Bear Mountain Groundwater and Golf Irrigation Discussion Forum. May 23, 2018 Highlands Caleb Pike School House

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1 Bear Mountain Groundwater and Golf Irrigation Discussion Forum May 23, 2018 Highlands Caleb Pike School House

2 THE ECOASIS TEAM Consultants: Western Water Hydrogeology Colquitz Engineering WSP Environmental Chad Petersmeyer Jeff Howard Susan Blundell Ecoasis Representatives: Ryan Mogensen Eric Gerlach Shannon Drew Devin Marlowe

3 AQUIFER AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP: PAST, PRESENT and FUTURE ECOASIS recognizes the leadership role and mandates of Highlands environmental initiatives ECOASIS ownership instructed an extensive technical and operational overview of natural resources and protocols Reports assembled by professional hydrogeologist, civil and water resource engineer, biologist, golf course management experts, and wild-fire specialists Importance of transparency and dialogue

4 IMPORTANT HIGHLIGHTS Year over year recovery of the wells indicate that existing local demands on the aquifer do not exceed its supply capacity - Western Water No neighbouring well concerns tabled to date Southbound downward gradient of Aquifer reinforces that ECOASIS is a last user of deep/stored water prior to Langford/CRD supply Improved understanding / information helps provide future planning/sustainable stewardship Not anticipated that climate change will result in a reduction in the supply to the aquifer - Colquitz Current golf irrigation practices are environmentally sound and producing additional benefits - WSP Environmental

5 Bear Mountain Golf Course - Hydrogeology Overview Chad Petersmeyer, P.Geo. Senior Hydrogeologist Bear Mtn Groundwater and Golf Course Irrigation Forum May 23, 2018

6 Aquifer Types Overburden (sand and gravel) water present between grains aquifers tend to be more homogeneous Bedrock water present in fractures occurs at different scales Bear Mtn Groundwater and Golf Course Irrigation Forum May 23, 2018

7 Groundwater in Bedrock From DOH flyer Bear Mtn Groundwater and Golf Course Irrigation Forum May 23, 2018

8 Groundwater Source Area Recharge from precipitation Flow direction generally follows topography Most groundwater flows outward from Highlands Gradient Site Langford Highlands Bear Mtn Groundwater and Golf Course Irrigation Forum May 23, 2018

9 Bear Mountain Wells Bear Mtn Groundwater and Golf Course Irrigation Forum May 23, 2018

10 Typical Drawdown and Recharge Flow Direction Bear Mtn Groundwater and Golf Course Irrigation Forum May 23, 2018

11 Annual Groundwater Levels Bear Mtn Groundwater and Golf Course Irrigation Forum May 23, 2018

12 Bear Mountain Golf Courses Golf Irrigation Water Balance Study Jeff Howard, P.Eng Colquitz Engineering Ltd

13 GOLF IRRIGATION WATER BALANCE STUDY Provides an understanding of the inputs and outputs to the irrigation system for the Bear Mountain golf courses. System schematic:

14 WATER BALANCE - INPUTS/OUTPUTS Inflows catchment runoff, groundwater from wells, irrigation return Demands - irrigation, evaporation, and release/overflow Change in storage Osborn and upper ponds Pond leakage - used to balance inputs, outputs and change in storage

15 WATER BALANCE RECENT HISTORY Water balances going back to Clamp-on meters indicated significant error with the well meters 2016 Electromagnetic flow meters installed on wells 2016 Hourly water level data on Osborn Pond

16 WATER BALANCE SUMMER 2016 Mountain 31% of well pumping is lost due to leakage. Valley 74% of well pumping is lost due to leakage. Both 55% of well pumping is lost due to leakage.

17 OSBORN POND LEAKAGE

18 CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS From CRD s climate change report: More extreme hot days in summers Longer dry spells in summer months More precipitation in fall, winter, and spring Anticipated result - Irrigation demands will increase Anticipated result No reduction in aquifer supply

19 2016 WATER BALANCE SUMMARY Increased confidence in the water balance model results. Significant leakage. Current aquifer based irrigation supply appears adequate for current demands. Contingency strategies: CRD Water Osborn pond lining Osborn dam raising Increase well supply

20 GOLF IRRIGATION ECOASIS retained international golf agronomic and course management experts Landscapes Unlimited (LU) in January 2015 LU recognized that Bear Mountain golf courses had diminishing turf health from excessive thatch conditions. Historic lack of fairway aeration led to over-watering In 2015 ECOASIS invested in expanded turf management equipment and introduced aeration rotations in annual maintenance. Also introduced improved water management protocols with new moisture meters, proactive irrigation system deficiency management, superintendent education, and improved corporate resources

21 GOLF IRRIGATION Golf Pump Station Flow Meters Volume (m3) Golf Water Use - Mountain & Valley Course Year

22 IRRIGATION WELL DATA Well 407 (ID 16185) Rebuilt and Lined 2004 Ground Elevation 110.0m Well Depth 97.5m Pumping Rate 128 US gal/min Well 411 (ID 16187) Built and Lined 2006 Ground Elevation 114.4m Well Depth 116m Pumping Rate 198 US gal/min Well 405 (ID 16183) Built 1998 est. Ground Elevation 105.0m Well Depth 67.0m Pumping Rate 110 US gal/min Mountain and Valley Golf Operations Since 2008 Typical Pumping Season: Pump Start-up 24/7 Pump Shutdown Early May ongoing Late September

23 BEAR MOUNTAIN SCHEMATIC OF FLOWS AT OSBORN POND Inset A FIGURE 2 Osborn Pond Well #411 Spillway Millstream Creek Osborn Creek Figure 3 July 2017 Permeable Osborn Pond 74% of well-pumping is lost due to leakage Prepared by: ENKON Environmental Ltd.

24 ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP & WATER QUALITY MONITORING Recommend summer long continued pumping of well water into the semi-permeable Osborn Pond. Osborn Pond subsurface discharge to Millstream Creek is important during summer low flow conditions, and provides water to adjacent wetlands Per previous Council inquiry, vegetation surrounding wells is not showing undue stress due to well activity Original water quality monitoring protocols unproductive from environmental feedback perspective; more scientific application recommended for better early detection. Base the protocol on the proximity of sampling sites to those areas where fertilizers/ pesticides are used, with a focus on surface monitoring & environmental stewardship Introduce Environmental Effects Monitoring for additional trendbase analysis for key wetlands and streams

25 QUESTIONS AND COMMENTARY 1. Golder Report Commentary Question by Dave Mackas 2. Other