On behalf of concerned Sunshine Coast residents and local community organizations, the Sunshine Coast Conservation Association (SCCA) and the Elphinstone Community Association have formally urged the BC government to take immediate action to protect the region’s drinking water by halting proposed logging in the recharge area of Gibsons Aquifer #560 and initiating a comprehensive Water Sustainability Plan.
In a letter addressed to Premier David Eby and key cabinet ministers, we called for two urgent steps:
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Defer BC Timber Sales cutblock TA0159 in the Mount Elphinstone watershed, located directly within the aquifer’s sensitive recharge area; and
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Support the development of a Water Sustainability Plan (WSP) under Section 65 of the Water Sustainability Act to ensure long-term water security and aquifer protection.
Aquifer #560 provides drinking water for the Town of Gibsons and is identified as a vital source to meet future demand in the region. Yet this critical recharge area is at risk from experimental logging proposals lacking credible hydrological assessment or impact monitoring.
Flawed Government Assessment
Our letter includes a detailed critique of BC Timber Sales’ 2023 Mt. Elphinstone South Watershed Report, prepared by Polar Geoscience Ltd. The critique highlights several serious concerns:
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The assessment fails to identify key hydrological and geological vulnerabilities of the area.
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Cumulative risks to drinking water, private wells, and stream health are overlooked;
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The proposed cutblock lies in steep, unstable terrain, raising the risk of landslides and sedimentation.
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The report omits crucial recharge area mapping and does not reflect the precautionary approach required by law.
In short, the proposed logging prescription is experimental and unproven, with no credible monitoring mechanisms. Proceeding under these conditions would put community water security at unacceptable risk.
Legal Tools Are Available
As part of our submission, we also provided the Province with a summary of legal mechanisms available for interim and long-term protection. These include:
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A designation under Part 13 of the Forest Act to halt logging in the aquifer recharge zone for up to 10 years;
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An order under Section 7 of the Environment and Land Use Act to prevent harmful resource extraction;
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Development of a Water Sustainability Plan to establish a science-based framework for long-term aquifer management, with public and Indigenous input.
These tools have been used elsewhere in BC to safeguard critical watersheds. It’s time to apply them on the Sunshine Coast.
We Need Government Leadership—Now
The Town of Gibsons has identified Aquifer 560 as essential for meeting future water needs as the community grows. But that future is now at risk from short-term industrial activity that threatens long-term water security.
We call on the Province to act decisively and responsibly by deferring logging, launching a Water Sustainability Plan process, and protecting the drinking water source for thousands of Sunshine Coast residents.
Read the full letter and supporting documents here:
Protect Drinking Water: Defer BCTS Logging on Mt. Elphinstone – Support a Water Sustainability Plan (PDF)