In a letter dated March 25, 2011, The B.C. Ministry of Environment (MoE) updated the status of the Sunshine Coast Regional District's water licence application and set a cut-off date of June 30, 2011 for all property owners on Sakinaw to apply for a water licence for individual water users. The MoE has agreed to accept and process all applications received after the SCRD applied in December 2006 and make the priority date effective the same date as that of the SCRD.

The benefit of this to lake owners is that in the unlikely event that say the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) requests no more water be withdrawn from the lake to preserve fish stocks, individual licence holders would still be able to withdraw water whereas the SCRD may not. A licence also gives you the legal right to withdraw water, which in the event of a sale of your property may be an issue. We strongly encourage you to get a licence.

There are 95 licences / applications on the lake of which 60 are new in the last 12 months. It's the best deal in town - annual cost is $25.

We understand recent applicants have been asked to complete an environmental assessment as part of their licence application. Your Environment committee feels this is an unnecessary addition to the process and is trying to have this waived. If you have encountered this request please send the details to Bill at sievewrightshaw [dot] ca.

The offer from MoE is a limited time offer but please do not leave it until the last minute. You MUST have your fully completed application RECEIVED by Frontcounter BC before JUNE 30, 2011. Download the water licence application package: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wsd/water_rights/licence_application/cabinet/wa...