Okanagan Waterwise: Recommendations for Drought Proofing the Okanagan

Okanagan Waterwise: Recommendations for Drought Proofing the Okanagan

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  living within our means Recommendationsfor Drought Proofing the Okanagan 1450 KLO Road Kelowna, BC V1W 3Z4 250-469-6323 www.obwb.ca August 2009
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  Government will requireall users to cut back their water use in times of drought or where stream health is threatened. BC Living Water Smart Plan (2008) Whether a dry period in the Okanagan is considered a drought depends on geography, infrastructure and management regimes, and water demand for environmental and human uses. It is essential to characterize different drought intensities to develop appropriate response plans. If an official drought declaration is called too late, opportunities for conservation measures may be lost. Okanagan Sustainable Water Strategy (2008)
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  Message from theActing Chair of the Okanagan Basin Water Board This summer has been a wake-up call – leading us to ask ourselves: “Are we ready for drought?” Here in the Okanagan, it is easy to forget that we live in a desert-like climate when we are surrounded by large lakes and lush green vineyards and orchards. But, looking around at the dry hills and forests, smelling the smoke from the forest fires, and seeing the low water levels in the streams and lakes this year reminds us of just how vulnerable our area is to water shortages. Water managers work hard to ensure that supplies last from season to season, but climate change, pine beetle and a growing population is changing the game. Every Okanagan citizen has a responsibility to take care of our water. Drop by drop, each of us makes use of our most precious resource--we water our gardens, play on the lakes, eat Okanagan fruit, and drink Okanagan wine. Drop by drop, water is ours to waste or conserve. Now is the time to collectively protect our resources for our children and grandchildren, and do all we can to ensure that their quality of life is not just as good as ours, but even better. On behalf of the Okanagan Basin Water Board, I ask municipalities and other water purveyors to work together to develop plans to share water that meet all of our needs and the needs of the environment. There is absolutely no risk to drought planning – when the rains come we can enjoy our supplies but when we have dry years, we will be ready. Stu Wells, Acting Chair of the Okanagan Basin Water Board Message from the Executive Director of the Okanagan Basin Water Board The Okanagan stands out among all areas in British Columbia by how much we depend on the health and beauty of our lake system. The lakes are our greatest asset, and protecting this asset will take the combined effort of all Okanagan communities. I like to think of it as a new opportunity to demonstrate leadership by working together on collaborative water management. As the response to this workshop showed, Okanagan water suppliers and elected officials are seriously committed to protecting the sustainability and security of our water supplies. In the coming decade, one of the most important contributions the Okanagan Basin Water Board can make is to help communities prepare for the impacts of population growth, development and climate change. We will continue to look to the governments of Canada and B.C. for their leadership and assistance, but here in the Okanagan watershed, the Okanagan Basin Water Board hopes to assist each community and water purveyor with developing an effective drought response plan, and to link these plans together to have a Basin-wide plan to protect from drought and protect the health of our lakes. Anna Warwick Sears, Executive Director of the Okanagan Basin Water Board i
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  Table of Contents Messagefrom the Acting Chair of the Okanagan Basin Water Board ....................................................... i Message from the Executive Director of the Okanagan Basin Water Board ............................................ i Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 1 Overview of 2009 OBWB Drought Planning Workshop ............................................................................. 1 Content and Format ................................................................................................................................. 1 Quotes from Participants......................................................................................................................... 2 Recommendations for Drought Proofing the Okanagan Basin ................................................................. 3 Recommendations to Senior Government ............................................................................................. 3 Recommendations to Local Government and Water Purveyors........................................................... 5 Recommendations to the Okanagan Basin Water Board ..................................................................... 6 Concluding Remarks .................................................................................................................................... 6 Appendix A: List of Participants at 2009 OBWB Drought Planning Workshop......................................... 7 Appendix B: Drought Management Planning Resources........................................................................... 9 iii
