Aquatic Vegetation and Management Study
The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) is investigating the possibility of conducting mechanical removal of aquatic vegetation at Charlie Lake, Swan Lake and One Island Lake to address concerns from lake users regarding the presence of excess aquatic vegetation.
This project is in the early stages of planning and feasibility, including the development of an Environmental Management Plan to minimize potential environmental impacts and obtain provincial permitting.
Consulting with lake users and collecting feedback is an important part of this process! To engage with this project, please take 8-20 minutes to review the FAQs, and complete the user survey and user vegetation maps in the tabs below.
The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) is investigating the possibility of conducting mechanical removal of aquatic vegetation at Charlie Lake, Swan Lake and One Island Lake to address concerns from lake users regarding the presence of excess aquatic vegetation.
This project is in the early stages of planning and feasibility, including the development of an Environmental Management Plan to minimize potential environmental impacts and obtain provincial permitting.
Consulting with lake users and collecting feedback is an important part of this process! To engage with this project, please take 8-20 minutes to review the FAQs, and complete the user survey and user vegetation maps in the tabs below.
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CLOSED: This survey has concluded.
Please take 8-12 minutes to complete the following survey on Charlie Lake, Swan Lake and One Island Lake. Your feedback will be thoroughly reviewed to determine the level of support from the public to conduct limited mechanical removal of aquatic vegetation and to help guide management efforts.
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Who's Listening
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Phone 250-784-4845 Email daris.gillis@prrd.bc.ca -
Phone 250-731-6028 Email info@zonalecosystem.com
Timeline
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Community engagement: December 2022 - February 2023
Aquatic Vegetation and Management Study has finished this stageThis consultation is open for contributions from the public via the user survey and user vegetation map.
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Environmental Management Plan (EMP): January 2023 - April 2023
Aquatic Vegetation and Management Study has finished this stage -
Electoral Area Directors Committee Presentation - April 27
Aquatic Vegetation and Management Study has finished this stageThe information collected during the public engagement phase and draft Environmental Management Plans (EMPs) will be presented to the Regional Board at the Electoral Area Directors Committee on April 27, 2023.
The Regional Board will provide direction on next steps at this time. -
Outcomes of the Electoral Area Directors Committee - April 27th
Aquatic Vegetation and Management Study has finished this stageThe Electoral Area Directors Committee heard the presentation from Zonal Ecosystems on the Aquatic Vegetation Management Study, including the results of the research and field program as well as the recommendations for the consultant.
The committee moved recommendations to the Regional Board including:
- Forwarding the Environmental Management Plans to the Regional Board for information.
- Engaging with the Department of Federal Fisheries and Oceans to determine permitting requirements for harvesting aquatic vegetation in Charlie Lake and Swan Lake.
- Apply to the Ministry of Water, Land and Natural Resource Stewardship for a a Section 11 Change Approval under the Water Sustainability Act to harvest aquatic
vegetation from Charlie Lake and Swan Lake. - Share the Aquatic Harvester Environmental Management Plans for Charlie Lake and Swan Lake with local First Nations and request a letter of support for the PRRD's application for a Section 11 Change Approval.
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Regional Board Meeting - May 18th
Aquatic Vegetation and Management Study has finished this stageThe Regional Board supported all the recommendations made by the Elctoral Area Directors Committee on April 27th.
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Pre-Application Consultation
Aquatic Vegetation and Management Study is currently at this stageThe Regional District will share the Environmental Management Plans for Charlie Lake and Swan Lake with Local Fist Nations and request a letter of support for the Regional District's application for a permit to Harvest Aquatic Vegetation from Charlie Lake and Swan Lake.
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Engage with Department of Fisheries and Oceans
this is an upcoming stage for Aquatic Vegetation and Management StudyThe Regional Disitrict will engage with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to acquire information on federal permitting requirements to harvest aquatic vegetation in Charlie Lake and Swan Lake.
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Apply for a Section 11 Change Approval
this is an upcoming stage for Aquatic Vegetation and Management StudyOnce preapplication consultation is complete, and the federal permitting requirements are known, the Regional District will make an official application to the Ministry of Water, Land and Natural Resource Stewardship for a a Section 11 Change Approval under the Water Sustainability Act to harvest aquatic vegetation from Charlie Lake and Swan Lake.
Backgrounders
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Outcome of Provincial Discussions Regarding Charlie Lake (285 KB) (pdf)
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Building a Business Case to Remove Weeds from Lakes within the PRRD Boundaries (327 KB) (pdf)
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Electoral Area Directors Committee Recommendations (Feb. 18, 2021) (301 KB) (pdf)
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Board Report: Swan Lake Enhancement Society Aquatic Weed Harvesting Program (May 13, 2013) (501 KB) (pdf)
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Spatial Survey of Aquatic Plants in Charlie Lake (July 11, 2014) (3.42 MB) (pdf)
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One Island Lake Monitoring Report (2011-2013) (10.8 MB) (pdf)
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Aquatic Macrophyte Growth in Swan Lake (June 1989) (12.4 MB) (pdf)
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Electoral Area Directors Committee Meeting Minutes - April 27th (See Item 7.1 & 9.3)
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Regional Board Meeting Minutes - May 18th (See Item 8.4)
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Environmental Management Plan for Aquatic Vegetation Harvesting in Charlie Lake, BC (1.36 MB) (pdf)
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Environmental Management Plan for Aquatic Vegetation Harvesting in Swan Lake (881 KB) (pdf)
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Environmental Management Plan for Aquatic Vegetation Harvesting in One Island Lake (1.11 MB) (pdf)
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Zonal Ecosystems Presentation to the Electoral Area Directors Committee on April 27th (1.59 MB) (pdf)