Project - Rain Harvesting Project
Tsolum River Augmentation Advisory meeting notes - Nov. 28,2008
Meeting Notes
Present:
Michelle Kehler, BCCF
James Craig, BCCF
Dave Gooding, Hydrologist
Charles Brandt, TRRS
Willa Canon, TRRS
Stewart Duncan, TRRS
Jack Minard, TRRS
Pete Savin, TRRS
Brian Munro, DFO
Margaret Wright, DFO
Scott Silvestri, MoE
Dave Lindsay, TimberWest
This meeting was convened to update the Advisory and to get input as to next steps.
A bathymetric survey of shoal area in the south end of
A secondary concern of drafting the lake lower than usual is the potential to stir up hazardous sediments through wave action on newly exposed shorelines (some discussion about the historic possibility of mine tailings on the lake’s
During the 2008 augmentation period the weir was opened to achieve 7 cfs at the
It was noted that low flow information from the WSC website (note this is identified as preliminary data) was not verified this summer and was reporting discharges several times higher than reality. The storage at
These two pieces of information (the amount of water that can be safely drawn down and corrected flow information) are critical to manage storage properly.
Much discussion about drawing the lake down too far whereupon the gate valve would have to be adjusted to allow outflows to equal inflows in order to protect lake shoal habitat. This would constitute a worst case scenario, with significant impacts to habitat (rearing and migration) in Headquarters Creek and the mainstem downstream of the confluence.
It was noted that we do not have flow information between the
It was generally agreed that the storage has been utilized quite well over the past several years but with the loss of Fetzner this year was somewhat anomalous. To do the best job however it was agreed that more measurements during critical periods by TRRS (Pete Savin with BCCF assistance) would enable better storage use. Completing a minimum of two more measurements during the low flow period than what WSC normally does would be a start.
Discussion then turned to the water license and its target. Is it to get pink salmon encouraged into the Tsolum at the early part of the run? Is it to keep rearing habitat viable and at a maximum level with the available storage? Is it to protect redds through to fall rains? Or, is it a combination of these?
James noted that a first target flow for all fresh water aquatic species and other wildlife would be 70 cfs or 10% mean annual discharge. If there was more water to use it would be ideal to use it to maximum benefit. It was suggested that we look into the effect that the late summer use of the Sandwick water system has on flows in the Tsolum.
The following actions were agreed to:
Pete Savin will receive the training necessary to operate the equipment loaned by Puntledge Hatchery around his schedule and that he would complete a minimum of two measurements at determined dates to identify the error, if any, in what is being reported on the WSC website. With an accurate coreection factor, releases from
BCCF in conjunction with Puntledge Hatchery and WSC will provide the training.
A committee be formed to make the decisions throughout the augmentation period as to opening of the weir and the best utilization the stored water. This committee will consist of: Margaret Wright (or Mel Sheng), Greg Bonell, Scott Silvestri, Jack Minard and James Craig (or Michele Kehler) with Dave Gooding as an advisor.
This committee should include a member of the Agricultural community, preferably one of the farmers with large volume licenses adjacent to or downstream of the
Father Charles Brandt volunteered to talk to Bill McLean (ex DFO operations Biologist very familiar with the Tsolum) regarding the possibility of mine tailings or toxic sediments in the sediments at the shoal area of
Dave Lindsay volunteered to look at company title records to see if there is any indication of historical mining around
James Craig committed to assisting Puntledge Hatchery staff make life as easy as possible in terms of operating the weir. Craig suggested technology to provide "real time" data directly to hatchery computers reducing the need for two staff to have to travel to the dam gauge.
Jack offered volunteer assistance to Puntledge Hatchery staff to accompany staff to reduce the need for two staff to travel to the lake for reading the gauge and making weir adjustments.
Scott Silvestri will follow up with Skip Rimmer who set the maximum drawdown limits due to trout habitat concerns to determine the rationale.
This series of actions it was agreed will set up a framework for maximum benefit and use of existing storage at
Discussions then turned to next steps and all agreed the next step was to complete a baseline biophysical assessment of the Tsolum River Watershed in order to complete a business plan for prioritized recovery planning.
Jack agreed to approach PSF to find out how to move forward on receiving the Fording Coal donation.
Craig reiterated BCCF's plan (subject to budget approvals) to provide $15k after
Jack was tasked with beginning to develop Terms of Reference for the assessment and to involve TimberWest from the outset.
Jack thanked everyone for attending and the meeting adjourned.
PS Not discussed during the meeting but the presence of kokanee in
Pacific Salmon Foundation Community Salmon Program (CSP) Final Report
Flow Augmentation in the Tsolum Watershed by Gooding Hydrology
A significant consequence of preparing the landscape for agricultural and rural development, urban development and logging was the creation of hundreds of kilometres of ditches.
These many ditchlines are designed to drain rainwater away from our developments, protect infrastructure from erosion and flooding and other forms of damage from large amounts of water running off the landscape. Unfortunately these many hundreds of kilometres of ditches have been very effective in draining away water far too quickly to support the environment's need for water retention on the landscape.
(See "Lesions in the Land" by Will Marsh on our ARTICLES page)
This rapid run off scenario causes a host of significant problems;
- Reduced aquifer recharge
- Creek and river erosion
- "Flashy" hydrocurves (very fast increases in flows during rainfall events and just as quick reductions in flows when the rain stops)
- Dangerously low summertime flows
- Landscape drying leading to tree losses
- Reductions in rearing habitats for coho and trout
- Downstream flooding
- Changes in evapo-transpiration cycles exacerbating climate change on a local level, particularly in summertime
We believe the answer to this significant problem is to create water storage throughout the watershed. Some 90 ponds have been dug throughout the watershed to date and all of our habitat projects endeavour to underpin the project with some form of water storage.
We would like to see a community-wide effort made in this regard with such ideas as;
- Grey water recycling
- Rain barrells
- Cisterns
- Wetland creation and re-creation
- Restoration of seasonal streams
- Riparian replanting and protection
- Irrigation ponds
- Sub Irrigation methodologies
- Encouraing beaver activity
- Upland rain water infiltration
- Encouragement of septic feilds for sewage rather than piping water away
- Recycling back to the uplands all waters after sewage treatment
- Deep water intake at Comox Lake and a comprehensive REGIONAL "Water Improvement District" that operates on a regional plan for agriculture and growth
- ETC.
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