Groundwater and Wild Salmon in BC
Concern about the west coast wild salmon fishery has grown extensively over the last decade or so and has largely focused on the impacts on the fishery from unsustainable harvesting, urban development and fish farming. To date, relatively little attention has been paid to the impacts of groundwater withdrawal on salmon streams. The inflow of cool, clean groundwater into streams is essential for salmon spawning and the survival of young salmon. Yet - alone among the provinces - BC has no licensing requirements for groundwater withdrawals. With the support of the Gordon Foundation, Watershed Watch Salmon Society is examining the relationship between groundwater and wild salmon.
The project includes case studies and a literature review that illustrate groundwater-salmon interactions. Watershed Watch Salmon Society has examined BC's existing groundwater regulations as they relate to protecting wild salmon. Recommendations for changes to policies and practices were also presented at a workshop at Simon Fraser University in March 2007.
See:
- Review of groundwater - salmon interactions in BC (Literature Review, November 2006);
- Review of British Columbia's Groundwater Regulatory Regime: Current Practices and Options (Randy Christensen, Sierra Legal Defence Fund, February 2007); and
- Speaking for the Salmon: Groundwater and Salmon conference proceedings (March 2007).
For more information, see www.watershed-watch.org/