Waterpower Projects

The Ministry of Environment (MoE) processes applications for water licences for power projects. Given the complexity of water power projects, the time lines for approval processes vary from project to project, and are dependent in part on the applicant’s response time to submission requirements set throughout the process. Larger projects need to go through an environmental assessment process by the Environmental Assessment Office before a water licence is issued.

Application Documents

The following documents should be reviewed prior to submitting your application:

• Guide for Waterpower Projects
• WPP Application Completeness Checklist (211kb)
• Application Form for Water Licence (251kb) ( Word, 168kb); Form Guide (160kb)
• Application Form for Land Tenure (228kb) ( Word, 206kb); Form Guide (205kb)
• Water Licence Dam and Reservoir Information (Schedule 2) (88kb) ( Word, 72kb)
• Water Licence Power Information (Schedule 3) (98kb) ( Word, 74kb)
• Waterpower Land Use Policy (320kb)
• Sample Letter of Agency (109kb)

Who Issues Waterpower Approvals?

Water licences are issued by the Ministry of Environment, Water Stewardship Division. If Crown lands are involved, Crown land tenures are issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Integrated Lands Management Bureau. Applications for water licences and Crown land tenures are now accepted at FrontCounterBC in order to coordinate the review processes.

The water licence provides for use of an appropriate quantity of the water resource and authority for construction of the works.
Components that may be situated on Crown land include: powerhouse site, penstock, intake structures, transmission lines, roadways and construction staging areas.

Guide for Waterpower Projects

All waterpower projects must meet the requirements as outlined in the Guide for Waterpower Projects (691kb).

Waterpower project proponents are required to submit a complete application in accordance with the Guide.

Guide for Waterpower Projects - Table of Contents

Step 1 - Submission of Application
Step 2 - Review of Application by MoE
Step 3 - Preparation of Development Plan
Step 4 - Review of Development Plan by MoE
Step 5 - Review of Project
Step 6 - Preparation of Summary Report
Step 7 - Decisions on Application
Step 8 - Construction of Project
Step 9 - Operation of Project
Step 10 - Monitoring of Project

The most common reason for delay is submission of an incomplete application, which is then returned to the applicant.

To complete an application, download and print all documents identified in the WPP Application Completeness Checklist ( 211kb).

To be accepted by Ministry of Environment, an application must include all the items listed in the WPP Application Completeness Checklist (211kb).

Examples of Waterpower Projects