Actions at a Glance

Doing Business Differently

1. By 2012, all land and water managers will know what makes a stream healthy, and therefore be able to help land and water users factor in new approaches to securing stream health and the full range of stream benefits.
    
2. By 2012, water laws will improve the protection of ecological values, provide for more community involvement, and provide incentives to be water efficient.
3. Legislation will recognize water flow requirements for ecosystems and species.
4. Government will require all users to cut back their water use in times of drought or where stream health is threatened.
5. Government will limit all new licences to 40-year terms in areas where there is high demand and pressure on water.
    
6. The Ground Water Protection Regulation will protect the quality and quantity of our groundwater.
7. By 2012, government will regulate groundwater use in priority areas and large groundwater withdrawals.
    
8. Government will support communities to do watershed management planning in priority areas.
    
9. By 2020, water use in British Columbia will be 33 percent more efficient.
10. By 2012, government will require all large water users to measure and report their water use.
11. Government will require more efficient water use in the agriculture sector.
     
12. Government will secure access to water for agricultural lands.
     
13. Government will work with the private sector and support communities to conserve and restore stream function.
14. Government and partners will restore ecological health to 30 km of stream between Vaseux Lake and Osoyoos Lake.
15. Government will fund the Mount Washington mine remediation project with $4.5 million, restoring the health of the Tsolum River.
16. To enhance some watersheds, government will examine the potential of decommissioning dams.

Preparing Communities for Change

17. By 2012 new approaches to water management will address the impacts from a changing water cycle, increased drought risk and other impacts on water caused by climate change.
18. Government will work with other provinces to share ideas and resources to improve water conservation and collectively help communities adapt to climate change.
19. Community development strategies will be developed to recognize the importance of riparian zones in adapting to climate change.
20. Adapting to climate change and reducing our impact on the environment will be a condition for receiving provincial infrastructure funding.
     
21. Where new development on flood plains is unavoidable, it will be flood-proofed to high provincial standards.
22. The government will provide $100M for flood protection over 10 years to help communities manage flood losses.
     
23. Wetland and waterway function will be protected and rehabilitated. 
24. Government will provide incentives for restoration of streams or wetlands.
     
25. Green developments waiting for provincial environmental approvals will be fast-tracked and given priority.
     
26. Government will develop new protocols for capital planning that will look at the lifecycle costs and benefits of buildings, goods and services.
     
27. Government will improve the quality and protection of drinking water sources.
     
28. The government will cooperate with Canada to ensure the quality of drinking water in all Aboriginal communities will meet the same provincial standards applied across British Columbia by 2015.

Choosing to be Water Smart

29. Fifty percent of new municipal water needs will be acquired through conservation by 2020.
30. Government will look at new ways to help promising water conservation technology succeed.
31. Government will fund household evaluations of water, energy and transportation use.
32. The Green Building Code will require water conservation plumbing fixtures such as low flush toilets.
33. By 2010, government will mandate purple pipes in new construction for water collection and re-use.
34. In partnership with industry, government will develop a water efficiency labelling system for water consuming products.
     
35. By 2012, all students in B.C. will have completed at least one stream-health assessment.
36. Government will award a youth water-science prize or scholarship for excellence in water stewardship.
37. Government will provide summer jobs for youth between the ages of 16 to 22, to undertake twenty stream restoration projects across the province.
     
38. Government and First Nations’ treaty water negotiations and other related agreements support providing a clean and safe domestic, agricultural and industrial water supply for First Nation communities.
39. Government will continue to work toward preserving First Nations’ social and cultural practices associated with water.
40. Tools to incorporate traditional ecological knowledge into information and decision making will be developed by 2015.
     
41. By 2010, a strategy to set the direction for water science in B.C. will be implemented.
42. Government is expanding British Columbia’s hydrometric and other climate-related networks.
43. Government will publish a report on the state of our water by 2012 and every five years after that.
     
44. Government will celebrate examples of successful water stewardship by awarding annual water awards to individuals or groups.
     
45. The government of British Columbia will work with our Olympic partners to use sports and the Olympic Games spotlight to engage British Columbians and support smarter water choices.