Water Notification

Please note some of these links are dead due to change of BC government policy We need a volunteer webmaster / researcher / writer to help update our systems. If you wish to help contact John R. Roe volws@salishsea.ca many thanks to Jason Bryne for his work on this site.

You will be required to submit a Water Notification under Section 7 of British Columbia's Water Act if your activity involves:

Alterations and work in and about a stream that includes:

stream culverts
clear span bridges
pipeline crossings
docks or wharves
restoration or maintenance of stream channels
flow or water measuring devices
maintenance of public utility works
storm sewer outfalls
control of Eurasian watermilfoil
cutting of annual vegetation
construction of fish fences, screens, fish/game guards
removal of beaver dams
existing dykes and erosion protection works
restoration or maintenance of fish habitat
ice bridges or winter fords
temporary, seasonal fords
temporary diversions

Notification forms can be obtained from any one of the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks regional offices. Forms must be submitted in cooperation with the applicant's corresponding municipality or regional government, MELP regional operations, or their DFO community advisor. The form must be received by the MELP regional office 45 days before the proposed activity start date. If the applicant has not been contacted by the regional office after 45 days, the activity may begin, providing that the general conditions and notification requirements are met.

Alternatively groups can apply for a Water Approval for works in and about streams directly through their regional MELP office. This process requires detailed assessments, engineered plans and tends to take substantially more resources.

Province of British Columbia. A Users Guide to Working in and Around Water. Mar. 1998 (Revised).

For more information contact:

MELP Nanaimo (250) 751-3100

DFO Community Advisor: Victoria (250) 746-5137