Trust committee backs freshwater-storage policy draft

The Trust Programs Committee asked staff to draft an advisory policy encouraging freshwater storage in groundwater regions where groundwater quality or quantity may be inadequate or unsustainable.

The Denman Firestarter · Governance · 2025-04-29 · updated 2026-11-14 · Trust-wide: every island edition carries this report.

The proposed policy would encourage freshwater storage in groundwater regions where groundwater quality or quantity is likely to be inadequate or unsustainable. The Trust Programs Committee approved a motion asking staff to draft it, after amending the wording to replace “areas” with “groundwater regions.”^[1]

The committee’s minutes record the motion as a request for a new advisory policy numbered 3.5.6. The wording is: “Encourage freshwater storage in areas where the quality or quantity of groundwater is likely to be inadequate or unsustainable”.^[1]

During discussion, staff freshwater specialist William Shulba said groundwater regions were delineated on major islands in the Trust Area and were a groundwater management unit. He said the term “areas” could be unclear and supported using “groundwater regions.”^[2]

Trustees also asked staff to add definitions for “recreational significance,” “active recreation,” “natural heritage sites” and “watersheds” to the draft policy statement glossary, and to add marine sections to “sensitive ecosystems” and define relevant terms. The committee approved that request.^[1]

The committee’s next meeting was scheduled for May 7, 2025, with the start time changed by general consent to 9 a.m.^[1]

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