string(7) "[Water]"

Northeast BC Hydrometric Monitoring Network Improvements

Lead Researcher(s):  S. Lapp, R.L. Rolick

Key Researcher(s):  D. Cottrell, E.G. Johnson

Project ID:  2019-016

Key Research Organization(s):  BC Energy Regulator, Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, Shell Canada Ltd.

Project Location:  Northeast BC

Strategic Focus Area:  Water

Summary



This project is one of three that contributed to the Pilot Collaborative Water Monitoring Program, Northeast BC. It provides foundational research that can help inform evidence-based decisions for industry, governments, Indigenous groups and communities.

Specifically, this project installed five new hydrometric stations in British Columbia’s Northeast Region (NEBC) on the territories of Treaty 8 First Nations. Hydrometric data (i.e., water flow) was recorded at the sites between 2022 and 2023. The data can be used to enhance surface water modelling in NEBC and to improve the ability of industry, governments, Indigenous groups and communities to model and inform evidence-based decisions. 

Visit the following program page to learn more about this project

Goals

Specifically, this project has:

  • Installed five new hydrometric stations for long-term use;
  • Provided publicly available, high-quality QA/QC hydrometric data in the form of daily water levels;
  • Shared hydrometric data integrated with the groundwater and climate data of the Coordinated groundwater, surface water and climate monitoring program, Northeast BC project; and
  • Shared results of the pilot project findings in a presentation to Treaty 8 First Nations.

Benefits

In addition to collecting baseline data recommended in the Scientific Review of Hydraulic Fracturing in British Columbia report, this program aims to combine the data from both Western science and Traditional Knowledge from Treaty 8 First Nations in the study area, and to build local capacity for monitoring surface water, groundwater and climate for future work.

As well as developing capacity and creating new monitoring opportunities for Treaty 8 First Nations, the Program provides an opportunity for the Nations to have a say in – and access to – research that informs water use and resource development decisions in their traditional territory. The projects provide an opportunity for Traditional Knowledge to be included alongside other data when assessing watershed health.

The inclusion of Western science and Traditional Knowledge data will help to more accurately inform water management decisions, and will provide additional and helpful data to the Northeast Water Tool (NEWT), which is used to support water management decisions.

The new public data generated by the Pilot Collaborative Water Monitoring Program, Northeast BC is improving the understanding of surface water quantity, quality and availability in the region, as well as providing supporting groundwater and climate data to begin assessing watershed water balances and groundwater-surface water interaction for regulators, energy companies, communities, Indigenous groups and academia. This pilot program will be used to assess the methodology proposed, including the use of Traditional Knowledge, and use any lessons learned in expanding and/or adapting this type of project work in the future, as well as further developing relationships with the First Nations involved.

Location

Northeast Region, British Columbia

Deliverables