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  Introduction Water is apriceless natural asset in the Okanagan Basin. Balancing the competing water requirements of the environment, human needs, irrigation, tourism, recreation, industry, and cultural values has become increasingly difficult as more people live, work, and play in our watershed. We have always had large seasonal and annual cycles, alternating between wet and dry periods, and some areas of the Basin regularly experience water shortages. Climate change is expected intensify this pattern: to bring more powerful storms, longer drought cycles and greater evaporation, and lead to a longer, hotter growing season with increased irrigation demand. Drought conditions will impact Okanagan communities in many different ways. Drought can reduce supplies for drinking water and household use, lead to lower streamflows and warmer river temperatures for fish, and limit the water for irrigating our crops, orchards and vineyards. Over the next decade it will be very important for local governments to prepare for the impacts of population growth, development and climate change on water supplies. Everyone needs water, and we are all connected through the chain of valley lakes. We need to take a Basin-wide approach to water management, looking at the system as a whole and finding ways to work together to drought proof the Okanagan Basin. The Drought Planning Workshop, hosted by the Okanagan Basin Water Board on July 23, 2009, began a discussion about the tools and policies needed for coordinated drought management planning in the Okanagan Basin. This report summarizes the workshop and some of the tools available for local governments. Overview of 2009 OBWB Drought Planning Workshop Content and Format “If we knew with certainty that the Okanagan will face an Australian-like drought in the next five years, what management tools would we need to best handle the crisis?” Dr. Anna Warwick Sears, Executive Director, Okanagan Basin Water Board More than ninety politicians, water purveyors, consultants, members of non-profit groups, and media from around the Okanagan gathered together at the Kelowna Community Theatre to discuss how best to prepare for water shortages. The Workshop provided information on the current water situation in the Basin and outlined tools, policies and management techniques available for purveyors to respond to water shortages and to prepare for future drought conditions. Furthermore, the workshop provided an opportunity to discuss and identify collaborative “drought proofing” actions that may be accomplished on a Basin scale. The workshop included presentations from federal, provincial, and local water managers (available at www.obwb.ca/drought_planning_workshop_2009/): • 2009 Water Conditions in the Okanagan and Neighbouring Watersheds Brian Symonds, Director of Regional Operations, Penticton, Ministry of Environment 1
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  • Drought Issuesin the Okanagan Basin: Local Purveyor Perspective Bob Hrasko, Vice-Chair of the Water Supply Association of British Columbia • Low Flows and Impacts to Fish and Fish Habitat Dean Watts, Senior Habitat Biologist, Fisheries and Oceans Canada • Dealing with Drought in BC Ted van der Gulik, Senior Engineer, Ministry of Agriculture and Lands • Using the Water Supply & Demand Project for Okanagan Drought Planning Anna Warwick Sears, Executive Director, Okanagan Basin Water Board • Dealing with Drought: It Takes More Than Planning Wenda Mason, Manager, Major Projects, Water Stewardship Division, Ministry of Environment • Glenmore-Ellison Improvement District: Case Study 2005 Drought Management Plan Darren Schlamp, Manager, Engineering and Development, Glenmore Ellison Improvement District • Drought Planning for Utilities at the Basin Scale Nelson Jatel, Water Stewardship Director, Okanagan Basin Water Board The workshop also included an interactive discussion where the audience commented and asked questions about topics related to drought proofing the Okanagan. The topics included: • Storage development and management • Common drought trigger levels for valley lakes • Coordinated conservation bylaws • User pay versus allocation allotment • Defining and communicating drought to the public • Memorandum of Understanding – drought policies Quotes from Participants BC’s Living Water Smart plan asks all users to cut back their water use during droughts or when stream health is threatened. We have to recognize limits to water, which means that the days of taking it for granted have passed. I am committed to making sure that critical water information is available so that local water purveyors can make the right decisions about when to conserve water, at the right time. There is only one water in the Okanagan, and we need to take care of it. John Slater, MLA, Parliamentary Secretary for Water Supply and Allocation to the Minister of Environment Water is something we often take for granted. People often say we have lots of water as they point to our beautiful Okanagan Lake. However, the reality is that the Okanagan’s semi-arid climate and growing population highlight the need to plan as a region to mitigate low water conditions. The Federal government is here to help – following up on the May 2007 National Drought Strategy for Agriculture working group held in Kelowna, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is proposing a national drought strategy. I salute and thank the numerous volunteers and staff of the working groups that are proactively raising awareness of the importance and value of water and look forward to continuing to work with you. We all play a part in water conservation and planning to ensure that we can continue a strong regional economy and high quality of life. Enjoy water and remind your friends and family of the importance of preserving and protecting our valuable asset. Water is the life blood of every resident in the Okanagan. Ron Cannan, MP Kelowna Lake Country 2
