MARCH 2017 • COUNTRY LIFE IN BC


Well licensing frustrates producers


Bureaucrats’ inexperience leaves registrants treading water by DAVID SCHMIDT


ABBOTSFORD – A lack of experience handling well registrations is frustrating the new water management regime in the province’s Water Sustainability Act establishes. Ross Kreye, who oversees


groundwater for the BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (FLNRO) made the admission during a panel discussion at the Pacific Agriculture Show in Abbotsford. David Mutz of Berry Haven


Farm in Abbotsford agreed wholeheartedly, saying registrations are “so foreign to people in the Fraser Valley office.”


Mutz applied to register his


wells in March 2016, a year before the province’s initial deadline of March 2017. While his initial experience with FrontCounter BC was “okay,” he said it “went south” when he was told to install meters on his wells. “The letter I received was


like a legal summons and that’s when I quit,” he said. Kreye sympathized with Mutz, admitting, “A lot of mistakes were made on Dave’s application.” Well registration


applications must include the


LEASING OPTIONS


60 month


ON NEW HOLLAND TRACTORS T4.90


$952.22/MO


volume of water to be used and what it will be used for, but metering is not required, says BC Ministry of Environment water strategies and conservation manager Ted White.


Streamlined Mutz, a former chair of the


Raspberry Industry Development Council, admits FrontCounter has streamlined mapping and other aspects of the registration process but he hasn’t returned to complete his application. Milen Kootnikoff of


FrontCounter says the BC agricultural water calculator will not only calculate water usage based on a property’s location, soil type and crops, but can also be used to create the required maps. “It’s a really good resource,” he told growers. Farmers can complete the online application at a FrontCounter office but should call ahead to find out what documents they will need to bring with them. Kootnikoff said staff will help applicants upload information but added: “We don’t do it for you.”


The application is only the first step in the registration process. Before it is passed on


Grade school: Ryan Hatt of Jonkman Equipment demonstrates egg grading to students at the Pacific Agriculture Show in January. RANDY GIESBRECHT PHOTO


to decision-makers, staff complete a technical review. “We might contact you for clarification or verification,” Kreye said, adding it may even include a site visit in certain instances. The technical review could include notifying nearby users, local government and First Nations.


Lease land


Several growers questioned how to handle wells on leased land. They were told water rights go with the land so the landowner


would normally make the application, the only exception being when the lessee has “a significant interest” in the land. After one grower noted


landlords often have little or no incentive to register their wells, White promised to investigate a system allowing leaseholders to apply on behalf of landowners.


Proudly certifying Producers and Processors across Canada


Proudly certifying Producers and Processors within BC and Alberta.


FVOPA delivers year-round certification services to all regions of Canada, in compliance with the Canadian Organic Standards, and the BC Certified Organic ISO 17065 program. Products may bear the Canada Organic logo and be marketed Canada-wide and internationally. FVOPA provides proficient certification for all types of Producers, Processors, and Packers, using only IOIA qualified Inspectors. FVOPA is a self-sustaining, proactive, leading edge certification agency.


FVOPA provides year round certification services compliant with the Canadian Organic Standards (CAN/CGSB) and in accordance with the BC Certified Organic ISO 17065 recognized program. Products may be sold Canada-wide and in international markets. FVOPA ensures an efficient, professional certification process for all farm, processing and handling operations. Inspectors are lOlA trained and qualified making FVOPA a leading Certification Agency.


Phone 604-789-7586 P.O. Box 18591 Delta, BC V4K 4V7


Delta, BC V4L2P8


Phone: 778-434-3070 Admin cell: 604-789-7586 PO Box 19052


Message 604-607-1655 Email: admin@fvopa.ca www.fvopa.ca


Email: admin@fvopa.ca www.fvopa.ca


13


Well licensing got you stumped? You’re not alone.


Avoid the application fee by licensing your groundwater well before December 31 2017. We can help.


T5.105 | $1,314.80/MO


T6.155 | $1,873.14/MO R ROLLINS “Serving British Columbia proudly since 1946”


Machinery Limited


T7.245 | $2,740.31/MO CHILLIWACK • 1.800.242.9737


44725 Yale Road West • 604.792.1301 LANGLEY • 1.800.665.9060


21869 - 56th Avenue • 604.533.0048


1-844-585-0802 (Toll Free) 250-585-0802 (Direct) wsa@waterlineresources.com


Vancouver, Nanaimo, Victoria, Calgary www.waterlineresources.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52