Southlands In The ALR

This page on water supply was designed to rebut assertions made directly to me by Sean Hodgins in October of 2007.

In an e-mail to me he wrote: "We have no access to fresh water given that all the ditches drain into the salt water of Boundary Bay. Except there is a trickle that comes off the hill from Point Roberts that usually dries up by late July, just when it's needed."

At the time I ignored the reference to "the salt water of Boundary Bay."  In fact, stormwater draining through the Southlands and into the bay goes through pump stations and so the ditches on the property are in no way tidal or saline as Mr. Hodgins implies.

Instead I focused on what the reports I had read were telling me: that ample stormwater runoff comes through the property, and irrigation needs could be met through retaining some of this water.

The present design unveiled in June of 2008  now acknowledges surplus uplands water as the prime source for irrigation of the Southlands, and envisions a large pond for storage.

This is just one example of the development proponent's ever-changing claims in regards to the quality of the land and its viability for agriculture.

I will leave the page "as is" in case the Century Group decides to alter its pitch yet again.

Development proponents often cite inadequate water supply as a reason for rezoning the land. Since the only water supply comes from a little stream draining out of Point Roberts, the argument goes, and since this stream dries up in the summer, many agricultural options are not available to the site.

This is simply false.

In a recent report entitled "Integrating the Urban-Agricultural Edge: An Exploration of New Ruralism in South Delta," it is shown that half the rainwater run-off from all of Tsawwassen passes directly through the property via storm drains such as the ones converging at 6th Avenue and 56th Street. The report then details how this water could be stored in ponds for irrigation purposes.

This report also confirms other independent studies that have been done on the land. They all point out the tremendous water resource running right through the property and propose ways that it could be utilized.

The whole issue of water shows the lack of will on the part of the property owner to commit to agriculture: for crops they cannot figure out how to get water for the months it is needed but for houses they'll hook up water and everything else and run it 365 days a year.

"There has been no obvious effort put forth by the Spetifores (the former property owners) to develop water storage reservoirs by utilizing either low-land surplus water or collection of uplands water. Spetifore’s agents refer to a water requirement of 187 acre feet per annum which could be held in a mere 10 to 20 acre reservoir network."

-Field Agrologist Report, March 10, 1980

"Deficits in rainfall during the summer months have been cited as a limitation on the site’s agricultural potential. That said, stormwater and greywater from the developed upland areas of Tsawwassen present a valuable resource…"

-Edward Porter, 2006

Soil Report, B.R. Carson, December 21, 1979

Field Agrologist Report, Professor G.A. Mosher, March 10, 1980

Slope System Map of Tsawwassen

Integrating the Urban-Agricultural Edge: An Exploration of New Ruralism in South Delta, 2006

Agricultural Land Commision Guidelines and Forms for a Municipal Application to Include the Southlands in the ALR

Click here to sign an online petition requesting inclusion of the Southlands in the ALR.