TLA’AMIN WATERSHED PROTECTION PLAN MARCH 30th, 2021 Prepared for: Tla’amin Nation 4779 Klahanie Rd, Powell River, B.C., CANADA, V8A 0C4 By: Dr. Kelly Chapman & Dr. Robert Patrick TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................................... viii PART 1: WATERSHED PLAN 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................ 2 1.1 Our People and History ......................................................................................................................... 2 1.2 Our Lands and Waters .......................................................................................................................... 2 2 GOALS AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES ............................................................................................................... 4 2.1 GOALS ................................................................................................................................................... 4 2.2 GUIDING PRINCIPLES ............................................................................................................................ 4 3 PLANNING CONTEXT .................................................................................................................................... 5 3.1 Plan Purpose ......................................................................................................................................... 5 3.2 Planning Process ................................................................................................................................... 5 3.3 Our Laws ............................................................................................................................................... 6 3.4 Previous Studies .................................................................................................................................... 6 4 REGIONAL DESCRIPTION .............................................................................................................................. 7 4.1 Physiographic History ........................................................................................................................... 7 4.2 Climate ................................................................................................................................................ 7 4.3 Groundwater ......................................................................................................................................... 8 4.3.1 Glacial Till & Bedrock Aquifers ....................................................................................................... 8 4.3.2 Glaciofluvial and Fluvial Aquifers ................................................................................................... 8 4.3.3 Arsenic ........................................................................................................................................... 8 4.4 Hydrology .............................................................................................................................................. 9 4.5 Biogeoclimatic Zones & Vegetation Cover .......................................................................................... 10 4.6 Traditional Resource Use .................................................................................................................... 10 5 WATERSHED DESCRIPTIONS ...................................................................................................................... 11 6 WATERSHED RISKS, INDICATORS & MITIGATIONS .................................................................................... 12 6.1 Healthy Watershed Characteristics .................................................................................................... 12 6.2 GIS-Based Criteria for Monitoring Watershed Risk ............................................................................ 12 6.2.1 Watersheds .................................................................................................................................. 12 6.2.2 Biodiversity & Culturally Sensitive Areas ..................................................................................... 13 6.3 Field-based Criteria for Monitoring Watershed Condition ................................................................. 22 6.3.1 Watershed Condition ................................................................................................................... 22 TLA’AMIN i WATERSHED PROTECTION PLAN 6.3.2 Water Quality ............................................................................................................................... 22 6.3.3 Streamflow ................................................................................................................................... 27 6.3.4 Biodiversity & Culturally Sensitive Areas ..................................................................................... 27 6.3.5 New & Upgraded Small Dams & Hydro Projects ......................................................................... 28 6.4 Climate Change Considerations .......................................................................................................... 32 6.5 Mitigations for Reducing Risk ............................................................................................................. 34 6.6 SOURCE WATER PROTECTION ............................................................................................................ 43 6.7 The Multi-Barrier Approach to Safe Drinking Water .......................................................................... 43 6.8 Sources of contamination ................................................................................................................... 43 6.9 Overview and scope of the Procedure................................................................................................ 43 7 RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................................................................ 47 PART 2: WATERSHED DESCRIPTIONS & PRESSURES 1 SLIAMMON WATERSHED ........................................................................................................................... 58 1.1 Watershed Description ....................................................................................................................... 58 1.1.1 Topography & General Description ............................................................................................. 58 1.1.2 General Hydrology ....................................................................................................................... 58 1.1.3 Fisheries ....................................................................................................................................... 59 1.1.4 Biodiversity .................................................................................................................................. 59 1.1.5 Wildlife & Species at Risk ............................................................................................................. 60 1.1.6 Sensitive Ecosystems ................................................................................................................... 61 1.1.7 Cultural Values ............................................................................................................................. 62 1.2 Watershed Pressures .......................................................................................................................... 62 1.2.1 Forestry ........................................................................................................................................ 62 1.2.2 Recreation .................................................................................................................................... 64 1.2.3 Urban, Rural and Industrial Development ................................................................................... 64 1.2.4 Water Extraction .......................................................................................................................... 64 1.2.5 Water Flows & Sliammon Lake Weir ........................................................................................... 65 1.2.6 Mining .......................................................................................................................................... 66 1.2.7 Climate Change ............................................................................................................................ 66 2 OKEOVER CREEK WATERSHED ................................................................................................................... 69 2.1 Watershed Description ....................................................................................................................... 69 2.1.1 Topography & General Description ............................................................................................. 69 TLA’AMIN ii WATERSHED PROTECTION PLAN 2.1.2 General hydrology ....................................................................................................................... 69 2.1.3 Fisheries 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