Cowichan stakeholders are welcoming an announcement by the province Friday that gives more local control over the flow of the Cowichan River.
The change to the Water Act could avert low flows like the one last summer that left salmon stranded in Cowichan Bay because they were unable to get up the river to spawn.
The previous policy called for the release of water from Cowichan Lake into Cowichan River to start no later than July 9. The release now can be put off until July 31 when natural conditions permit.
The change will allow Catalyst Paper, which holds the water licence, to respond more effectively to conditions and still meet the minimum outflow specified under the licence agreement.
It will also help improve flow conditions during the fall migration and spawning of chinook salmon.
Rob Hutchins, chairman of the Cowichan Valley Regional District board and mayor of Ladysmith, called the change “a big step forward” and said it’s the first fundamental change to the operation of the weir at Cowichan Lake in 20 years.
“All being well, it’s going to have a significant impact — but it’s not going to resolve all the issues we have with climate change and declining summer flows,” Hutchins said.
Long-term plans call for the weir to be raised to allow for additional water storage in Cowichan Lake.
Rodger Hunter of the Cowichan Watershed Board said the change could mean an additional 22 centimetres of water to release into the river on July 31 — if there is sufficient rainfall.
“But on 50 per cent of the years, this won’t work at all [due to dry conditions],” Hunter said.
The benefits of higher flows extend beyond migrating salmon, he said.
More water would mean a “less bumpy ride” for people floating down the river on tubes, Hunter said.
He’s hoping for a rain-drenched June so that the Cowichan River will avoid a repeat of the low flows seen last year.
“It’s good for tourists, it’s good for dilution for pollution … it’s all good,” he said.
Matt Price of the citizens group One Cowichan was happy with the announcement but said another conversation will have to take place on rebuilding the weir to allow for more water storage in the lake.
Bruce Fraser, CVRD director for Shawnigan, said the need for local control also applies to Shawnigan, where locals fear the watershed is threatened by a contaminated waste dump.
“We’re all looking for local control so you can make those intelligent decisions based on local conditions rather than some top-down rule from the provincial government,” Fraser said.
