balance The concept of a Beneficial Balance addresses challenging priorities for addresses challenging priorities for

land and water use:land and water use:Agricultural Legacy Defines Agricultural Legacy Defines Sense of PlaceSense of PlaceStrengthening Communities Strengthening Communities is Key to Protecting Wateris Key to Protecting Water

Water is the #1 concern of the public

These Guiding Principles These Guiding Principles willwillprotect the agricultural legacyprotect the agricultural legacyandand strengthen communities:strengthen communities:

1. Improve Water Use Efficiency in the Agricultural Sector to Adapt to Climate Variability and / or Expand Irrigated Farmland

2. Improve Water Use Efficiency in the Non-Agricultural Sector to Support Population Growth in Urban Centres

Water OUT = Water IN! What’s the Balance?

““The water resources of the The water resources of the Okanagan will be totally allocated Okanagan will be totally allocated

in less than 15 years.in less than 15 years.””

““To move toward sustainable water To move toward sustainable water managementmanagement……requires changes in practices requires changes in practices

nownow.”

Impacts on Okanagan Water Management

•• A warmer climate will lead to changes in water supply A warmer climate will lead to changes in water supply and demand in the Okanagan:and demand in the Okanagan:•• Supply would decrease and seasonal peak stream flows would Supply would decrease and seasonal peak stream flows would

occur earlier due to earlier snowmelt.occur earlier due to earlier snowmelt.•• Annual volume would decrease.Annual volume would decrease.•• Agricultural water demand would increase.Agricultural water demand would increase.

•• Pine BeetlePine Beetle•• Population growthPopulation growth

What Is Our Starting What Is Our Starting Point?Point?

Where Do We Want To Where Do We Want To Be?Be?

How Will We Get There?How Will We Get There?

Achieving an ‘Okanagan Water Balance’Relies on Changing Behaviour at the Site

Scale

Okanagan Basin Water Board –Initiated a Stewardship Council

UBC-O Sustainability Center

RDOS and OliverGrowth strategies are incorporating water management issues

Convening for Action in the Convening for Action in the Okanagan BasinOkanagan Basin

Province and OBWB are funding the development of a Water In = Water Out management model

MAL and PARC are developing an agricultural irrigation water demand model for the Okanagan

Okanagan Basin Okanagan Basin Water in = Water Out ProjectWater in = Water Out Project

Over 85% is Used for Outdoor Purposes:Over 85% is Used for Outdoor Purposes:~70% for Agricultural Irrigation~70% for Agricultural Irrigation>15% for Turf Irrigation>15% for Turf Irrigation

Saving water requires Saving water requires ““on the groundon the ground”” actionaction

Okanagan Water Use

Management Tools Management Tools ––Changing Changing BehaviourBehaviour at the Siteat the Site

• Improving irrigation system efficiency for agriculture and landscapes

• Metering Use• Landscape Irrigation Auditing

• Certified Designs• Irrigation Assessments Agriculture• Irrigation Scheduling• Soil Amendment bylaws• Xeriscaping

Improving Water Management

Irrigation System PerformanceIrrigation System Performance

1. Efficiency: Select the most efficient type of irrigation system possible

2. Uniformity: Design the system to obtain the best uniformity

3. Scheduling: Schedule irrigation timing according to local site, soil moisture and climate data

Irrigation System Design

Sprinkler

Trickle

Certified Irrigation Designer(CID)

Certification isavailable in:

1. Sprinkler2. Drip3. Residential4. Commercial

Requirements:1. Pass a written exam

www.irrigationbc.com

Sprinkler and Trickle/Drip Systems:Agricultural irrigation management

System assessment

Operation

Scheduling

Energy efficiency

Available from the Irrigation Industry Association of B.C. (IIABC)

www.irrigationbc.com

Agriculture Irrigation System Assessment

Irrigation Scheduling Techniques

1. Soil Moisture Monitoring

2. Climate Monitoring

Soil Moisture Monitoring

TDR Tensiometer

Electrical Resistance BlockWatermark

Climate MonitoringClimate Station

Checking ET Online

Close to 100 climate stations throughout B.C.Real-time climate dataFive-day weather forecast, ET and moreSchedule irrigation at your finger tips

farmwest.com

Landscape Irrigation System PerformanceLandscape Irrigation System Performance

Site preparation and soil depth is essential

Benefits of XeriscapeReduce maintenance needsReduce water use by 60% or moreEnvironmentally appropriateMaintain functional and attractive landscapeUses a variety of plantsImprove soil condition

To stay informed, just go toTo stay informed, just go towww.waterbucket.cawww.waterbucket.ca