Reports - Drinking Water and Watershed Protection
Reports are compiled from external and internal sources. If you know of a report that is appropriate to add to this inventory please email: waterprotection [at] rdn.bc.ca
Region-Wide Reports
Reports
- Innovative Options and Opportunities for Sustainable Water Use - 2008
- RDN Agricultural Water Demand Model Report - 2013
- Water Conservation Plan - RDN Water Service Areas Only - 2013
- Water Quality 3 Year Trend Report - Community Watershed Monitoring Network - North RDN - 2011-2013
- Regional Drought Update - 2015
- RDN Regional Hydrometric and Climate Monitoring Scoping Study - 2015
- RCAN GSC 3D Model Aquifer Characterization of Nanaimo Lowlands - 2015
- NRCAN GSC Nanaimo Lowlands Aquifer Characterization Atlas - 2016
- State of Our Aquifers Newsletter - 2017
- Water Conservation Evaluation - RDN Water Service Areas Only - 2018
- Surface Water Quality Trend Analysis CWMN 2011-2017
- DWWP Action Plan - 10 Year Implementation Review - 2018
- Water Conservation Plan - RDN Water Service Areas Only - 2020
- Regional Groundwater Level Analysis Pre-Summer 2020
- Wetland Mapping and Monitoring in the Regional District of Nanaimo- 5-Year Research Project with VIU (link to Get Involved Page with all the project reports)
- 2021 Community Watershed Monitoring Network Data Analysis (2011-2020)
- Regional Groundwater Level Analysis Pre-Summer 2021 (MEMO) + Tables and Graphs (APPENDICES)
- RDN Freshwater Perspectives Public Benchmark Survey Results - 2021
- RDN Regional Strategy for Rainwater Management - 2022
- Regional Groundwater Level Analysis Pre-Summer 2022 (MEMO) + Tables and Graphs (APPENDICES)
Water Region 1 - Big Qualicum
The Big Qualicum water region extends from Mud Bay in the north to Qualicum River in the south and from the coast to the Beaufort Mountain Range in the west. The total drainage area is approximately 292 sq. km. It includes all of RDN Electoral Area H and small sections of Areas F and G. The key surface water bodies include Horne Lake, Nile Creek, Thames Creek and of course the Big Qualicum River.
Reports
- Qualicum River Water Allocation Plan - 1996
- Salmonid Habitat Assessment and Restoration Plan for Nile Creek - 1997
- Nile Creek Sidechannel Mark-Recapture Population Study - 2000
- Thames and Nash Creeks Restoration and Protection Strategy - 2011
- Phase 1 Water Budget Study - RDN Water Region 1 - 2013
- State of our Streams - WR1 Thames and Nile - 2015
- Area H Hydrogeological Review for OCP update - 2016
- Annie Creek USHP Stream Assessment - 2017
- Aquifer 662 - State of our Aquifers Report - 2017
- Aquifer 416 - State of our Aquifers Report - 2017
Water Region 2 - Little Qualicum
The Little Qualicum River flows northeast from the highest point in the watershed in Labour Day Lake on Mount Arrowsmith towards Cameron Lake and down the Little Qualicum River to the Straight of Georgia. The total drainage area is approximately 251 sq. km. It contains parts of Electoral Areas F, G and H. The key surface water bodies include Whiskey Creek, Kinkade Creek and the Little Qualicum River. The Little Qualicum River is important for the Town of Qualicum Beach's groundwater supply.
Reports
- Cameron River Coastal Watershed Assessment - 1998
- Little Qualicum River Watershed Management Feasibility Study - 2006
- Little Qualicum River Flow-Habitat Study - 2009
- Whiskey Creek Groundwater Supply Assessment - 2012
- Phase 1 Water Budget Study - RDN Water Region 2 - 2013
- Water Quality Objectives - Little Qualicum River Watershed - Min of Env - 2014
- State of our Streams - WR2 Little Qualicum and Cameron - 2015
- Wetland Classification and Geologic Assessment Report - Little Qualicum WR - 2017
- Aquifer 661 - State of our Aquifers Report - 2017
- Aquifer 664 - State of our Aquifers Report - 2017
- Cameron Lake - BC Lake Stewardship Society Report - 2018
- Spider Lake - BC Lake Stewardship Society Report - 2018
Water Region 3 - French Creek
The French Creek Water Region consists of steep forested headlands that drain from the mountains at 1080 meters above sea level, and the more gentle topography of the Nanaimo lowlands. The total drainage area is approximately 121 sq. km. It includes most of the communities of Parksville, Qualicum Beach, and parts of Electoral Area F (including Hilliers, Coombs and Errington) and Area G (including French Creek, Dashwood and San Pareil).
