Opinion: B.C. giving away fresh water while funding to fight fires, floods and scarcity dries up

There is a plausible — and popular — way for the province to fund this work: increase the charges for industries that withdraw large amounts of B.C.’s fresh water

Author of the article
:By Neil Fletcher, Kat Hartwig, Zita Botelho
Published Jan 16, 2025
Last updated Jan 17, 2025

As we begin a new year, B.C. faces a pivotal moment in the fight to protect communities from escalating water crises. In recent years, British Columbians have endured devastating floods, wildfires, and freshwater scarcity — straining river systems, damaging homes, and costing the province billions.

In 2021, the provincial government took commendable action to strengthen watershed security by investing in front-line watershed projects that improved public safety, increased food security, rebuilt ecosystems and created thousands of jobs.

However, funding for this critical work has dried up, just as public concern has surged. According to a recent poll released by the B.C. Watershed Security Coalition, 64 per cent of British Columbians now fear freshwater scarcity — up from 37 per cent in 2018 — and 69 per cent are worried they will personally experience a major water crisis in the coming years.

The B.C. government’s initial investment in watershed security was the $27-million Healthy Watersheds Initiative, which created 1,517 jobs, boosted local economies, and delivered tangible results in flood mitigation, drought management, and drinking water protection.

In 2022, an additional $30 million was allocated for local watershed work.

Despite these successes, government support has waned over the past year. In 2023, the B.C. government established the B.C. Watershed Security Fund with a one-time $100 million endowment. While this fund has potential, it currently generates only $3 million to $5 million annually — an alarming 80 per cent drop in funding compared to 2022 levels.

As a result, watershed leaders are witnessing a devastating loss of momentum in our watersheds.
Consider these examples:

Wetlands workforce:
The B.C. Wildlife Federation trained a workforce of over 100 people to restore and maintain over 250 wetland sites critical for flood protection, water storage, and wildlife habitat. With the sharp decline in funding, the workforce was reduced by 75 per cent, leaving just 22 workers and limiting the program to fewer than 50 sites.

The Indigenous Watersheds Initiative:
This initiative supported 44 First Nations to lead watershed security efforts, creating 353 jobs. Hundreds of waterways were mapped and monitored and 4,800 hectares of critical watersheds were restored. With funding now depleted, many Nations are urgently seeking alternative resources to continue this essential work.

Columbia water monitoring framework:
Living Lakes launched a monitoring program that doubled the number of hydrometric stations on tributaries to the Columbia and Kootenay rivers and increased groundwater monitoring by 400 per cent. During the 2024 Argenta Creek wildfire, this data helped firefighters locate water sources to suppress the fire and save homes. With funds running out, the program must scale back staff and monitoring sites, weakening the region’s ability to manage water and wildfire effectively.

Experts estimate that $50 million to $100 million a year is needed to sustain watershed security across B.C. - equivalent to only 0.08 per cent of the provincial budget.

Compared to the billions spent recovering from water disasters, this would be a strategic investment in public safety and cost prevention.

Of course, governments must balance competing priorities with limited funds. Fortunately, there is a plausible and popular way for the province to fund this work: increase the charges for industries that withdraw large amounts of B.C.’s fresh water.

Currently, industries like natural gas fracking, mining, and water bottling pay only $2.25 for every million litres of water they pump out. This means billion-dollar companies can withdraw an Olympic-sized swimming pool’s worth of water for $5.62 — less than the price of a pint of beer! As industries profit from this vital public resource, it is only fair that they contribute to its preservation.

Other provinces have already taken action to rectify this inequity. Last year, the Quebec government acknowledged it was “giving away” fresh water and raised industrial water royalties from $2.50 to $35 per million litres — an increase of 1,300 per cent. These royalties contribute to a fund that will distribute $150 million annually to freshwater protection initiatives.

The B.C. public supports the same approach. A recent poll found that 82 per cent of British Columbians back higher industry fees to restore watersheds, and a majority want to see these funds reinvested in local projects through a scaled-up Watershed Security Fund.

As the B.C. government enters a new term, it has a critical opportunity to renew its commitment to watershed security. These projects have proven their value in flood control, water conservation, wildfire suppression, job creation, local resilience, and reconciliation. If the government is serious about its promises, it must act now to restore funding and protect B.C.’s watersheds before it’s too late.

https://vancouversun.com/opinion/op-ed/opinion-bc-giving-away-fresh-water-funding-fires-floods-scarcity