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Groundwater Assessment in the Okanagan Basin
The Groundwater Assessment of the Okanagan Basin (GAOB) is a large-scale, coordinated research effort, initiated in 2004 to bring together and guide groundwater studies in the Okanagan. This research is an essential part of the Okanagan Water Supply & Demand Study, and will give local governments the information they need to balance water needs and availability into the future.
The GAOB working group that leads the program includes representatives from four federal and provincial agencies, three universities, the Okanagan Basin Water Board, and the BC Groundwater Association. In 2004/2005, GAOB projects included:
- Updating the provincial WELLS database for the Okanagan Basin, with now more than 6000 wells listed.
- Completing an inventory for both ground and surface-water sources of Okanagan drinking water.
Other projects funded or underway include studies of Okanagan recharge areas, studies of groundwater vulnerability, and surface/groundwater interactions; and work to evaluate groundwater resources in well-dependent areas of the North Okanagan. These projects will develop a range of tools, including: 1) a hydrologic model to use as a basis for water budget assessments and water use planning; 2) a vulnerability assessment to minimize the impacts of development on groundwater quality and quantity; 3) methods to transfer these tools to decision makers within the watershed.
For more information please review the 2006 GAOB Project Update or visit the following websites.
Groundwater Assessment of the Okanagan Basin Partners
Canadian Water Research Network
British Columbia Ground Water Association