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NANAIMO WATER DAY SPEAKER PREVIEW
Check out our Free symposium on March 21st at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre from 8:30am – 5:00pm in celebration of Canada Water Week! Come listen to an array of scientists and local experts and learn about local water initiatives and studies, including the RDN Water Budget Study.
Yves Michaud
After completing a Master’s degree at Université Laval, in physical geography, Yves undertook a Ph.D. degree in geological sciences at Queen’s University. In his present position as Geoscience Manager with the Geological Survey of Canada, Yves contributes to the development of the scientific program at GSC-Québec and to the delivery of the Groundwater Geoscience Program through the management of human, financial and technical resources. He is also responsible for the division’s research infrastructures and a member on several interdepartmental and international committees, such as the Council of Great Lakes Research Managers of the International Joint Commission and the Groundwater Project Team, a sub-committee of the Canadian Council of Ministry of Environment (CCME).
Topic: The Nanaimo Lowlands aquifer characterization study and assessment of groundwater sustainability carried out by the Geological Survey of Canada between 2010 – 2013. This project employed seismic surveys and borehole geophysics to study the complex aquifers that exist in the Nanaimo Lowlands, and ultimately contributed to the development of a 3D hydrogeological model to better understand ground water sustainability.
Graeme Henderson
Graeme Henderson has been a Groundwater Technician with the BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations for the last six years. He is responsible for the operation and maintenance of 70+ monitoring wells from the Provincial Observation Well Network in the West Coast Region. Graeme has a diploma from Sir Sandford Fleming College in Ontario and is currently working towards a Geoscience degree from Vancouver Island University.
Topic: The Provincial Observation Well Network expansion; the story of how three levels of government worked together to gain a better understanding about regional groundwater resources.
Pat Lapcevic
Pat Lapcevic is a senior hydrogeologist and Water Protection team leader with the BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations. She studied Earth Sciences and hydrogeology at the University of Waterloo and has over 25 years of experience conducting groundwater studies. Since 2005, based in Nanaimo, Pat has studied the groundwater resources of various parts of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. She currently resides on Gabriola Island.
Topic: The results of the Gabriola Island Water Budget Study that was completed in 2013 by SRK Consultants as part of the RDN’s Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Program. The study provides an overview of the hydrogeology of the Gabriola, Mudge & DeCourcy Islands, water budget methods and results. Understanding both how much water is needed and how much is available is important to the Gulf Islands which rely on groundwater as their main source of freshwater.
David van Everdingen
Dr. David van Everdingen is with Waterline Resources Inc. and has 20 years of academic, consulting and government experience in hydrogeology. His background includes assessment and monitoring of regional groundwater flow systems, evaluation of Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) technology for management of water resources, and various hydrogeology investigations related to sanitary landfill projects. David’s principal areas of expertise are in characterization, monitoring and assessment of local and regional groundwater flow systems, and hydrogeological database development and the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Topic: The recent RDN Water Budget Study that was developed to better understand the surface and groundwater flow systems within the RDN. It was an initial attempt to consider the inputs and outputs from the surface water and groundwater systems using existing data on a water region basis. The compiled data, in conjunction with water use data, was used to assess the level of stress on each of the six water regions and 28 mapped aquifers across the Vancouver Island area of the RDN.
Craig Sutherland, M.Sc., P.Eng.
Craig Sutherland is a water resources engineer with Kerr Wood Leidal Associates Ltd. based in Victoria, BC. Since starting as a consulting engineer in 2001, he has focused on surface water hydrology for water resources planning and design on Vancouver Island. He completed a Masters Degree at the University of Glasgow in 2004, which focused on Climate Change impacts on hydrology of the Scottish Highlands (of course the important source of water for whiskey). Since then, he has been focused on developing tools and approaches to assess climate change impacts on water resources and developing adaptation plans.
Topic: See above – RDN Water Budget Study (surface water component)
Rosie Barlak
Rosie has been an Environmental Impact Assessment Biologist with the Ministry of Environment since 2005 and has worked in various biologist positions with the Province of BC for 12 years. She has an M.Sc. from the University of Tromso, Norway, a B.Sc. from the University of Victoria, and additional biology work experience from both arctic and tropical environments.
Topic: The Community Watershed Monitoring program within the RDN and how it fits in to the BC Ministry of Environment’s water quality monitoring network. Rosie has been encouraging community driven science by getting her feet wet in local streams with stewardship groups and will speak on the importance and successes of partnerships in this program.
Ian Graeme
Ian is with the Water Protection and Sustainability Branch of the BC Ministry of the Environment. He has been working on the Province’s Living Water Smart Plan since 2009. His responsibilities over the last few years have included managing the engagement process for the Water Act modernization project. A professional forester, Ian is passionate about water and also has a strong interest in public participation and community engagement.
Topic: The New Water Sustainability Act, which is an update and replacement for the existing Water Act for BC, which has been in place since 1909. Ian will provide details on how the new Act will balance the needs of all water users to ensure our supply of fresh, clean water is sustainable for today and generations to come.
Also….
Oliver Brandes – POLIS Water Sustainability Project (Victoria) on A Blueprint for Watershed Governance
Arnd Burgert – GW Solutions on The Englishman River – Groundwater & Surface Water Interaction Study
For an event that is not to be missed!
Questions? Call (250) 390 6586 or email waterprotection@rdn.bc.ca