Common Questions

Print This Page Email This Page

• What are water use plans (WUP)?
• Why is BC Hydro developing WUPs?
• What are the principles behind Water Use Planning?
• What are the steps involved in WUP process?
• Who's involved?
• How are they involved?
• How can I get involved?

What are Water Use Plans (WUPs)?

• WUPs are technical documents defining the proposed operating parameters to be applied in the day to day operations of all BC Hydro hydroelectric facilities.
• WUPs recognize multiple water use objectives by better balancing the social, economic, environmental and recreational uses of water to benefit the public and province.
• WUPs are based on the outcomes of advisory consultative processes.
• The water use planning process recognizes existing legal and constitutional rights and responsibilities of water users.

Why is BC Hydro developing WUPs?

• To support BC Hydro's corporate purpose to provide reliable power, at low cost, for generations.
• To help meet BC Hydro's objective to build and maintain public support by engaging external constituents—the public, First Nations, our regulators and our shareholder—in a dialogue about options, tradeoffs and priorities in operating our hydroelectric facilities.
• By setting clear boundaries, that take into account public values, Hydro is able to reduce or eliminate regulatory uncertainty. This makes good business sense because it provides operational stability.
• The B.C. Government asked BC Hydro to develop WUPs in accordance with the provincial Water Use Plan Guidelines.

What are the principles behind Water Use Planning?

• The principles behind BC Hydro's Water Use Planning Program were determined by an interagency group.
• The founding principles are discussed in the three-page document entitled " Principles of Water Use Planning for BC Hydro"  [PDF, 4.0 Mb].

What are the steps involved in the WUP process?

• There are 13 steps to the WUP process outlined in the Provincial WUP Guidelines. In the WUP process each committee puts forward recommendations which are reflected in a report by the end of Step 8. Following that the licensee, BC Hydro, prepares the draft water use plan, and both the consultation report and the water use plan are submitted to the Comptroller for regulatory review. A summary list of the steps follows:

  Step 1: Initiate a WUP process for the particular facility.
  Step 2: Scope the water use issues and interests.
  Step 3: Determine the consultation process to be followed and initiate it.
  Step 4: Confirm the issues and interests in terms of specific water use objectives.
  Step 5: Gather additional information on the impacts of water flows on each objective.
  Step 6: Create operating alternatives for regulating water use to meet different interests.
  Step 7: Assess the tradeoffs between operating alternatives in terms of the objectives.
  Step 8: Determine and document the areas of consensus and disagreement.
  Step 9: Prepare a draft WUP and submit it to the Comptroller for regulatory review.
  Step 10: Review the draft plan and issue a provincial decision.
  Step 11: Review the authorized WUP and issue a federal decision.
  Step 12: Monitor compliance with the authorized WUP.
  Step 13: Review the plan on a periodic ongoing basis

Who's involved?

• The public is invited to participate
• First Nations
• Environmental organizations
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• The B.C. Government
• Communities surrounding our hydroelectric facilities

How are they involved?

• These groups contribute by consulting with BC Hydro about options, tradeoffs and priorities in operating our hydroelectric facilities.
• Consultation involving these interested parties occurs in the watersheds where BC Hydro operates a hydroelectric facility.
• BC Hydro is committed to working with all interested parties to develop WUPs as a key part of the process.
• The WUP process strives for consensus among these interested parties and the consultation report documents areas of agreement. Where consensus is not achieved, the consultation report documents the disagreements and reasons for them.

How can I get involved?

• Look for a public announcement of water use planning in your community and get involved at the table or through an appropriate representative.
• As the process unfolds, various methods (e.g., newsletters, newspaper articles, open houses, web page) are used to communicate the plan's development.
• In advance of a WUP starting in your community or for current information regarding water management practices, please contact us.