Low Flow Analysis & Water Use Plan Science & Community Environmental Knowledge Fund Forum June 10, 2004 Barry Ortman Diversified Technical Services Dawson Creek, BC

Outline Purpose of the Project Purpose of the Project History of oilfield water use in NE BC History of oilfield water use in NE BC Problems / Impacts Problems / Impacts Hydrology Hydrology Water Use Plan – Upper Beatton River Water Use Plan – Upper Beatton River Healing the Land Pilot Project Healing the Land Pilot Project Where do we go from here? Where do we go from here?

History of Oilfield Water Use Drilling, camps, ice roads, hydrostatic testing and processing plants. Drilling, camps, ice roads, hydrostatic testing and processing plants. Short Term Approval for Water Use Short Term Approval for Water Use –Schedule A Approved Sources Fast paced activity Fast paced activity Water Flows are at a minimum when activity peaks Water Flows are at a minimum when activity peaks Working Area 600 km. X 150 km. Working Area 600 km. X 150 km.

Purpose The Low Flow project intends to mitigate the impacts of water use on the aquatic resources by developing a water plan for oil and gas exploration. The Low Flow project intends to mitigate the impacts of water use on the aquatic resources by developing a water plan for oil and gas exploration. The basic concept of the project is to identify where we have water supply problems, map the base flow conditions, locate suitable storage sites and review with the stakeholders for input. The basic concept of the project is to identify where we have water supply problems, map the base flow conditions, locate suitable storage sites and review with the stakeholders for input. Water will be diverted and stored during the spring runoff and used when the stream flow has dropped. Water will be diverted and stored during the spring runoff and used when the stream flow has dropped.

Mean Monthly Flows for the Blueberry River

Activity levels for exploration

Problems / Impacts Monitoring of Withdrawals Monitoring of Withdrawals Water Flow Data is minimal Water Flow Data is minimal Lack of Infrastructure Lack of Infrastructure Beaver Habitat Impacts Beaver Habitat Impacts Fish / Habitat Impacts Fish / Habitat Impacts Downstream Water Users Downstream Water Users Regulatory - Admin. Problems Regulatory - Admin. Problems

Process Phase I Identified High Value Watersheds for fish, water use, recreation and First Nation’s that overlapped with high oilfield activity zones. Identified High Value Watersheds for fish, water use, recreation and First Nation’s that overlapped with high oilfield activity zones. Identified problem areas and activities. Identified problem areas and activities. Completed Hydrology Assessment and mapping. Completed Hydrology Assessment and mapping. Field measurements on streams to confirm hydrology. Field measurements on streams to confirm hydrology. Identified base flow conditions for 5 watersheds (0.056m3/s) in the Liard, Fort Nelson, Fontas, Peace and Wapiti watersheds. Identified base flow conditions for 5 watersheds (0.056m3/s) in the Liard, Fort Nelson, Fontas, Peace and Wapiti watersheds.

Hydrology Forest Information Systems Ltd. completed the hydrology and mapping aspect using the Water Survey of Canada data. Forest Information Systems Ltd. completed the hydrology and mapping aspect using the Water Survey of Canada data. Analyzed using the 7 day low flow, probability of exceedence and regression analysis. Analyzed using the 7 day low flow, probability of exceedence and regression analysis. Watershed size of 3800 km. 2 is required to meet the minimum flow in the November to March season for a 2 year return period on the Plateau. Watershed size of 3800 km. 2 is required to meet the minimum flow in the November to March season for a 2 year return period on the Plateau.

Water Use Plan – Upper Beatton River Upper Beatton River was identified as having minimal stream flow, no surface storage and minimal lakes for water use. Upper Beatton River was identified as having minimal stream flow, no surface storage and minimal lakes for water use. We looked at the history of drilling, soils, forest cover, topo maps, digital ortho photos, hydrology maps and field inspections to identify needs, storage locations and alternate sources. We looked at the history of drilling, soils, forest cover, topo maps, digital ortho photos, hydrology maps and field inspections to identify needs, storage locations and alternate sources. Discussed with industry, regulatory staff, First Nations and water haulers to confirm the needs and possible source locations. Discussed with industry, regulatory staff, First Nations and water haulers to confirm the needs and possible source locations. By storing surface runoff we can have a minimal impact on a system by withdrawing during the least impact time of year. By storing surface runoff we can have a minimal impact on a system by withdrawing during the least impact time of year.

Offstream Storage Offstream storage is a proven technique to store water during high runoff times for use in low flow seasons. Offstream storage is a proven technique to store water during high runoff times for use in low flow seasons. Low maintenance, minimal impact and cost effective storage solution. Low maintenance, minimal impact and cost effective storage solution. By incorporating habitat and forestry needs we produce a site that has multiple benefits. By incorporating habitat and forestry needs we produce a site that has multiple benefits. Nesting zones, edge habitat and riparian vegetation increase the habitat potential of the site. Nesting zones, edge habitat and riparian vegetation increase the habitat potential of the site.

Healing the Land Pilot Project Outcome of Upper Beatton Water Use Plan Outcome of Upper Beatton Water Use Plan Highest and best use of the land. Highest and best use of the land. Cumulative impacts from water use and land disturbances (borrow pits). Cumulative impacts from water use and land disturbances (borrow pits). Demonstration sites for multiple benefits. Demonstration sites for multiple benefits.

Construction and Exploration Planning By Incorporating the water development into the construction aspect we can develop these projects with minimal cost and have years of benefit to the area. These benefits will be long lasting and will not show up as a scar on the landscape but rather as a natural opening and wetland.

Conclusions and recommendations? Complete the hydrology mapping. Complete the hydrology mapping. Water demand mapping. Water demand mapping. Implement Beatton Water Use Plan and the Healing the Land pilot project. Implement Beatton Water Use Plan and the Healing the Land pilot project. Require oil companies to obtain a water licence and use the base map as source of supply. Require oil companies to obtain a water licence and use the base map as source of supply. Assess lakes and identify acceptable sources. Assess lakes and identify acceptable sources.

Acknowledgements DTS would like to thank the Oil and Gas Commission, the Science and Community Knowledge Fund and especially Derek Doyle for having the enthusiasm and interest in this project. DTS would like to thank the Oil and Gas Commission, the Science and Community Knowledge Fund and especially Derek Doyle for having the enthusiasm and interest in this project. Thank You. Thank You.