Reports
- Restoration and Awareness Strategic Plan for Beach and Grandon Creeks - 1999
- French Creek Watershed Study MOE - 2002
- Phase 1 Water Budget Study - RDN Water Region 3 - 2013
- Miller Road Park - French Creek Bank Erosion Protection - 2013
- Grandon Creek USHP Stream Survey - 2015
- French Creek USHP Stream Survey - 2015
- State of our Streams - WR3 French and Grandon - 2015
- Phase 2 Water Budget Scoping French Creek - 2016
- Wetland Classification and Geologic Assessment Report - French Creek WR - 2017
- Aquifer 217 - State of our Aquifers Report - 2017
- Aquifer 216 - State of our Aquifers Report - 2017
- Aquifer 220 - State of our Aquifers Report - 2017
- Area F Water Quality & Quantity Risk Assessment -2020
- Watershed Performance Targets for Rainwater Management (Phase 1) - French Creek Water Region - 2021
- Watershed Performance Targets for Rainwater Management (Phase 2) - French Creek Water Region - 2022
Water Region 4 - Englishman River
The Englishman River flows in an easterly direction from Mount Arrowsmith at 1819 m above sea level and discharges into the Strait of Georgia, north of Craig Bay. The main Englishman and South Englishman rivers originate in Arrowsmith, Hidden and Fishtail lakes. Th total drainage area is approximately 324 sq. km. The watershed includes parts of Electoral Areas F and G and the City of Parksville.
Reports
- Stream Flow, Water Quality and Nutrient Monitoring in Englishman River Watershed- 2002
- Groundwater Supply Evaluation and Aquifer Yield Assessment - Englishman River WR - 2010
- Englishman River Water Quality Objectives Min of Environment - 2010
- Integrating the Site with the Watershed and the Stream - Englishman River WR - 2012
- Lower Englishman River Watershed Groundwater and Surface Water Interaction - 2012
- Englishman River Habitat Status Report - 2013
- Phase 1 Water Budget Study - RDN Water Region 4 - 2013
- Groundwater Flow Through Bedrock Contributing to the Englishman River - 2014
- State of our Streams - WR4 Englishman and Shelly - 2015
- Stream Talk Vol 22 No 2 - Restoring Runs on the Englishman River - 2015
- Lower Englishman River Watershed Wetland Study - 2015
- Project Update - Groundwater Surface Water Interaction on the Englishman River - 2017
- Aquifer 216 - State of our Aquifers Report - 2017
- Morison Creek USHP Habitat Survey - 2018
- Shelly Creek Water Balance Model Report Phase 1 - 2017
- Shelly Creek Water Balance Model Report Phase 2 - 2017
- Shelly Creek Water Balance Model Report Technical Summary - 2017
- Area F Water Quality & Quantity Risk Assessment -2020
- Snow Mapping in Upper Englishman and Little Qualicum River Watersheds - First Year Progress Report - 2020
- Shelly Creek - Application of the Ecological Accounting Process for Financial Valuation of Ecological Services and Worth - 2020
Water Region 5a - Nanoose
This subsection of Water Region 5 covers the Nanoose area. The forested headlands are drained by small creeks such as Bonnell and Nanoose Creeks. The water for residents in this region comes from groundwater sources - the bedrock and sand & gravel aquifers that underlie this area. It includes RDN Electoral Area E, which is primarily rural residential and suburban.
