Goals, Objectives and Performance Reporting — Continued

Goal 4: Streamlined Land and Water Management¹⁰

Land and Water British Columbia Inc. (LWBC), the provincial agency with responsibility for land and water allocation and management, is increasing access to Crown land and water resources through a major overhaul of its client service processes. Improved access to these resources will support the reconstruction of the provincial heartland of rural and coastal British Columbia by creating new economic opportunities for businesses and jobs for people.

Objective 1: Balanced and timely decisions for land and water allocation and management

LWBC has had considerable success in providing enhanced access to Crown land and water resources through strategies that have integrated and streamlined land and water application processes, shortened application cycle times, and targeted the reduction and elimination of backlog water and land applications. Economic development and job creation have occurred while building balanced views, responsibilities and partnerships that contribute to a sustainable future.

Planned Strategies • Integrate water and Crown land allocation functions. • Reduce backlog of water licence applications that are more than one year old. • Eliminate backlogs and delays in Crown land applications. • Develop application review process for independent power producers.
Performance Measures	Targets	Actual	Explanation of Variance
• Per cent reduction of backlog in water licence applications	• Reductions relative to 2001/02: 90% by end of 2002/03; 95% by end of 2003/04; 100% by end of 2004/05	Achieved • 93% reduction

Accomplishments

Through integration of land and water administration, LWBC:

• Exceeded targets for eliminating the current backlog of water applications.
• Implemented a plan to eliminate the water licence amendment backlog.
• Streamlined and integrated land tenure and water licence applications.
• Made priority business opportunities available for Independent Power Production.
• Supported the province's bid to host the 2010 Winter Olympics by identifying and protecting Crown land and water required for site development.
• Improved water application and licence amendment cycle times.

 

 

Objective 2: Sustainable, safe operation of dams

LWBC has substantially achieved the target under this objective. The agency has focused on the review of hydro-electric water licences as part of water-use plans to balance the inter-related issues of fish stock, aquatic environments, flood protection, recreation, water use and hydro-electric power generation. It has placed a high priority on the regulation of water storage dam construction and operation to prevent dam failure and mis-operation.

Planned Strategies • Clarify licence rights and approve water-use plans for major hydroelectric facilities11. • Develop and implement dam safety compliance policy.
Performance Measures	Targets	Actual	Explanation of Variance
Original • Percentage of high-risk dams meeting dam safety requirements	Original • 100% each year		The performance measure and target were amended to better reflect the definition in the BC Dam Safety Regulations of high and very high consequence dams and an audit carried out of such dams.
Amended • Percentage of very high and high consequence dams meeting new dam safety requirements	Amended • Very high — 100% • High — 50%	Achieved • Very high — 100% • High — 51%	British Columbia bases the auditing procedures for its dam safety requirements on the consequence of failure of the structure. The safety regulations are set to ensure that there is a minimal likelihood of dam failure no matter what the consequences.

Accomplishments

• Developed a compliance strategy for all dams.
• Completed an audit program for "very high" and "high" consequence dams with the compliance results noted above. Any identified deficiencies are being addressed.

Note: Both strategies in Objective 2 are considered the responsibility of LWBC. All related water-use planning work done by Resource Management Division is reported in Goal 2, Objective 1.

Objective 3: Efficient regulation of the capacity and pricing of rural, private water facilities.

In achieving the target under this objective, LWBC has worked with local governments, stakeholders and the public to define and implement a more effective, transparent process for regulating privately owned water utilities to provide better service to their members.

Planned Strategies • Review with regional and local governments the provincial role in regulation of the engineering, capacity and pricing of private water utilities.
Performance Measures	Targets	Actual	Explanation of Variance
• Recommendations of review approved and implementation begun	• Implementation begun by end of 2002/03	Achieved • Implementation initiated prior to March 31, 2003

Accomplishments

• Developed and obtained approval for a strategy for devolution of water utility regulation, and began implementation.

Goal 4 Resources

• Operating expenditures were $14.4 million, 12% of the ministry total.

10	Accountabilities for this Goal 4 have been clarified since publication of the 2002/03 Service Plan. The ministry has responsibility for strategic policy concerning land and water management under Goal 1 and for water management plans under Goal 2. From 2003/04 LWBC has both budget and operational accountability to the Minister for land and water management. However during 2002/03 the budget for water management was allocated to the ministry, which sub-contracted delivery to LWBC. The ministry is therefore bound to report on LWBC's 2002/03 performance with respect to water management. Further details are given in LWBC's Annual Service Plan Report.
11	Development and approval of water-use plans are reported under Goal 2.