Engineering a Success —
PWGSC and INAC transfer ownership of water licences and dams to B.C. First Nations groups

PWGSC’s Pacific Region and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) are working with First Nations in British Columbia in a co-operative project to transfer ownership of almost 750 federally held water licences and over 40 rehabilitated dams to participating First Nations.

“This is one of those real true success stories,” says Vince Hart, Manager of Environment and Natural Resources with INAC and negotiator for the Water Licence Transfer and Dam Rehabilitation Program. “We worked together under a low cost model to negotiate and implement over 40 agreements with First Nations in B.C. over four years. That’s of real significance and a great success.”

Restored dams, set in picturesque B.C., will be transferred to First Nations Groups as part of a collaborative project with INAC, PWGSC's Pacific Region and First Nations.

“PWGSC’s role has been critical,” explains Adrian Joseph, District Engineer with PWGSC's Dedicated Unit with INAC. The Department is handling the consulting, contracting, technical and cost aspects of the dam constructions on behalf of INAC. The project began in 2002 and is the first of its kind in Canada.

“Those First Nations groups that have been interested are getting a significant benefit by owning their own facilities,” says Mr. Joseph. “They will get maintenance funding to look after the dams and their facilities will be brought up to 2006 design standards. That’s pretty important. We’ve also prioritized the high-risk structures and they’ve been dealt with first.”

PWGSC’s Pacific Region first brought the condition of the federally held dams to the attention of INAC in 2000, through a report that detailed the status of all known irrigation dams in the province. The project grew from that report and has expanded.

“We are bringing the dams up to current design standards based on hydrological, earthquake and other studies,” says Mr. Joseph. “So far we have rehabilitated close to two-dozen dams, some of which date back farther than the 1920s.”

Those involved say PWGSC’s work has been exceptional.

“All of the completed dam projects I’ve seen are really well done,” says Will Jolley, Head of Dam Safety for the B.C. Ministry of Environment. “They selected good engineering people to do the work and there has been a big improvement in the overall safety of the dams.”

The B.C. Ministry of Environment is assisting with managing the safety and environmental issues of the rehabilitation of the dams and is working to help train First Nations groups.

INAC will hand the licences and ownership of the rehabilitated dams directly to First Nations groups. Half of the water licences and 80 percent of the rehabilitated dams have been transferred for care and control to First Nations groups so far. Historically, the federal government built the dams and also managed the water licences.

The restoration of the dams to current design standards is a significant engineering feat, one that has been well received by the professional community. Mr. Joseph’s work on PWGSC’s behalf was featured at the Canadian Dam Association conference in Ottawa, 2004 and Calgary, 2005. His work will again be featured at the upcoming Canadian Dam Association conference in Quebec City, October 2006.

“To see facilities upgraded and brought up to proper design standards is satisfying,” says Mr. Joseph. “The transfer of ownership to First Nations – which is in keeping with various treaty negotiations – is also rewarding.”

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