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Fish & Habitats
Restoration
Water Use Planning
A Water Use Plan (WUP) defines the way specific works or water
control facilities will be operated. The process for arriving
at a WUP allows interested parties to explore the costs and
benefits of changing the way these structures are operated,
and to make informed decisions about the best choices to reflect
the full range of uses and resource values.
The basic concept of water use planning is applicable to all
water-control facilities regulated under the Water
Act. However,
the main focus in the short term is BC Hydro. A review of all
BC Hydro's water licences is under way and water use plans
will be developed for each of its 34 facilities. It is expected
to take about five years to develop WUPs for all of these facilities.
In light of this time frame and the need to act on some issues
immediately, it was agreed that interim measures would be applied
where sufficient fisheries data were available. This step in
the process was aimed at achieving some early successes in
fish habitat restoration.
In the longer term the entire hydroelectric system will be
examined to ensure that British Columbians receive the maximum
net social and environmental benefits. The development of water
use plans for the first 34 facilities is a co-operative effort
between the Ministry of Environment, BC
Hydro, the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, First
Nations, other key interested parties, and the general public.
Definitions:
Interim Orders, which are Orders of the Water Comptroller
under the Water Act, are a legal instrument instructing a licence
holder to operate its system in accordance with certain constraints
or conditions.
- Ministry of Environment
- BC Hydro
- Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management
Other Restoration Programs:
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