Community Watersheds

WHEREAS dramatic changes in land use and property ownership are impacting private lands within the watersheds of our municipal water sources; AND WHEREAS the provincial health authorities are increasing the requirements for clean water in municipal water systems and water quality is more difficult to manage on account of poor land use practices and changing ownership of land within our watersheds: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities request the provincial government to develop, implement and fund a strategy whereby consultation is undertaken with potentially affected local governments in advance of there being a change in ownership of land from public to private within a community watershed; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the provincial government enact legislation that empowers local governments to protect community watersheds.