Gulf Islands Groundwater Protection: A regulatory toolkit

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Gulf Islands Groundwater Protection 
A Regulatory Toolkit 
  
 
  
Prepared by Kris Nichols, LPC Island Planner 
 January 30, 2014 
 

Table of Contents 
Introduction 1 
Background 1 
What is the Islands Trust Doing Currently? 4 
What Information is Available to Islands Trust Staff Currently? 4 
Local Government Jurisdiction 6 
Official Community Plan 6 
Land Use Bylaw – Zoning 7 
Development Permit Area (DPA) Designation 9 
Development Approval Information Bylaws 11 
Subdivision Servicing Bylaws 11 
Water Conservation Tools - General Information 13 
Overview – Groundwater Protection Objectives and Actions 14 
 
Appendices 
Appendix 1 - Sample Development Permit Area Bylaw  17 
Appendix 2 - Sample Development Approval Information Bylaw 23 
 
Tables 
1. Groundwater Protection Objectives and Actions 14 
 
Figures 
1.    Aquifers (Source: Natural Resources Canada) 2 
2.   New Way Conservation (Source: Regional District of Nanaimo) 13
 

Gulf Islands Groundwater Protection –  A Regulatory Toolkit 
Page 1  
 
Introduction  
Islanders are taking voluntary actions to steward and conserve water, island organizations 
educate and manage their water resources, and the Islands Trust has a strong focus on the 
importance of voluntary actions to protect water quality and quantity. A sample can be viewed 
here: 
http://www.islandstrust.bc.ca/trust-council/projects/water-resource-information-for-
islanders.aspx. 
This project discussion paper is only about what regulatory options are available if islanders and 
trustees want to proceed down the regulatory route; it is not the only route to protect 
groundwater quality and quantity. 
The Islands Trust Local Planning Committee (LPC) has on their work program the development 
of water quality and quantity toolkit and development of a model bylaw.  This report includes a 
toolkit, a model Development Permit Area (DPA) bylaw and a model Development Approval 
Information Area (DAI) Provisions that will assist all Local Trust Committees (LTC) in addressing 
the issue of water conservation. 
This report addresses options for the islands to consider in order to safe guard their water 
supplies now and into the future.  The protection of a safe adequate water source will remain a 
priority for the Islands and will become increasingly important as the Islands continue to 
develop.  Reaching the full potential of water conservation requires comprehensive and long-
term strategic planning. 
There is an ever increasing need to balance the water supply requirements for area growth 
against future sustainability and environmental needs.  The issue of water quality and quantity 
has been a long standing issue on the Gulf Islands.  Local Trust Committees (LTC) have 
approached the issue differently from no action to developing development permit area 
guidelines and specific water conservation bylaws or subdivision servicing regulations.  
However, it is believed that to plan for the future of the Islands is to include the prote

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