THE ARROWSMITH DAM at the completion of construction. The Dam and associated engineering structures cost $5.2 million to complete. Residents of Parksville, Qualicum Beach and RDN Water Local Service Areas in French Creek and Nanoose Bay contribute to this cost, and will benefit from the resulting supplemental water supply. The AWS is operated under a management agreement among its partners. Each partner has a representative on the management committee and an equal voice in all aspects of dam operations.

The Arrowsmith Lake catchment area is five square kilometres, or 1.5 per cent of the 324 square kilometre Englishman River catchment area.

Construction of the Arrowsmith Dam raised the level of Arrowsmith Lake by 12 metres and increased storage capacity behind the dam to nine million cubic metres.

The Arrowsmith Dam reservoir fills up each spring until it naturally overflows the dam and feeds the Englishman River. When flows in the river drop below 1.6 cubic metres per second, as measured at the Englishman River hydrometric gauge in Parksville, the AWS releases water to keep the flow at 1.6 cubic metres per second. This is outlined in the provincial water licence that governs the release of water from the reservoir. Depending on climatic conditions and seasonal requirements, conditions of the licence are adjusted in consultation with federal and provincial fishery authorities. At certain periods, the flow requirements may be reduced to ensure sufficient water can be retained in the reservoir for release during September and October. The AWS water licence allows for 47,000 cubic metres (10.5 million imperial gallons) per day to be diverted from the lower Englishman River. This amount is fully supported by storage capacity-the AWS could not have obtained its licence from the Province without being able to provide this level of storage.

Arrowsmith Dam enhances healthy habitat

THE ARROWSMITH DAM spillway. The Arrowsmith Dam controls the release of water from the reservoir to the Englishman River.

The Englishman River provides habitat and spawning runs for five species of salmon and three species of trout. It is also one of Vancouver Island's major steelhead rivers. Protecting and enhancing this fish habitat is important to Arrowsmith Water Service partners.

Approximately half the water that is stored in the Arrowsmith Lake reservoir is for fisheries purposes, to supplement low summer flows in the Englishman River. Along with the water released for consumption and domestic use, this additional water creates better spawning and migration conditions for the fish in the river.

In accordance with the requirements of its water licence, the AWS works cooperatively with federal and provincial fisheries departments to manage the additional summer flows.

Conservation costs you less

The Englishman River water that the AWS provides is not intended to be a replacement water source for residents. Instead, it is a supplemental source to existing groundwater supplies. The AWS partners all promote water conservation through metering, pricing and public education. For example, the recently-launched WaterSmart program encourages water conservation throughout the region.

In all AWS communities, water utility billing is structured to encourage conservation, help the environment and make financial sense. Water conservation is one means of deferring the demand for bulk water and the associated tax increases that will be necessary to pay for new infrastructure.

Water conservation and water use reduction will help meet water supply demands for drinking, fire protection and irrigation. Water conservation provides benefits to taxpayers, including reductions in the size of water bills. Limiting water use also makes more water available to maintain riparian habitats and aquatic ecosystems.