Water Supply and Demand in the Okanagan and Similkameen River Basins Brian Guy, Ph.D., P.Geo. National Practice Leader, Environmental Science September 2015

Okanagan location From Natural Resources Canada (2008)

Phase 2 Study Components Water Supply Water Demand

Basin-wide water balance

Okanagan Lake water balance Half the net inflow evaporates

Okanagan Basin Hydrology Model an 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 Cadastre Polygon

Water Use

Phase 2 Recommendations More monitoring More research More scenarios Work 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 a predominantly white slide deck.

Historical Average of projections of 10 GCMs Expected Streamflow in Okanagan River at Oliver Recreated from Hamlet et al. (2010) Winter runoff increase Spring runoff decrease 2080s Streamflow (dam 3 ) oct nov dec jan feb mar apr may jun jul aug sep Lower summer flows (with longer duration) Projected monthly streamflow in 2080

Growth projections - Central Okanagan 36% 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 (entire Okanagan) under 6 scenarios:

Hydrologic Connectivity Model (2012)

OWAT – Okanagan Water Allocation Tool

Flow of Similkameen River at Princeton Similkameen River at Princeton (WSC 08NL007)

Current Supply and Demand Issues Monitoring networks Environmental Flow Needs Groundwater Flooding (floodplains, stormwater systems) Drought Source Protection Water storage Invasive mussels FN/provincial water management