Shuswap Lake Integrated Planning Process
Vision: Working together to sustain the health and prosperity of the Shuswap and Mara lakes.
In 2007 the Province of BC, with assistance of the Fraser Basin Council, began a collaborative, multi-agency planning process for Shuswap and Mara Lakes: the Shuswap Lake Integrated Planning Process (SLIPP).
SLIPP was launched in response to the intense pressure the surrounding area is experiencing as a result of increased development, wastewater discharge and conflicting demands on recreational resources. These challenges are set against a complicated regulatory environment where public agencies from every level of government have legal jurisdiction over some aspect of the region.
This process is designed to bring land and water use planning and governance issues relating to Shuswap and Mara Lakes to a single table and to identify cross-cutting issues in the region that could be addressed through collaboration.
Steering Group Work and Consultations
The Steering Group for SLIPP consists of elected officials and senior staff from the primary agencies with responsibilities in the region and other organizations providing assistance: Columbia-Shuswap Regional District, District of Sicamous, City of Enderby, Village of Chase, City of Salmon Arm, Shuswap Nation Tribal Council, Thompson-Nicola Regional District, Regional District of North Okanagan, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ministry of Environment, Integrated Land Management Bureau, Interior Health Authority, Ministry of Tourism, Sports and the Arts and Fraser Basin Council as secretariat.
Public input has been received through open public meetings and from individuals invited to participate on three Public Advisory Committees (PACs), and studies have has been advanced with the help of Techncial Advisory Committees. SLIPP has focused on issues in three areas: 1) foreshore development, 2) water quality and 3) recreational impacts.
Strategic Plan
In May, 2008, SLIPP presented a draft strategic plan, available online for consultation and comment: see Shuswap Lake Integrated Planning Process Strategic Plan (Draft). The Final Strategic Plan was issued in late 2008.
Projects
SLIPP has assisted on a number of projects. Recent examples include:
- Columbia-Shuswap Regional District Watershed Atlas - The Regional District, in collaboration with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Province of BC, has published an online atlas detailing the ecological condition of the foreshore, resource values and opportunities for conservation and restoration on Shuswap, Mara and Little Shuswap Lakes. SLIPP assisted on some aspects of this project, including a site sensitivity map. The atlas is available through the Community Mapping Network.
- Greywater Management Strategies: the SLIPP steering committee, in furthering its strategic plan, asked the Fraser Basin Council to overesee a study on greywater discharges on Shuswap Lake. The study, conducted by Northwest Hydraulic Consultants, canvasses the impacts of greywater discharges and options for management. This is one of a number of initiatives relating to water quality overseen by SLIPP.
Contact
For more information on SLIPP projects, please contact:
Shuswap Lake Integrated Planning Process (SLIPP) Steering Committee
care of:
Phil Hallinan
Fraser Basin Council
Tel: 250 314-9660
Email: phallinan@fraserbasin.bc.caIan McGregor, Section Head, Fish & Wildlife Branch
Ministry of Environment
Tel: 250 371-6252
Email: Ian.Mcgregor@gov.bc.ca