Changes to the way water from Cowichan Lake is stored and released in the summer is being applauded by some local conservationists and protested by some affected property owners.
On May 30, the Ministry of Environment (MOE) approved an Order governing how the weir at Cowichan Lake should be operated.
“In simple terms, the Order provides that water can be stored in the lake longer in the summer with the hope that adequate flows in the Cowichan River can be maintained for longer into the fall when it is again hoped rains will replenish the lake and river,” Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) chief administrative officer Warren Jones explained in a staff report when the matter came to the board in late July. “In past years, the ‘draw down’ of the lake began on July 9. Under the new Order, the date moves to July 31.”
On July 31, the CVRD board voted to advise the Environmental Appeal Board (EAB) that the CVRD wishes to be a participant in the appeal of the Deputy Comptroller of Water Rights decision regarding the operation of the rule curve for the storage of water and the release of water from Cowichan Lake.
“It is unclear at this stage what level of participation the CVRD might have in an appeal to the Environmental Appeal Board,” Jones wrote in his report. “The degree of participation will be determined by the Appeal Board.”
The Order has been appealed by six parties to the EAB.
“Given its interests in Cowichan Lake and the Cowichan River, the CVRD should be considered an affected agency,” said Jones. “Staff believe it is appropriate for the CVRD to request to be a ‘participant’ in the appeal so the interests of the community and board previously communicated may be considered in the appeal process.”
Parker Jefferson of One Cowichan says 22 days of storing Cowichan River water — under new provincial rules demanded by many residents — at Cowichan Lake’s weir could save thousands of spawning salmon come fall. He cheered the new rules that could provide water for salmon to swim upstream and spawn.
Last fall’s drought killed about 1,000 salmon.
Others were trapped and trucked upstream, sparking heated meetings with the province about new storage rules — outside mandatory water-release rule-curve volumes in Crofton pulp mill’s two river permits.
“Last year at this time, we were being forced to dump water out of the lake to comply with the old operating rules,” said Jefferson. “This was done despite the objections of many of our community leaders, Cowichan Tribes and the Cowichan Watershed Board.”
Not having to dump water this year, the lake level as of July 31 is about where it was last year despite no significant rain for more than a month, he explained.
“Our current lake level is below the top of the weir and below the maximum levels allowed by the new operating rules,” he explained, “which means not only do we not have to release water we have stored, but we would be able to keep any water we should get if we do get a rare summer rain.”
Jefferson dismissed arguments by a group of residents protesting the storage boost.
The next major test comes Sept. 15 when the old and new storage rule curves meet.
“That’ll mean we have to be at the lake level as the old rule curve,” said Jefferson. “With not having to release any water stored, we could store more. If it does rain, we could keep that water until Sept. 15. There’s no guarantee we won’t be in the same situation, but our odds are better. Every drop is money in the bank. The new rules are working.”
— With files from Peter Rusland
