Squamish Environment Society

On Oct 1st Graeme McLaren, the Project Assessment Director of the Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) issued a letter to Garibaldi at Squamish (GAS) outlining serious shortfalls in their plan to meet water demand for the planned 22,000 bed units submitted as part of their proposal for a ski hill and expansive real estate development on Brohm Ridge, north of Squamish.

In reference to the report written by Urban Systems that addresses diversion, storage and distribution of water for potable, snowmaking and irrigation purposes Mr McLaren states “There are a number of statements in the Report that require clarification and the significant shortfall in storage capacity relative to demand that has been identified needs to be addressed in GAS Inc.’s EA application”.

This move counters GAS Inc.’s previous request that assessment for water supply be deferred to an application under the Water Licence Act which requires less rigorous assessment, compared to the EA Act.

The EAO highlighted many inadequacies and confusing statements in the water supply report written by Urban Systems. Outstanding issues listed in McLaren’s letter included the provision of a description of how 100% of the demand at full build out of the project will be met.

http://a100.gov.bc.ca/appsdata/epic/html/deploy/epic_document_286_31611….

Mr McLaren writes: “The final paragraph in Section 4.2.3 begins by referring to ‘excess capacity of the potable system’ while it is clear there is a significant shortfall in capacity in the potable system. These inconsistencies need to be clarified.”

EAO has stated that they expect GAS Inc. to provide a water supply plan using calculations based on the District of Squamish (DoS) per person water usage rate of 455 litres/person/day as well as conceptual plans for any new or expanded reservoirs needed and a full description and assessment of any new water supply sources such as groundwater.

• According to water calculations supplied by GAS, using the SLRD rate of 600 litres/person/day, demand for potable water at 100% build-out would be 2,035,755m3 per year.

• The total storage capacity of planned reservoirs for potable water is only 220,000 m3 – a ten-fold shortfall.

• Even adjusting to the DoS requirement of a smaller usage rate per person per day (455 litres/person/day), there would still be a significant shortfall (final demand for potable water would be 1,543,780 m3).

• Identification of adequate water to meet firefighting needs is also requested by EAO, a reasonable request recognizing the increased incidence of long hot summers and fires encroaching in residential subdivisions.

In reference to the report written by Urban Systems that addresses diversion, storage and distribution of water for potable, snowmaking and irrigation purposes Mr McLaren states “There are a number of statements in the Report that require clarification and the significant shortfall in storage capacity relative to demand that has been identified needs to be addressed in GAS Inc.’s EA application.”

Mr McLaren also identifies Squamish as being the obvious municipality to inherit this development: “Given that GAS Inc. intends to apply to have the entire development included within the municipal boundaries of the District of Squamish, EAO will expect the minimum water demand (and therefore storage or supply capacity) to be based on a water usage of 455 litres/person/day, consistent with DoS requirements.”

For more Information please contact
Catherine Jackson, 604-849-0072 catherinejoanjackson@gmail.com