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  It is perhapsappropriate that we are meeting in this rehearsal room, and that’s how we should see this day. Drought is coming to a neighbourhood near you. It’s our responsibility to plan for this and to have answers for when it comes. Mayor Stu Wells, Town of Osoyoos, Acting Chair of the Okanagan Basin Water Board Drought planning is essential for the entire Okanagan and all water purveyors must continue to work together to achieve the best practices for such a plan. I believe that water availability will be the determining factor for future growth in our communities. The Drought Planning Workshop hosted by the Okanagan Water Basin should be our first step towards an ultimate goal of achieving a sustainable valley. We live in a beautiful region and need to be vigilant and relentless in maintaining a quality of life for our future generations. Water quantity and quality is the key! Mayor Sharon Shepherd, City of Kelowna With the increasing potential for low flow years, water purveyors must evaluate suitable sites to increase reservoir storage and the economics associated with such a decision. Equally important is the utilities’ water conservation strategy, which must include water meters for all customers as well as an effective consumption-based metered rate to encourage customers to use less water. Metered rates to measure actual consumption and a drought management plan, which includes outdoor sprinkling regulations, will assist the utility to defer capital spending requirements associated with the construction of larger reservoirs and distribution or treatment infrastructure. These are primary tools to enable a utility to prepare a comprehensive water management plan for the future. Brian W. Jamieson, P.Eng., General Manager, Westbank Irrigation District Recommendations for Drought Proofing the Okanagan Basin Recommendations to Senior Government Senior government has an important leadership role in drought management. Local governments and water suppliers look to them for water supply monitoring and forecasting, effective communication of current conditions, and tools and templates for drought planning. Actions by the Government of Canada: • Funding for Water Infrastructure: Target Building Canada infrastructure dollars to projects that upgrade and expand water systems, repair leaks, and separate urban and agricultural water supplies. • Funding for Agricultural Water Supply Expansion Program: Renew Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada funding for the Canada-B.C. Water Supply Expansion program, supporting irrigation system upgrades and efficiency improvements. • Expand Water Monitoring: Expand the network of Water Survey hydrometric and weather stations in the Okanagan to allow local managers to have early warning of water supply changes. • Measure Lake Evaporation: Use latest technology and techniques of Environment Canada to determine how much water is lost from the surface of our lakes. Without knowing how much we are losing, we can’t manage our supplies. 3
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  • Increase First Nations’ Water Science Capacity: Okanagan First Nations’ recognize the need to identify current and future water demand for reserve lands and to prepare for potential shortages, but lack staff capacity and hydrological expertise. Provide funding to support full- time water science staff to work with local water managers and put plans in place. Actions by the Government of British Columbia: • Drought Response Framework: Develop a B.C.-wide framework for drought response and enact enabling legislation. The framework will establish steps for coordinated drought response by the B.C. Government, outline key provincial agencies and their role during droughts, design a plan for agencies to communicate during droughts, and identify other core participants for drought planning. • Drought Communication to Water Sector: Develop a communication strategy that provides timely information to water purveyors, local industry and stewardship groups about drought on a watershed level. o Drought Information: Collect, coordinate and share B.C. drought information. As part of this effort, develop maps that show drought intensities in each B.C. watershed and update this information monthly (Figure 1). o Okanagan Drought Indicators: Develop a drought response system that uses water levels in Okanagan mainstem lakes as indicators of drought severity and triggers specific actions at each level. (A) (B) (C) Figure 1: Data layers that could be used for watershed level drought monitoring in BC (A) BC Watersheds (geographical context), (B) North American Drought Monitor (C) Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Drought Watch. o Drought Signage: Provide a basin-by-basin drought scale and post road signs that show drought intensity (similar to fire watch) on major highways in drought sensitive areas in the province (Figure 2). Figure 2: Potential format for drought signage to be posted on major highways in drought sensitive areas throughout the BC. 4
