Water Supply and Demand in the Okanagan and Similkameen River Basins

Brian Guy, Ph.D., P.Geo.National Practice Leader, Environmental ScienceSeptember 2015

Okanagan location

From Natural Resources Canada

(2008)

Phase 2 Study Components

Water Supply Water Demand

Basin-wide water balance

Okanagan Lake water balanceHalf the net inflow evaporates

Okanagan Basin Hydrology Modelan Integrated Hydrological Modelling System that covers all land-based phases of the hydrologic cycle

Okanagan Water Demand Model:Cadastre, Soil, Climate and Land Use Polygons

1. Microsprinkler on peaches

2. Microsprinkler on cherries

3. Microsprinkler on pears

4. Drip on pears

5. Residential

6. Bee hives

1

2

3

4

5 6

Cadastre

Polygon

Water Use

Phase 2 Recommendations

More monitoringMore researchMore scenariosWork to make the Phase 2 models more accessible

This is the “Blank+Dots Blue” layout.

Use it for impact text, callout quotes,

and photos with defined borders,

or as a bold contrast from apredominantly white slide deck.

Historical Average of projections of 10 GCMs 

Expected Streamflow in 2080 -Okanagan River at Oliver

Recreated from Hamlet et al. (2010)

Winter runoff increase

Spring runoff decrease

2080

sS

trea

mfl

ow

(d

am3)

 

50000

70000

90000

110000

130000

150000

170000

190000

210000

230000

250000

oct nov dec jan feb mar apr may jun jul aug sep

Lower summer flows (with longer

duration)

Projected monthly streamflow in 2080

2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 20350

50

100

150

200

250

300

Year

Po

pu

lati

on

(th

ou

san

ds)

Growth projections - Central Okanagan36% increase 2012 to 2035

Source: BC Stats 2012

Historic and Predicted Annual Evaporation from Okanagan Lake

Infill

Build-out with

landscaping

Future Okanagan Basin Outdoor Domestic Water Use

Projected annual water use 2011-2040

(entire Okanagan) under 6 scenarios: 2011 - 2040

Hydrologic Connectivity Model (2012)

OWAT – Okanagan Water Allocation Tool

ORGANIZATIONAL CHART – OWAT PLAN CONCEPTUAL PROJECT TIMELINE Establish Instream Flow Needs Develop MFLNRO Licence Evaluation Criteria Groundwater – Surface Water Linkages Assessment Develop Water Licence/Demand/Use Database OCHM Modification – New WEAP-Based Model State of the Basin Assessment Supply and Demand Uncertainty Analysis Groundwater Aquifer System Characterization Development of the OWAT Develop OWAT User Interface

Flow of Similkameen River at Princeton

Similkameen River at Princeton (WSC 08NL007)

Current Supply and Demand IssuesMonitoring networks

Environmental Flow NeedsGroundwaterFlooding (floodplains, stormwater systems)DroughtSource ProtectionWater storageInvasive musselsFN/provincial water management