Reports
- Chase River to Nanoose Water Allocation Plan - 1994
- Phase 1 Water Budget Study - RDN Water Region 5 - 2013
- RDN Water Service Areas - Water Conservation Plan - 2013
- Integrated Stormwater Management Plan - Lakes District Schooner Cover - 2013
- Electoral Area E Water Monitoring Plan - 2016
- Aquifer 1098 - State of our Aquifers Report - 2017
- Aquifer 219 - State of our Aquifers Report - 2017
- Water Budget Phase 3 - Electoral Area E Nanoose - 2020
- Enos Lake Water Quality Monitoring Program Annual Report - 2021
Water Region 5b - Lantzville to South Wellington
This subsection of Water Region 5 covers the area between Lantzville and South Wellington, including the City of Nanaimo. The primary watersheds in this region are the Millstone River watershed and the Chase River watershed. The highest point in this water region is Mt Benson. There are many smaller watersheds, that are in urban/suburban areas, such as Knarston Creek, Departure Creek, Cat Stream and Northfield Creek. This water region includes Electoral Area C, the District of Lantzville and the City of Nanaimo.
Reports
- Chase River to Nanoose Water Allocation Plan - 1994
- City of Nanaimo Water Supply Strategic Plan - 2007
- Millstone River Side Channel Project - 2008
- Phase 1 Water Budget Study - RDN Water Region 5 - 2013
- City of Nanaimo Water Conservation Strategy - 2014
- Lantzville Water Study - 2015
- State of our Steams - WR5 Departure Creek and Millstone River - 2015
- Departure Creek Habitat Assessment - 2016
- Millstone River USHP Stream Survey - 2016
- Wetland Classification and Geologic Assessment Report - Nanoose to South Wellington WR - 2017
- Aquifer 211 - State of our Aquifers Report - 2017
- Aquifer 215 - State of our Aquifers Report - 2017
- Aquifer 213 - State of our Aquifers Report - 2017
- Aquifer 167 - State of our Aquifers Report - 2017
- Cat Stream USHP Stream Survey - 2017
- Millstone River Ecological Accounting Process - Pilot Project Report -2021
Water Region 6 - Nanaimo River
The Nanaimo River Water Region basin starts at Fourth Lake and follows the Nanaimo River down to the estuary across from downtown Nanaimo. The total drainage area is approximately 939 sq. km. Its major tributary is the South Nanaimo River (aka South Fork) which provides the drinking water for the City of Nanaimo. The land base for this water region includes RDN Electoral areas A and C.
Reports
- Nanaimo River Water Allocation Plan - 1993
- Fourth Nanaimo Lake Dam Manual - 2013
- Phase 1 Water Budget Study - RDN Water Region 6 - 2013
- Nanaimo River Watershed Baseline Report 2nd Edition - 2014
- State of our Streams - WR6 Nanaimo River and Haslam Creek - 2015
- Aquifer 165 - State of our Aquifers Report - 2017
- Aquifer 161 - State of our Aquifers Report - 2017
- Aquifer 160 - State of our Aquifers Report - 2017
- Nanaimo River Watershed Wild Salmon Policy Fish Habitat Status Report - 2021 *new*
- Nanaimo River Habitat Assessment (USHP) D. Clough - 2021 *new*
Water Region 6b - Cassidy-Cedar-Yellow Point
This subsection of Water Region 6, the Nanaimo River Water Region, covers the communities of Cassidy, South Wellington, Cedar and Yellow Point. The Nanaimo River and Haslam Creek run through this area, but the main water supply for residents here is groundwater from the aquifers that underlie the area.
Reports
- Nanaimo Estuary Management Plan - 2006
- Area A Groundwater Assessment and Vulnerability Study - 2010
- Haslam Creek - Habitat Assessment USHP Method - 2010
- Phase 1 Water Budget Study - RDN Water Region 6 - 2013
- State of our Streams - WR6 Nanaimo River and Haslam Creek - 2015
- Holden Creek USHP Stream Survey - 2016
- Phase 2 Water Budget Scoping Cedar Yellowpoint - 2016
- Aquifer 162 - State of our Aquifers Report - 2017
Water Region 7 - Gabriola and Islands
Gabriola is a populated rural island off the east coast of Nanaimo. It is approximately 53 sq km of low altitude terrain in the Coastal Douglas-fir Biogeoclimatic zone. There are no significant surface water sources on the island, so residents rely on groundwater and rainwater for domestic purposes.