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  • Review Status of Drought Plans: Review and report on the status of the drought management and water conservation planning projects funded by the 2004 provincial Dealing with Drought grant program. • Fund Drought Plans and Water Conservation Projects: Provide new funding to local governments and water purveyors for drought management and water conservation planning and projects (e.g., metering, infrastructure improvements (twinning systems), education and outreach). Recommendations to Local Government and Water Purveyors Local governments and water purveyors manage community water supplies at an operational level. They need efficient and useable resources on drought management from senior government, and the ability to customize responses and actions to the major water demands in their areas. Actions by the Okanagan Local Governments and Purveyors: • Build Drought Teams: Establish local drought management teams following the guidelines in the Dealing with Drought handbook – bring together key players who know what is required. • Put Plans in Place: Prepare Drought Management Plans, Water Conservation Plans, and Emergency Drought Plans following the template in the Dealing with Drought Handbook. When all purveyors use the same template, plans can be linked together across regions. • Take Action for Water Conservation: Improve water efficiency in your community by considering the following actions: o Xeriscape parks; median strips and public spaces leading by example to demonstrates attractive landscaping with water saving plants; o Use the Landscape Irrigation Calculator (http://www.irrigationbc.com/) to determine an appropriate irrigation schedule for municipal landscaping. o Estimate cost savings with the Water Conservation Calculator (available from the Ministry of Community and Rural Development, Autumn 2009) to determine the best value of different water conservation measures; o Implement demand management programs that include universal metering of domestic, agricultural, and utility water extractions and volume-based water pricing; Landscape and irrigation bylaws like those developed for the City of Kelowna; Water conservation bylaws that include outdoor water use restrictions to have consistent and coordinated conservation efforts among all users; Mandate purple pipes in new construction to capture rainwater and recycle gray water; Adopt common sprinkling restrictions between neighbouring jurisdictions; • Protect the Quality of Supplies: Protect and restore stream banks to preserve water quality; • Recharge aquifers: Implement stormwater best practices to recharge aquifers and protect water quality; • Measure and Record What We Have: Install flow measurement recorders at reservoir spillways to track water availability and identify low water levels early; 5
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  • Communicate to Water Users: Develop a plan to communicate your drought management goals, actions, water supply status, and forecasts to major water users in the community. Recommendations to the Okanagan Basin Water Board The Okanagan Basin Water Board provides a basin-wide perspective and a mechanism to improve communication between regions and reduce fragmentation in policy and planning. The Board also forges stronger links between local and senior governments, and participates as a partner in Okanagan water research and infrastructure funding. Actions by the Okanagan Basin Water Board: • Build Basin-Wide Drought Response Framework: Develop a technical framework to map hydrological links between water sources, water licenses, and actual water use. Demonstrate how specific conservation or management changes upstream can reduce water shortages and impacts downstream; • Assemble a Basin-Wide Drought Team: Develop a basin drought management team that includes representatives from local drought management teams. • Forge Coordinated Drought Response Agreements: Develop a coordinated drought management plan for the Basin based on formal agreements to link local drought response plans and common drought trigger levels for valley lakes. • Science to Support Drought Proofing: Conduct research to support drought proofing initiatives of local governments and water purveyors: o identify groundwater limited areas; o facilitate lake evaporation study by Environment Canada; and o document the state of readiness and identify needs of Okanagan water purveyors for drought management plans/conservation tools. • Develop a Water Conservation Bylaws Toolkit for use by local governments and improvement districts. • Enhance Communication: Work with Okanagan regional districts to ensure that proper communication between and among local water purveyors is carried out in a timely fashion. • Coordinate Drought Response Drills: Work with the Provincial government to coordinate a “drill day” to challenge all water suppliers to test their drought response plans. Concluding Remarks The Drought Planning Workshop began a dialogue between water purveyors and managers, scientists, politicians and the Okanagan Basin Water Board about how to prepare the Okanagan Basin and limit the impact from future water shortages. The recommendations contained here capture that dialogue and are fundamental to creating a drought proof Okanagan. The Okanagan Basin Water Board is committed to advocating for and coordinating the implementation of these recommendations and to ensuring that drought planning remains a high priority for water managers in the Okanagan Basin. 6
