Referendum on Shuswap Watershed Council

By Jo Anne Malpass

Are you in favour of the Columbia Shuswap Regional District adopting the Shuswap Watershed Council Service Establishment Bylaw No. 5864, 2023 to establish with Electoral C, D, E, F, G and the District of Sicamous, a service for the purpose of obtaining, coordinating and analyzing water quality monitoring data; protecting and improving water quality; and, promoting recreational water safety within the area and to authorize a maximum annual taxation of $180,000 or $0.0167/$1,000 of net taxable value of land and improvements, whichever is greater?

On the South Shuswap, Advance Polls #1 will be at the Eagle Bay Hall and Shuswap Lake Estates Community Centre on August 16, Advance Polls #2 Sorrento Memorial Hall and Sunnybrae Hall on August 21 and general voting day will be at Blind Bay Memorial Hall and White Lake Community Hall on August 26. All polling stations will be open from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm on voting days. Eligible voters may cast a ballot at any of the available locations.

The CSRD established the Shuswap Watershed Council Service in 2015, with a 5-year termination clause, extended during the pandemic until December 2023. If the voters approve the continuation of the Shuswap Watershed Council, there would no longer be an expiry date for the service. 

For the current year, taxpayers paid $9.02 per taxable parcel of land towards the service. If a parcel tax bylaw is adopted for the collection of taxes, the amount per property is estimated to be $9.55 per year.  If the taxes are collected by property and improvement value, the estimated amount would be $9.74 per residential property valued at $553,427, says a CSRD release.

More information is available at the Shuswap Watershed Council Referendum 2023 page of the CSRD website, www.csrd.bc.ca  

The Shuswap Watershed Council has released a list of frequently asked questions.

Q: Who is involved with the SWC?

A: There are currently 20 members of the SWC who represent the following organizations: Columbia Shuswap Regional District, City of Salmon Arm, District of Sicamous, Thompson-Nicola Regional District, Secwepemc Nation, Regional District of North Okanagan, BC Ministry of Environment & Climate Change Strategy, BC Ministry of Forests, and BC Ministry of Agriculture. There are also three community representatives at-large and a senior scientific advisor.

Q: What is the role of the SWC?

A: The SWC is an advocate for the Shuswap watershed by raising key issues and concerns with regulatory agencies, and asking for more resources and action to protect the Shuswap from critical threats.

The SWC is an educator, informing residents and visitors about water quality as well as issues and concerns that the watershed is facing. The SWC also educates residents and visitors about taking care of the lakes through actions such as preventing the spread of invasive species and minimizing pollution.

The SWC is a convenor. The management and governance of water is complex, and many different agencies and organizations have roles and responsibilities related to water. The SWC brings many of these organizations together to work on water quality.

Q: What does the SWC do?

A: The SWC focuses on strategic initiatives that protect, enhance and maintain water quality in the Shuswap watershed. It does this through non-regulatory means. 

The SWC has an annual work plan and budget. Key work plan items include water quality monitoring; annual water quality reporting; administering grant funding to support watershed restoration and protect/improve water quality; educational campaigns to prevent the spread of invasive mussels to BC; advocacy to government regulators to better protect the Shuswap watershed from critical threats; and educational campaigns for safe boating and water recreation.

Q: Who pays for the SWC? How much does it cost?

A: There are four organizations that provide funding to the SWC. Each of these funders has its own mechanism for providing funding to the SWC. Funding has been in place since 2016. Since 2018, the contributions have been as follows: CSRD $160,000; TNRD $53,600; City of Salmon Arm $40,000; Adams Lake Indian Band $1300.

Q: What is the Fraser Basin Council? What role do they play with the SWC?

A: The Fraser Basin Council (FBC) is a BC non-profit, non-government organization established in 1997. The FBC specializes in facilitating and supporting multi-party collaboratives, helping them to find solutions to today’s sustainability challenges. The FBC has a particular focus on healthy water and watersheds.

The FBC provides staff services to the Shuswap Watershed Council. There are two dedicated staff in FBC’s Kamloops office that lead all the SWC programs and initiatives.

Q: How can I get more information on the SWC?

A: Check out the SWC’s Annual Highlights Report for 2022-23. The report covers the key activities, major achievements, and expenses for last year. Find it on the SWC’s website: www.shuswapwater.ca.

Follow the SWC’s social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) for regular updates and announcements.

Email the SWC Chair, Jay Simpson, or Vice Chair, Natalya Melnychuk. Phone or email the SWC Program Managers, c/o Fraser Basin Council, Erin Vieira and Alex de Chantal. Contact information is on the SWC’s website.