BC sells Powell Lake to California

Powell River Peak
Wednesday, April 1, 2009

GreenBuddies.jpg
GREEN BUDDIES: BC Environment Minister Barry Penner [right] and Premier Gordon Campbell [middle] have sealed an agreement with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to supply water from Powell Lake to the drought-plagued American state.

Multi-billion dollar deal unfolds in two phases

BC Premier Gordon Campbell and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger have signed an agreement that gives California full rights to Powell Lake.

The multi-billion dollar, multi-phased deal gives California water rights over the entire lake. It flows from the memorandum of understanding on climate change Campbell and Schwarzenegger signed in 2007.

California is entering its third consecutive year of drought and in February Schwarzenegger proclaimed a state of emergency and ordered immediate action to manage the crisis. "This drought is having a devastating impact on our people, our communities, our economy and our environment," he said. "This is a crisis, just as severe as an earthquake or raging wildfire and we must treat it with the same urgency by upgrading California's water infrastructure to ensure a clean and reliable water supply for our growing state."

The first phase of the deal between BC and California involves supertankers docking at Catalyst Paper Corporation's deep-water port to fill up with fresh water that will bolster California's reserves.

The second phase involves the construction of a pipeline down the coast of North America to California to transport water directly from Powell Lake.

The agreement sustains BC's economy in the middle of the worldwide downturn, as well as provides benefits for the environment, said Campbell. "We are pleased this agreement benefits both California and BC," he said. "Every day, it becomes more and more urgent that we find a long-term solution that works for the environment and the economy."

The financial benefit to the City of Powell River was not disclosed when the announcement was made today.

Posted by Arthur Caldicott on 02 Apr 2009