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  Appendix A: Listof Participants at 2009 OBWB Drought Planning Workshop Name Title Agency Alan Lawrence Alan Patton Director Rural Oliver, RDOS Anna Warwick Sears Executive Director OBWB Bill Caswell Chairman South East Kelowna Irrigation District Bob Fugger Trustee Glenmore Ellison Improvement District Bob Hrasko Administrator BMID Brian Jamieson Manager Westbank Irrigation District Brian Symonds Director, Regional Operations Ministry of Environment Bryn Lord Drinking Water Specialist Interior Health Authority Buffy Baumbrough Director OBWB/City Vernon Carol Zanon Councillor District of West Kelowna Carolyn Stewart Water Conservation Coordinator City of Penticton Darlene McKnight South East Kelowna Irrigation District Darren Schlamp Water Operations Glenmore Ellison Improvement District Dave Gold Public Works/Utilities Westbank First Nation Dean Watts Senior Habitat Biologist Fisheries and Oceans Canada Deborah Greaves reporter, Writer Westside Weekly Denise MacDonald Executive BC Fruit Grower's Association Denise Neilsen Research Scientist Agriculture Canada Denny Ross Smith Small Water Users of BC Don Dobson Consultant Dobson Engineering Doug Edwards Regional Water Resources Engineer Agriculture Canada Ehren Lee Water Resources Consultant Urban Systems Garry Zarr Chairman Rutland Waterworks District Genevieve Dunbar Office and Grants Admin OBWB Gord Ivans Chairman BMID Gwen Steele President Okanagan Xeriscape Association Gyula Kiss Director OBWB/RDNO Heather Larratt Biologist Larratt Aquatic Henry Stanski Retired Meteorologist Environment Canada Horst Grams Trustee Glenmore Ellison Improvement District Jack Allingham Utility Manager District of Lake Country Jack Gilroy Councilor City of Vernon Jacqueline Foley Hydrogeologist Golder Associates James Moller Manager Lakeview Irrigation District Jennifer Miles Water Conservation Technician Greater Vernon Water Jesse Skwaruk Political Science Grad Student Joanne de Vries CEO Fresh Outlook Foundation Jody Good Hydrogeologist Mould Engineering Joe Bulach Trustee Glenmore Ellison Improvement District John Slater MLA - Boundary-Similkameen BC Liberal Party Jose Garcia Owner/Consultant Insight Environmental Consulting Ltd. Kellie Garcia Research & Communication Coord. OBWB Ken Harvie South East Kelowna Irrigation District Kevin Bladon Research & Extension Specialist FORREX Kevin Murphy Agrologist Ministry of Agriculture and Lands Kevin Reynolds Assistant Manager Rutland Waterworks District Lee Hesketh Cattlemen's Association OWSC Lisa Massini Vice President Okanagan Xeriscape Association Lorne Davies Geostream Consulting OWSC Lorne Lacroix Chairman South East Kelowna Irrigation District Lorraine Bennest Member OWSC/BC Fruit Growers Assoc Michael Mercer Director of Engineering District of Lake Country Mike Gavinchuk Director, Electoral Area B Regional District North Okanagan Mike Mitchell Utility Foreman District of Lake Country 7
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  Name Title Agency Nancy Howlett Manager Glenmore Ellison Improvement District Nancy Lee Planning Policy Analyst Agriculture Canada - National AgroClimate Information service Neal Klassen Contractor Water Smart, City Kelowna Nelson Jatel Water Stewardship Director OBWB Patti Hansen Water Quality Technician District of Lake Country Pete Spencer Environmental Farm Plan BC Cattlemen's Association Peter Hill Sustainability Manager School District #23 Peter Waterman Former Councillor Summerland Phil Epp Water Resources Specialist MoE - Water Stewardship Randy McLean Mayor Princeton Ray Riley Hydrologist Urban Systems Rick Fairbairn Director OBWB/RDNO Rick Simpson Fisheries Director Oceola Fish and Game Club Rob Birtles Drinking Water Specialist Interior Health Authority Rob Turner Reporter Castanet.net news website Ron Cannan MP Kelowna-Lake Country Federal government Sharon Shepherd Mayor City of Kelowna Skye Thomson Groundwater Protection Officer MoE - Water Stewardship Solvej Patschke Source Protection Officer MoE - Water Stewardship Steve Bonn Trustee Glenmore Ellison Improvement District Stu Wells Director OBWB/RDOS Suhdev Goraya Executive BC Fruit Grower's Association Ted Lynch Trustee Okanagan Falls Irrigation District Ted van der Gulik Senior Engineer Ministry of Agriculture and Lands Terry Condon Councillor District of Peachland Tjaar Van der Berg Owner/Consultant LandInfo Technologies Trina Koch Environmental Scientist EBA Engineering Trudy Peterson Public Works/Utilities Westbank First Nation Wayne Lippert Mayor City of Vernon Wenda Mason Manager, Major Projects MoE - Water Stewardship Wes Kmet Zee Marcolin Hydrogeologist Golder Associates 8
