Groundwater and Agriculture in the Columbia Basin

Careful management and allocation of groundwater is becoming increasingly important for agriculture as climate change impacts like drought intensify and demand for water increases. In the Columbia Basin, Living Lakes Canada has led a 400% increase in groundwater monitoring through the Columbia Basin Groundwater Monitoring Program and, more recently, an aquifer vulnerability assessment. Agriculture places significant demand on groundwater in the Columbia Basin and users have had to licence their groundwater wells to continue using the water for irrigation, which has given rise to many questions about groundwater resources. 

In this webinar, co-hosted by Kootenay & Boundary Farm Advisors and Living Lakes, producers will come away with an improved understanding of aquifer dynamics, the link between groundwater and agriculture, groundwater rights, the available data and how to access it, and aquifers of concern or significance for agricultural use. Guest presenters include Braeden Toikka, water monitoring coordinator with Living Lakes, and Mike Wei, physical hydrogeologist and groundwater policy expert. This live webinar is also open to interested members of the public beyond the agriculture sector. 

Living Lakes Canada gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Columbia Basin Trust and RBC Tech for Nature.