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  Appendix B: DroughtManagement Planning Resources What Information Do We Have About Drought Conditions? • BC River Forecast Centre (Ministry of Environment): www.env.gov.bc.ca/rfc Provides warnings and forecasts of stream and lake conditions around the province. • Drought Watch website (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada): www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/drought Provides information on the impacts of climatic variability on water supply and agriculture and promotes practices which reduce drought vulnerability and improve management during a drought. Contains maps of current precipitation and temperature conditions by region, climate profiles, and drought management articles and fact sheets. • North American Drought Monitor (National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service and US Department of Commerce National Climatic Data Center): www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/monitoring/drought/nadm/#overview A cooperative effort between drought experts in Canada, Mexico and the United States to monitor drought across the continent on an ongoing basis. • Canadian Weather Office (Environment Canada): www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/canada_e.html Provides current conditions and forecasts for Canada. • National Climate Data and Information Archive (Environment Canada): www.climate.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/Welcome_e.html Contains official historical climate and weather observations for Canada. How Can I Plan Ahead to Limit the Impact of Water Shortages? • Dealing with Drought: A Handbook for Water Suppliers in British Columbia (Ministry of Environment): www.env.gov.bc.ca/wsd/public_safety/drought_info/ Includes strategies to help prevent the onset of water shortages and provides assistance with assessing, planning, and responding to drought conditions and coordinating communications. • Water Conservation Planning Guide for British Columbia’s Communities (Polis Project on Ecological Governance and Ministry of Community Development): www.polisproject.org/files/Water_Conservation_Planning_Guide_v1.0.pdf This guide can help communities develop and implement comprehensive integrated water conservation plans. It identifies seven key steps to the development of a water conservation plan, provides “To Do” checklists, includes case studies, and offers in-depth lists of resources for each step. 9
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  • The Soft Path for Water in a Nutshell (Polis Project on Ecological Governance): www.poliswaterproject.org/publication/23 Provides an overview of the steps involved in soft path planning, illustrates how soft path planning differs from conventional, supply management and discusses the potential for this approach to develop water sustainability in Canada. What Tools are Available for Municipalities? • Thinking Beyond Pipes and Pumps: Top 10 Ways Communities Can Save Water and Money (Polis Project on Ecological Governance): www.poliswaterproject.org/publication/22 Provides a practical resource on how individuals, utilities and communities can save water and money. The Top Ten represent a suite of actions that can be tailored on a community-by- community basis. • Water Conservation Toolkit for Canadian Municipalities and Communities (Polis Project on Ecological Governance): www.waterdsm.org/toolkit Aims to provide practical tools to Canadian communities seeking to develop and implement a comprehensive and long-term approach to freshwater management. • Groundwater Bylaws Toolkit (Okanagan Basin Water Board): www.obwb.ca/groundwater_bylaws_toolkit/ Provides local governments with practical land use management tools to support the protection of groundwater resources. What Tools are Available to Improve Agricultural and Irrigation Efficiency? • Drought Strategies website (Ministry of Agriculture and Lands): www.agf.gov.bc.ca/emergency/Drought/ Provides information on drought strategies, including irrigation, crop, soil, livestock, and pasture and range management and feed and pasture availability, and includes links to drought programs, publications, and conceptual plans. • Irrigation Calculators (Irrigation Industry Association of BC): www.irrigationbc.com/ Four calculators have been developed by the IIABC: Landscape Calculator, Agricultural Calculator, Weather Calculator, and Soil Calculator. User guides have also been developed to accompany the calculators. • Farmwest Climate website: www.farmwest.com/index.cfm?method=climate.showclimate Provides climate information to farmers and irrigators in British Columbia, including evapotranspiration (ET) for irrigation scheduling, as well as corn heat units (CHU), growing degree days, T-Sum, a temperature monitor and the weather forecast. • BC Guide to Irrigation Scheduling and Water Conservation (Ministry of Agriculture and Lands and the IIABC): www.farmwest.com/index.cfm?method=pages.showPage&pageid=235 Provides documents that can assist in the design and operation of irrigation systems. 10
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  Where Can IFind Out More About Water Planning In BC and the Okanagan? • Living Water Smart: British Columbia’s Water Plan: www.livingwatersmart.ca/ The provincial government’s plan to keep our water healthy and secure for the future. • Okanagan Sustainable Water Strategy: http://www.obwb.ca/water_strategy/ A comprehensive guide to water management practices that will help us adapt to changing climate and rising water demand and work toward long-term water sustainability in the Okanagan Basin. 11